There’s a new birth control procedure sweeping DeKalb County and Tennessee.  It’s called the “exorbitant daycare cost!”  It produces positive results with only one application and it’s not free to the general public.

The astronomical costs of daycare for the working mothers and fathers are sinful.  I remember in the early 1980’s, I paid Bonnie Wilkerson $50 per child per week for childcare.  Everything was provided in the weekly total.  Today, it’s climbed to $160 per day for infants.  If your child is older than age two, the rates decrease. The above mathematical information was supplied by Shirley, owner of Shirley’s Day Care, located at 1001 South Mountain Street in Smithville, Tennessee (see list below for additional monetary additions).

In a further local continuation, Jama Carter Martin of Smithville, Tennessee voiced the following: “My grandchildren live in Cookeville (Tennessee) and the daycare for one child is $150 per week and school aftercare (before and after school is $100 per week.)  I think that if you have two children in school, the aftercare also is $150 per child per week - $300 per week for two children.” 

Murfreesboro, Tennessee seems to top all locales and inner cities for the highest childcare pricing.  Emily Webb Newell will begin paying the following amounts next year when her daughter, Naomi, begins her daycare education.  Newell recently commented, “The Murfreesboro monthly prices will be increasing by $20 soon.”  She quoted the following astronomical prices for this designated area:  “For two days per week, the cost is $530 and for three days per week, the cost is $630.”

The Kids Konnection on South Congress Blvd. in Smithville has staggered child compatible spaces with corresponding fees.  In a recent interview with Tabby, the director of the school, she emphasized the charge for infants is $160 per week with an extra $75 enrollment fee and for two-year-old toddlers, the weekly fee is $145.  Per week denotes five days.   They also offer Wednesday evening services.

All inclusive, should your child be of an odd age or have specific characteristics and/or are problematic, potential enrollees’ parents or guardians should telephone the interested Day Care Center.  Word of mouth is a great indicator and advertising medium.  Additionally, it would behoove you to check the availability of public web pages for further posted subjective information.  The rates and times are printed on the Kids’ Konnection website.

The daycare monetary numbers in Tennessee are mesmerizing and borderline unbelievable.  If you don’t have a hole in your pocket now – you soon will have at these published prices.

According to tootris.com, “Tennessee’s average annual Child Care is between $7,500 and $8,500 with the higher end being for infant care.  This medium ranges from $700-$800 per month.” I’m not kidding!  Makes one wonder how he/she will break even if monthly employment totals $750.00 each month.  Google it!

The following three-line-item glossary pertains to Tennessee:

·     The average monthly cost of infant care is $829 per month.

·     The average monthly cost of toddler child care is $769 per month.

·     The average monthly cost of child care for ages two and up is $674 per month.

Wouldn’t it be nice if your baby was age two at birth!  Talk about Guiness Book of World Records!  In some countries today, babies are age one on the day they are  born.

In Nashville, Tennessee, child care can be in the vicinity of $1,000 per month.  This area is the highest of the largest five metropolitan cities in the state.  The smallest monthly cost is under $650 in Clarksville, Tennessee.  The median numbers for the other major populus and multiplying cities are around $700 monthly.

Don’t forget to add on incidentals to the above totals, such as driving costs (how much to drive to the day care center); food and accessories (additional for meals and snacks); enrollment fees and registration (to hold your child a place at the center); supply fees (bring your own diapers and wet-ones); field trip fees (to cover transportation); and later pickup fees (if you’re late getting your child).

As a learning addendum, child care providers in Tennessee must meet specific licensing requirements set by the Department of Human Services in each respective state.

The following statistics are made available for Tennessee residents:

·     According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 59% of children under age six in Tennessee have all available parents in the workforce, highlighting the need for accessible and reliable child care options.

·     The Child Care Aware of America’s 2020 report states that only 20% of eligible children in Tennessee receive Child Care assistance through the Child Care Certificate programs.

·     The Tennessee Department of Human Services reports that there are over 5,000 licensed Child Care facilities in the state, including center-based programs, family Child Care homes, and before and after school programs.

The above totals are now available for self-individual child care decisions.  The cost of childcare monthly in DeKalb County, Tennessee ranges from one infant, $7,680 per year exclusive of the above incidentals; one toddler, $7,200 per year exclusive of the above incidentals; and $6,250 per year exclusive of the above incidentals.  As a logistics reminder, one week equals five days, while one month equals four weeks (28 days).

And, to add more fuel to the fire, the total cost today of a child to age 18 in the United States has jumped to $17,000 a year times 18 years equals $310,605.  The preceding totals are from the U. S. Agricultural Department as printed in the “Washington Post” newspaper.

Did I overhear the word “vasectomy?”  In Tennessee, the surgical cost is $525. 

Do the math!