Not every parent has the luxury of staying at home with their children.
In these economically tough times, I can imagine that stay-at-home moms (or dads) are seeking work outside of the home. At least part-time.
And single parents are picking up every extra shift they can to make a few extra bucks.
With that comes the issue of child care.
For those who are lucky enough to work the traditional 9-to-5 hours, there's day care. Hundreds of them. Most, willing to watch your kid until the early evening hours.
But what about those of us who don't work traditional hours? What options do we have for child care, other than whichever relative is available for the night?
Well, a few child care providers have recognized the need and are offering parents some flexibility.
Several centers and home-based day cares are open after 8 p.m. and others 24 hours, to accommodate the needs of working parents.
Susan Beardsley, program director at Bundles of Luv Child Development on Center Road in Burton, said despite low enrollment in the evening program, it's still important to offer parents the service.
"We have to accommodate the second- and third-shift working people in the area," Beardsley said. "Some of our parents are nurses at the hospitals, work for GM or do elder care. They work at places that are open 24 hours."
The center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and holidays.
Children eat dinner family-style and time is allotted for homework.
"Some of the kids bring night clothes and toothbrushes," Beardsley said recently. "Some kids leave the center headed straight to school."
At Active Learning Child Care Center, also on Center Road in Burton, a computer, library with reference books and tutoring help is available to school-aged children who are at the center during the evening hours.
The center opened for business about two weeks ago and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Family-style dinner and an 8:30 p.m. bedtime are part of the daily routine.
"People are working two jobs just to get by," said Hanan Haddad, owner of the Active Learning Child Care Center. "So we're trying to make it as much like home as we can for their kids."
The UAW-GM Child Development Center on Richfield Road in Genesee Township provides child care services for GM hourly employees. The center is open from 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Always Learning Daycare Center on North Belsay Road is also open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As a parent, you definitely want options when it comes to child care.
And as an employee, you don't want your career to be limited by the hours you're available to work.
So how do you choose?
Apparently, you don't have to.