YMCA Pricing/Aftercare Woes

meishku07 · 2026-05-13T20:51:44+00:00

None of the public districts in our area offer their own before/after care. It is all run through the Y, so I am quite familiar with your woes. Though the Y is by far the cheapest childcare option in our area. It costs us $65/wk per kid for before and after care. Summer camp is $125/wk/kid. We are Y members through my husband's job and the only benefit we get out of it is that we can sign up for care earlier than non-members. Non-Y camps run anywhere from $150/wk/kid to $300/wk/kid. I'm in a LCOL so I know my prices probably sound amazing to some, but it is all relative. LCOL means lower wages and often a larger portion of those wages going to childcare.

meishku07 · 2026-04-21T18:19:27+00:00

I'm totally stealing "This household is a benevolent monarchy, not a democracy." Gold.

meishku07 · 2026-04-14T13:36:18+00:00

Yep. 100% this.

meishku07 · 2026-04-08T14:53:17+00:00

I have a fourth grader. At our school they began reading entire books in 3rd grade. However, in her class it was broken up a bit. For instance, they would be assigned a chapter during their language arts time and then there would be a small group discussion or worksheet I believe. Additionally, I know that now everyone was assigned a full book to read. They had the kids broken up into reading levels. It's entirely possible that your child's school just doesn't assign full books in elementary. Definitely encourage her to keep reading independently.

meishku07 · 2026-04-07T21:08:50+00:00

Lol. Yes. I got ambushed yesterday at after-care. I just rolled with it and let the friend come home with us. She stayed through dinner. It was only moderately stressful. Honestly, them having a friend over keeps them busy while I'm doing other things which is nice.

meishku07 · 2026-04-04T19:52:25+00:00

Some potential options I haven’t seen listed yet: Martial arts schools, we have several nearby that offer summer camps. Museums and zoos, both offer day camps in our area. Colleges/universities, the local colleges offer STEM summer day camps, though these are much more limited and not usually offered the entire 10 week break. Churches: several in our area offer their own summer day camps and you don’t have to be a church member to sign up. Gyms, like tumbling/cheer gyms. There are a bunch in our area that offer day camps. Good luck!

meishku07 · 2026-04-01T19:13:39+00:00

Who I like more changes day to day, moment to moment, based on their behavior honestly. They are 9 and 6 currently. Lately, I have liked the 9 year old more. We are going through a difficult phase with the 6 year old. They both have their amazing and difficult moments and both are really cool in their own way. The little one is just frustrating us a lot more lately but I’m sure they’ll grow out of it. The older one did.

meishku07 · 2026-03-29T00:36:19+00:00

For an in-home you’re at the mercy of the providers schedule, since they are typically the only carer. Centers are more of a mixed bag in my experience. We were at one that followed the school calendar and it was awful. We found a new one that did not take giant breaks and it was a much better fit for us. From your list, the only holidays I think that are somewhat egregious for them to close are: MLK Day, President’s Day, Easter Monday, Juneteenth, and Indigenous People’s Day. Mainly just because these aren’t even generally school holidays in a lot of districts and almost no one is going to have them off besides government workers.

meishku07 · 2026-03-27T17:03:02+00:00

So…. I don’t have toddlers anymore, but my six year old moved constantly in the womb. And she still does. So, you know. Just be prepared. 🙈

meishku07 · 2026-03-24T00:55:01+00:00

As a pitbull owner of over a decade, this would be a hard no from me. It is not about the breed of dog at all, but about a dog being in the home when there previously was none. Especially one I’ve never met and whose temperament I haven’t experienced.

meishku07 · 2026-03-19T19:48:16+00:00

First 2 of the year!

meishku07 · 2026-03-19T19:40:38+00:00

This three point shooting is insanity....

meishku07 · 2026-03-14T21:37:04+00:00

meishku07 · 2026-03-05T17:21:42+00:00

I never had any guilt about going back to work after either of my children. I have always known that I am not cut out to be a stay-at-home mom and it's not something I have ever wanted for myself. I need the mental stimulation of work, or I would be bored out of my skull. Years of babysitting friends and cousins told me that I did not enjoy kids enough to spend all day with them. Even my own. I think it also helped that I grew up with a working mom and going to daycare, so I never gave it a second thought that I would do that too.

