Is accepting six hours of free child care the same as..?

Question

Is accepting six hours of free child care while your husband is deployed to Iraq the same as being on welfare?

If you feel it is please explain what you would to in order to get some things done that children cannot be there for--hair appointments, doctor appointments, registering vehicles, emergencies or just having a little time for yourself?

Please remember you would not live by family or close friends that are able to baby sit.

Thanks for answering!!

Also remember that the list for the Child Care Development center is anywhere from 6-8 months of a wait.

SORRY--I just thought of one more thing. For those who do not feel it is the same as being on welfare could you please explain why. Thanks again!!

That would be six hours MONTHLY.

Answer 1

I think people look at "welfare" as a bad thing. It is our privilege and mantel to take care of each other. It is our responsibility to look out for each other's welfare. I especially believe this of people serving in the military. You get sent anywhere in the world, near family or not and you've got to support yourself and forge a life. If there is an opportunity to receive some "welfare" I say you have every right to it. God bless you and your family.

Answer 2

No, I do not consider it being on welfare. Lots of families, neighbors, etc. trade off taking care of each other's children so that the moms or dads can have some time to take care of personal business, even if one of the parents is not deployed in the military.

You need to have time to do these things so that when your spouse returns, it will be to a wife that isn't all burned out by the burden of doing both partners jobs.

Answer 3

I am in this situation, and no, it's not. Military spouses make a lot of sacrifices, and time is one. This is an area where the military can improve, especially if it's only like 6-10 hours a MONTH.

I have tried to bank, get a haircut, etc.. w/my children (I have 2), and it's not do-able usually. I have had to leave various apt or situations because my children were acting up & I was getting dirty looks. It is such a luxury to be able to run an errand alone, so this would be an excellent benefit.

Answer 4

TAKE THE SIX HOURS !!!! NO !! It's nothing like being on welfare. It's a responsible parent taking advantage of resources available. I would have cut off my right arm for the privilege of having six free hours of child care. I always took my kids with me if I didn't have someone to sit with them. I'm mom to 3. Don't be shy about accepting it!! It will give you me time that you will need while your husband is gone.

Answer 5

First, I think that any help you can get while your hubby is away is a bonus and a good thing. And child care, if it is someone you trust and respect, for free is a good thing. No, I don't think it's like being on welfare. I think it's giving someone a chance to say "thank you" to a brave army wife. Thank you for sending your brave man to fight for our freedom and preserve our liberty. Thank you for being tough. I had a really hard time while my guy was deployed...it's not easy at all! Now go and enjoy your massage, knowing that your children are fine.

Answer 6

Given Webster's definition of welfare, this would qualify as welfare. Their definition is: aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need {http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=welfare } but its not the type of welfare that people generally think of--which would be food stamps, medicaid, cash assistance, etc. But it would still qualify as welfare if the provider is getting paid for their services (especially if the payment comes from a government entity).

But, if you need those six hours and you can't afford to pay for them yourself (at about $5-$10 per hour depending on where you live), then you need it and there's no shame in that.

Other things people would probably look into: joining a mommy co-op where babysitting services are exchanged with no cash involved, church programs for families of deployed soldiers, a mother's helper (a young teenager who is around to look after the kids while you are still around).

I just thought of another type of welfare that people don't generally label as "welfare"--college Pell grants, money from the government that pays for goods or services that doesn't get paid back.

Answer 7

I am now getting a divorce but when i was with my hub he was deployed! I was lucky enough to have my mother take my daughter for some free time! I was pregnant the 9 months he was gone and then an extra months her first 3 months! My mother helped me! But otherwise no i dont think so! If you need welfare and are actually trying to get a job who cares!

Answer 8

I don't think that it's anywhere near the same thing as welfare. If your husband is over seas or just away from home doing what his country tells him to do then six hours of free babysitting is the very least that should be offered to you. Accept it and don't worry... Everyone needs a break sometimes - to protect their sanity!

Answer 9

I had no family close by me while my kids were growing up and i done my best at going to appointments,etc even if it meant taking the kids along with me. I was a stay at home mom while my kids were small up until one was old enough to watch the other one while i was at work.
Do you work? I think that is a handout. You might as well call it welfare because it is something free that you should be paying for.
If you cannot afford a baby-sitter 6 hours out of the month then tell me why you have kids or if you have anymore.
If you wanted time only to yourself you shouldn't of had kids.

When i went and had my hair done my kids were sitting right there with me.
When i had to register a vehicle my kids were right there with me.

Give me a break, you people on here moan about everything. Don't have kids if your going to throw a conniption fit!

Answer 10

It's not welfare, welfare is horrible but sometimes necessary. You have to literally work and beg to get it. They make you fill out hundreds of pages of paperwork and answer for every penny you have spent for a year...I will never do it again. That is not welfare, that is necessary because your hubby isn't there to give you the time you need to do those things. I have to take my preschooler and toddler with me to the doctor later this month because my hubby can't get out of work and I don't have any family in the area, it is going to suck. There is nothing wrong with finding someone to watch them. Go for it, and thank you to you and your family for the sacrifices you make to serve the rest of us in the military. If you lived near me, you'd get all the free day care you needed.