22 September 2008

Childcare woes …

Now that grant application deadlines are looming I wish that the city I live in had more flexible and affordable childcare. In recent years the quality of childcare has improved in leaps and bounds and there are a wide variety of choices. That’s the good news. The bad news is that waiting lists are very long and part-time care is nearly non-existent. Also for a scientist who is between grants (something that happens to even the best of researchers) the cost of care (which is higher than rent or college tuition where I live) is prohibitive. So like many parents who are trying to stay-in-the-game in academia, I am taking care of my baby by day and working by night. It is exhausting, but it is the best I can do at the moment.