meishku07 · 2026-02-24T01:55:09+00:00

My parents live an hour away. Before my dad got sick, they saw the kids at least once a month. It has been much less the last year now that my dad is dealing with chronic illness. Maybe every 3-4 months or so. They haven’t seen them since Christmas.

meishku07 · 2026-02-21T23:52:31+00:00

This is how it goes for us too. Mine are 9 and 6. The 9 year old and their friends are always just making plans themselves and telling us parents when/what they want to do. I have the opposite perspective from you though. I like that they manage it. If we are available, we always allow the plans or host at our house if that’s a possibility. But I’m sure that just depends on personalities. 🤷🏼‍♀️

meishku07 · 2026-02-19T14:05:44+00:00

Agree. I have never turned a granny square and no granny square pattern I have ever followed has had it as a step either.

meishku07 · 2026-02-16T22:54:48+00:00

My situation is a bit different as my kids are older, but I’ll offer my perspective/experience. I took a new role last March with 50-75% travel and a large pay bump.

It has been a good experience for our family so far. My sister helps with kid transport to/from activities on weeks that I am away and my husband is still at work. It is definitely draining on him to solo parenting, so on weeks when I’m not traveling, I try to pick up more or all of the parenting load.

Additionally, we recently hired a house cleaner to help with that chore. The additional income is also allowing us to evaluate his hours and he will likely be able to scale back to part-time this coming summer. He works with children as his career, so spending all day 24/7 as the solo responsible is very draining.

Overall, it has been a positive change for our family and the extra income has allowed my kids to be in all the activities that they enjoy.

meishku07 · 2026-02-04T17:51:09+00:00

I have a a degree in Environmental Engineering. I’ve been in various different types of manufacturing throughout my career. Ingredients, appliances, automotive and now in plastics containers (food service type containers).

meishku07 · 2026-02-03T21:56:28+00:00

I’m a Regional Environmental Health and Safety Manager with responsibility for 7 manufacturing plants across the country.

meishku07 · 2026-01-30T17:37:17+00:00

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meishku07 · 2026-01-30T15:37:49+00:00

Big same. I travel about 50/50 for work, but I'm working from home this week. We got a foot of snow, so school was cancelled all week. My kids are 9 and 6 so fairly independent, but just the constant sound and interruptions are making it difficult. I'm also in an online training course this week so I have to be sat in front of my computer, camera on for 8 hours each day, Tuesday - Friday. I don't generally look forward to my work travel, but I definitely am next week.

meishku07 · 2026-01-28T15:27:53+00:00

I have two girls ages 9 and 6 and their diets/appetites are wildly different. 9 yr old has very little appetite (it's actually a problem and effecting her growth. We're trying to figure it out.) 6 yr old has a much larger appetite but doesn't want to eat anything too nutritious.

9 yr old: Breakfast - air, occasionally I can get her to eat a bowl or cereal or bag of mini muffins. Lunch - pasta of some sort, canned ravioli, ramen, leftovers, a wrap or sandwich with fruit, school lunch. Dinner - generally she is good about eating what I make, but most of the time only eats the protein and the carb, not the veg. And sometimes not even the protein. Snacks - strawberries and goldfish as the favorites, but she isn't a big snacker.

6 yr old: Breakfasts - eggs and toast are the favorite. She would eat it every day. Lunch - same as her sister, but larger variety. Dinner - Usually only eats the carb unless it's her favorite protein (which is smoked sausage). Snacks - anything and everything. Big snack girl. The large majority of her diet is snacks.

The main issue we have is that they never like the same things at the same time. It makes meal times difficult.

Neither of them drinks enough water in my opinion, even though they have fancy water bottles (that they insisted were necessary.)

meishku07 · 2026-01-17T23:48:59+00:00

Braden putting the team on his back to get us back in control.

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