Mom Lists Reasons Why She Won't Put Daughter in Daycare, and Her Reasons Have a Point

Daycares are supposed to help both children and parents. They provide kids with an opportunity to socialize with other children while giving parents the time they need to work or attend to other matters without worrying about their child being left alone at home.

However, do all parents really know what happens after they drop their kids off at daycare? Are they aware of all the details that go into their child's day when they leave them in the hands of other adults who must care for not just one but many kids at the same time?

On TikTok, a mom went viral after revealing that she used to work in a daycare where, believe it or not, hugging was considered child abuse. She went on to explain that this was one of the reasons she refuses to work and put her daughter in childcare.

Her other reasons include subpar food menus and strict guidelines that actually prevent kids from, well, being kids.

She added that she could go on and on about the issues she discovered in the industry but chose not to. As her TikToks gained more views, however, people in the comments took it upon themselves to expand upon the topic.

When the woman saw the ongoing discussions, she released a follow-up video.

This Mom Lists the Reasons Daycare Just Isn't for Her Anymore

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Apparently, it's not only this mom who feels this way about the childcare system in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Treasury determined that the nation's childcare system is "unworkable," stating that it's plagued by market failures that have made quality care increasingly inaccessible for many families.

In one of its reports, the Treasury found that many industry workers are paid low wages, face discrimination, and experience high turnover rates. This results in parents struggling to afford childcare long before they reach their peak earning years.

Because of these issues, the Treasury is advocating for universal preschool, federal government support for paid family leave, and significant tax credits for parents and dependent care, as Democrats in Congress are working to implement a social spending bill that could reach $3.5 trillion.

“Having a well-functioning childcare sector is good for working families. It’s good for children. I would also emphasize that it’s good for the rest of us,” Catherine Wolfram, Treasury’s acting assistant secretary for economic policy, said. “It’s critical to a well-functioning economy.”

Tayla Stone, a former editor-in-chief and the woman behind the blogs 40 Now What and Motherhood: The Real Deal, also faced the same situation as olddavenportfam from TikTok. Tayla said that she too questioned the conditions at her daughter's daycare, but “the simple fact of the matter is, parents rely on daycare in order to continue their careers and manage the balance between raising a family and earning a living.”

“Even though we may feel the conditions are far from ideal or up to our standards, quite frankly for most parents, not sending their children is just not an option,” she said. “I still believe the advantages of daycare far outweigh the negatives, and it’s also important to note the positive implications for a child’s development and happiness, not to mention the fact that they provide support for families to sustain the responsibilities of raising a family, where often the traditional support structure of extended families has all but vanished for many.”

With that being the case, it's become increasingly important for parents to find the right fit for their child to ensure they can be fully at peace.

 “Not all daycare [centers] are the same. It’s important to do your research, spend time there, meet all the staff, get a sense of the atmosphere and management, the facilities, activities, and food provided, ask lots of questions, and most importantly, trust your gut,” Tayla Stone said. “If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Do the children seem happy there? What sort of feedback do other parents have? It’s important to remember that every child is different, as is every daycare, and it’s up to you as the parent to try and create the best match between the two as possible.”

With the Continuing Discussion, the Mom Eventually Released a Follow-Up Video

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These TikToks have resonated with so many parents for a reason.

According to a national panel survey of 2,500 working parents, nearly 20% of working parents had to either quit their job or reduce their working hours solely because of a lack of childcare. The survey also revealed that 26% of women lost their jobs during the pandemic due to a lack of childcare.

Only 30% of parents had a backup form of childcare, and there were significant differences between high-income and low-income households.

Vice President Kamala Harris also acknowledged the problem in The Washington Post, noting that the economy can't fully recover if women can't fully participate. “Without affordable and accessible childcare, working mothers are forced to make an unfair choice,” she said.

The TikToker Continued to Share Her Thoughts in the Comments Section of Her Videos

_clairestein

That Doesn't Sound Reassuring

smithrcamryn

People Need to Know What Really Happens When They're Not There

savannahhannon99

The Kids There Are Lucky

lovelygirlb

The Discussion Quickly Spread to Other Platforms as Well

Rae Dodkins-Rudge

It's Just Cold Not to Show Any Affection to the Kids

Kelly Snape

Kids Need to Be Comforted

Teresa Russhard

Isn't That Just Cold?

Rose Rosamond

Parents Have Been Expressing the Same Concerns for Some Time Now, However

Suppafly

Red Flag Right There

[deleted]

Be Very Meticulous About Picking One

BigMtFudgeCake

Okay, That Is Just Horrible

MyUsernamesBetter

It's Like They Really Don't Care About the Welfare of the Kids

Non_Existant_Name

Disgusting! They Should Have Been Reported!

catsasss

Taking care of a child while trying to build or maintain a career and pay the bills is not an easy job. While childcare is meant to help ease the burden on parents, it's not always a sure thing for them, especially given the current situation.

There needs to be improvement if parents are still depending on the childcare system to assist them. And it needs to happen quickly if they expect the economy to rise as fast as possible.