13. Daycare vs. staying home: A stay-at-home mom's journey through preschool, big emotions, and doubt

After taking the month of December to focus on my family and celebrate the holiday season, Momming as a Millennial is back with a new episode!  When my guest, Amanda Phillips got a text message from her son's preschool teacher telling her he was crying "too loudly" and disrupting the class, she started doubting her decision to send him to school.  At a complete loss, she emailed me wondering if she had done her son a disservice by not sending him to daycare. Overcome with emotion from reading her message, I set out to find some answers.  Join me and Amanda as we discuss her journey as a stay-at-home mom, the impact of the pandemic on family structure, and all aspects of the daycare debate.    In this episode, we cover:  Why more and more American women are leaving the workforce to stay home with their children.  COVID, childcare costs, political and societal influences—oh my!  One mom's journey of leaving the workforce to stay home with her babies.  How do finances work when there's one income? A stay-at-home mom's purchasing power.   One thing SAHM's and working parents have in common.  The great debate—is it better to send your child to daycare or keep them home?   Resources & Links: It's clear the COVID pandemic disproportionately impacted women in the workforce, especially in female-dominated sectors.  What is the average cost of child care? Depends on what state you live in.  More and more American women are forgoing work outside the home to take care of their children, citing the high cost of childcare as the biggest driver.  I reference this study from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) when discussing daycare vs. staying home.    Connect with Amanda:  Follow on Instagram    Connect with Christine: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok  Check out my website   Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!