"While going through a divorce in 2020, the topic of after-school care for our two children came up, along with the associated cost. My son was in third grade, and my daughter was starting kindergarten. The thought of my kids being home alone after school gave me so much anxiety. I was insistent about adding after-school care details to the divorce decree, and I agreed that my ex and I would split the cost."
"I didn't realize how expensive the program at my kids' school would be. I enrolled the kids and created an account for our family with my credit card, and my kids' father sent his portion each month. Still, it felt expensive. There was only one program on-site at my kids' school in Houston, which now costs around $400 a month for one child, not including additional registration fees, bringing it to about $2,000 per semester."
"I tried to look on the bright side. The program meant my kids always had a place to go after school; they were familiar with the place, they were with their friends, it was close to my home, and the pickup extended until 6 p.m., giving me more time to work. Having the kids enrolled in the same place for after care meant less co-parenting, too."
When divorced in 2020, the parents agreed to split after-school care costs and added care details to the decree because of anxiety about children being home alone. Virtual learning during the pandemic delayed use of the program for six months. Upon school reopening, the monthly cost of around $400 per child caused sticker shock and strained the single parent's budget amid rent, car payments, and insurance. The parent enrolled the children, used a credit card, and the co-parent sent a monthly portion. The program provided familiar supervision, friend contact, proximity, and pickup until 6 p.m., enabling work time and easing co-parenting.
Read at Business Insider
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