Whew...school is out. What now?

Keeping it real and safe for single moms and the kids is a complex and challenging tightrope walk regardless of varying perceptions. Since we all know what we are talking about, here are some ideas that are worth presenting:

Pre-schoolers need to stay with a sitter while mom goes to work. 7-10 year olds (who would otherwise be latchkey kids because Mom can not afford to pay for 2 children) are.....

• going to work with Mommy (with shorter days, paid off with accumulated PTO time)
• attending VBS with paid after care provided by the church who already have facilities and staff*
• attending VBS or YMCA with a rotating mommy-co-op
• attending a employer sponsored on site daycare for several weeks
• attending a employer sponsored off site day care for several weeks (*)**
• If you have a 4H group, ask them to sponsor a special summer farm program
• Check your area for sustainable/organic farms with "hands on" classes

** This would be a great opportunity for teens to be off the street, do something responsible AND earn money. They also could get free CPR and sitter training which looks good on a resume.

Talk to your employer, talk to your pastor/staff, work it out with the mommy co-op and network.
(print this and give it to them)