AUBURN, Wash. (AP) — After a series of lower-paying jobs, Nicole Slemp finally landed one she loved. She was a secretary for Washington’s child services department, a job that came with her own cubicle, and she had a knack for working with families in difficult situations.
Slemp expected to return to work after having her son in August. But then she and her husband started looking for child care – and doing the math. The best option would cost about $2,000 a month, with a long wait list, and even the least expensive option would cost around $1,600, still eating up most of Slemp’s salary. Her husband earns about $35 an hour at a hose distribution company. Between them, they earned too much to qualify for government help.
“I really didn’t want to quit my job,” says Slemp, 33, who lives in a Seattle suburb. But, she says, she felt like she had no choice.
Murder investigation launched after two people died in house fire in north
Charlotte the virgin stingray is growing something besides just babies, her caretakers reveal
China storms to quarters, thrilling matchups await
China's golden week glitters with booming tourism, cultural consumption
Inside Kate Middleton's sweet annual midnight tradition for Prince Louis' birthday
Shandong city seeks to capitalize on barbecue fame
Beijing confirms recovering tourism during New Year holiday
The world's BUSIEST airports revealed: Inside the 10 most packed aviation centers across the globe
Former Green Bay player Kayla Karius leaves South Dakota to return to her alma mater as coach
Singapore's outgoing prime minister will stay on as senior minister, his successor says