Child Care Crisis

Families everywhere struggle with the rising costs of child care, wondering how they are going to afford it. With prices as high as $14,650 every year, parents consider whether one parent should simply stay out of work just to care for the children. Wendy Brauner, a mother in San Francisco, was writing a check to her children's preschool for $17,000 every year, very close to the amount she paid for her first semester of college. Until children start kindergarten, they are in constant need of childcare during the day while their parents are at work. The question is, should one parent stay home to care for the children? On top of the childcare cost, one must worry about having a place to live, food and water, and other necessities of life. A lot of families need the second income, but it adds the cost of childcare when both parents are working. The federal government will grant a tax credit up to $1,050 per child for up to two children in childcare, but that is only annual. Ultimately, every family has to make their own decision about childcare. Should one parent stay at home? If so, which parent must sacrifice their job and care for the children?