04/27/2026
The real cost of childcare,
And I don’t mean tuition.
I mean the real cost of doing this work every single day.
Financially…
It adds up faster than you ever expect.
Supplies, toys, equipment, food, cleaning products, replacements for the things that get worn out way too quickly.
There’s always something that needs restocked, fixed, or replaced.
And most of it comes out of your pocket before anyone ever sees the result.
Physically…
This job takes it out of you.
You are on your feet all day.
Lifting, bending, cleaning, chasing, carrying, wiping, setting up, tearing down… over and over again.
By the end of the day, your body feels it.
Emotionally…
This one might be the heaviest cost of all.
You’re not just caring for children.
You’re carrying the needs of families.
You’re thinking about the child who’s struggling.
The parent who’s overwhelmed.
The behavior you’re trying to figure out.
The routine you’re trying to fix.
It doesn’t always stay at daycare. It follows you home.
Some days everything flows and you feel like, “I’ve got this.”
Other days it feels like you’re putting out fires from the moment you open the door.
But then…
You hear the laughter.
You see the learning.
You watch a child finally feel safe, comfortable, and happy in your care.
And somehow… that’s the part that makes all the cost worth it ❤️❤️
