"Daycare Costs Are Outrageous!" How Do You Respond??

[blessedmess8]

It always just floors me when people complain to me about the cost of child care! I make a decent living at it, but let's face it! I figured up my hourly pay once and promised myself I'd never do it again because it is very discouraging! Ha!! Most of us aren't in it for the $!
My gut instinct is to say something like: "Well, what do you pay for your car a month? Is your child at least worth that??" Buuuut, I try to avoid confrontation. I usually just kind of smile and nod and wonder how on earth someone can say that to ME?
How do you respond? I need a clever response to get my point accross that doesn't sound hateful and defensive. My husband once came to my defense during a conversation and said, "Well. It's like anything. You get what you pay for."

[jen]

Next time put it back on them and start asking questions like...

Really? You think so? Gosh, I don't know...I charge X per week for X amount of hours, so each person pays about $X per hour....that includes food, preschool, toys, etc.

What do you think is fair?

Most often I think people don't actually *think* about what they are really paying before opening their mouth!

[Unregistered]

Is that a parent who drives in in their NEW car, with their designer clothes on, their fancy coffee and will be on the way to their NEW house??

[AfterSchoolMom]

Most of the time, when people say that to me and I respond with "but you're only paying 2 dollars per hour", their response is "yes, but you make that PER child". Like I'm going to slap my forehead and go "you know, I never looked at it that way...on second thought, I'm rich!".

[jen]

You could always laugh and say, "YES! And thank God for that! I'm not sure how we'd afford our vacation home otherwise!"

[mismatchedsocks]

What i would WANT to say is "Whew, I know a 12 hour day 5 days a week, then all the planning, cleaning, shopping, food, art, supplies, love, attention, a safe place. Its probably worth about, what do you think? minimum wage?"

What I would say is "I know I dislike my bills too, especially that mortgage"

[youretooloud]

I had a Mom tell me that one day. I said "Well, you could look into state paid childcare". She said "No.. we make too much money".

"Did you just listen to yourself say that?"

"Ya... As soon as I said it, I realized how it sounded".

These same people were the BIGGEST HUGEST pain in my butt for two years. I have no idea why I put up with it for so long. Probably because her son was unfortunately my most favorite. He was our mascot. He was totally worth the fact that his mom was a shrew. (dad was actually a sweet guy.. in a puppy sort of way)

[Kaddidle Care]

Tell them if they feel it's so expensive to actually put on paper

what they make $$$

less gas
less work clothes
less prepared meals or dinner out

and if they don't bring home more than Daycare costs, they might as well stay home and actually raise their child themselves.

[SilverSabre25]

"Gosh, I know, they certainly are outrageously low, I'm glad you feel the same way! I guess this is a perfect time to talk about my $20/day rate increase..."

[MyAngels]

"Gosh, I know, they certainly are outrageously low, I'm glad you feel the same way! I guess this is a perfect time to talk about my $20/day rate increase..."

::::Love it!

[MommyMuffin]

When I worked outside the home I made $120 a day or so...now I make $25 a day per child...plus I buy wipes, food, toys, pay for enrichment classes, curriculum for the preschoolers....hmmm

When your a parent it sounds like a lot of money but it really isnt when you break it down.

[Michael]

(dad was actually a sweet guy.. in a puppy sort of way)

:: to a guy that sounds like "lamb waiting for slaughter".

[bgmeyers]

I think I would just have to say that I'm worth way more than you are paying. And then say nothing more. This is the rudest comment from them!

[familyschoolcare]

I had a Mother say she could not afford my prices once. She said she wanted to sign her son up for 3 days but could only afford 1. I offered her the numbers for 4c's. She latter reported to me that they told her she qualified but that there was a 2 years wait. to which I responded oh that to bad.

[nannyde]

Just answer "yes it is CRAZY expensive. Kids cost SO much money. I always try to tell people BEFORE they have kids how expensive it is and they never believe me until they have one and start forking out the money to pay for them. Tell EVERYONE you know BEFORE they have kids what you just told me."