Child Care Gaps in Our Community – By Ashlyn Kuelling

One of the hardest challenges our family has faced with Early Childhood Education and Care services in our community has been the struggle to find consistent, reliable child care for our children. 
 
As a working parent of three young children, this has not just been a logistical challenge—it has been an emotional weight that affects our entire family. Finding care for my 1-year-old daughter has been especially difficult. Infant care options are extremely limited, and when spots are available, the waitlists are long and uncertain. For my 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, securing after-school care has also been a constant worry, as available programs often fill quickly or do not align with working parents’ schedules. 
 
There have been many moments of stress and uncertainty, trying to piece together care from different sources—family help when it is available, adjusting work schedules, and constantly planning week to week. It often feels like we are one missed opportunity away from everything falling apart. 
 
As a parent, it is difficult to describe the guilt and anxiety that comes with not always knowing if your children have a stable, safe place to go while you are at work. You want to be fully present at your job, but your mind is often split, thinking about child care coverage and whether everything will work out for the day. 
 
Despite these challenges, I am deeply grateful for the educators and caregivers who do this work every day. Our experience has shown how urgently our community needs more accessible, affordable, and flexible child care options for families like ours. 
 
Early Childhood Education and Care is not just a service—it is the foundation that allows families to function, children to thrive, and parents to work with peace of mind.