Miss Kelly

New year.....new caseload!  Such is the life of an SLP in a large urban district.

Reality check, Sam will be 15 very soon and he will still not be getting off the bus alone, walking down the street, letting himself in the house, getting a snack and starting homework.  School based childcare cuts off at 6th grade.  He is too old for a childcare center and not old enough for an adult care center.  Agencies want a three to five hour commitment, making costs anywhere between $150-500 a week depending on hourly rate ($10-20.)  I can't afford that out of pocket, it's practically a house payment!  Or I could let it eat through what little respite funding I get in about three months and then start paying that much. What is a mom to do????

Lucky moms like me have a friend like Kelly.  She offered to become an employee of an agency and cover the one hour a day I need.  She had to go to training, become CPR certified, and pass background checks.  Now that my schedule is changing from late days to one early day, she is helping me yet again!  She says that she enjoys it and spending that time with Sam is the highlight of her day.  Well, she sure as heck isn't doing it for the glory or pay! 

Thank you Kelly for snatching me from the jaws of single working mom defeat; not once, but TWICE this school year!  I'm not sure what next year holds for us all, but it's nice to know that for the moment, you got me covered!