I had a job interview today. And yes… I had to bring my toddler along.
Well, not to the actual interview. But I did have to drag him into Manhattan to drop him off at my wife’s office first. Because childcare is expensive. And because, well… I’m not working yet. (Hence the interview.)
Every so often, a story pops up in the news: a mom who left her kid at the park to run a job interview, or a dad who slept on a McDonald’s bench between shifts. At first, people vilify them. But usually, once the full story comes out, everyone realizes they were just doing whatever they could to survive—and to give their family a better shot.
I get it. I’ve probably judged people like that myself. At least until I faced something similar firsthand.
Childcare is crushingly expensive. Babysitters, daycare, preschool, camp—it can easily break your budget. Especially when your income is tight. Especially if you don’t have family nearby to help.
I’m lucky. My wife is working. And the jobs I’m hunting for pay decently and offer benefits. But the catch is—they don’t pay yet.
So today, I did what I had to do. I dragged my exhausted toddler onto the subway, let him fall asleep on me, then carried him eight blocks in a full suit—on what might have been the hottest day in history. By the time we got to my wife’s office, I was dripping sweat, exhausted, and probably looked a little ridiculous.
It wasn’t easy. It sounds absurd, but it was actually inconvenient that he fell asleep on the train! But I was lucky—my wife could take him for a few hours while she finished her work, giving me the time I needed to make the interview.
And at least I didn’t have to bring him inside with me. Not everyone has that luxury, not when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The truth is, everyone has challenges. I don’t know a single person who isn’t juggling struggles—sometimes multiple ones at once—financial, emotional, or both. We all take shortcuts to get by, doing what we can to survive and provide for our families. Some shortcuts are harder than others, some more desperate—but we’re all doing the best we can.
So maybe let’s cut each other some slack. And if anyone knows of cheap daycare in Manhattan… message me.
