We get 16 hours a month, per child, to use for hourly care while DH is deployed. I think for regular daycare on post, the fee is reduced or something like that during deployments, but I'm not sure since we only use hourly care.
Because we get 16 hours a month, I take 4 hours about once a week and go to lunch and a movie, or shopping, or wherever just to get away from the kids for a bit. Not that I don't love being around them, but 24/7 by yourself gets frustrating after a while. You know.
Volunteering is a good idea! I know here, a lot of places on post offer free childcare for their volunteers, so if you have that option you could do that and still get out and just go somewhere every now and then if you also get free deployment hours.
I'm also planning on joining our local Y soon since I can get a single adult household membership for less than $50/month (it depends on income here), and that includes free childcare while you workout. I'll get my exercise on which helps me handle stress better, they'll play in the daycare area, and I can even take them into the pool for another activity for them every now and then.
Because we get 16 hours a month, I take 4 hours about once a week and go to lunch and a movie, or shopping, or wherever just to get away from the kids for a bit. Not that I don't love being around them, but 24/7 by yourself gets frustrating after a while. You know.
Volunteering is a good idea! I know here, a lot of places on post offer free childcare for their volunteers, so if you have that option you could do that and still get out and just go somewhere every now and then if you also get free deployment hours.
What the other ladies said. I volunteer at our base thrift shop and my childcare expenses get reimbursed. So check with who/where you will be volunteering at to see what they do as far as childcare. It's so rewarding to help the community AND get some adult time. Good luck!
I used to work at the cdc and every month they had something called "give parents a break" and if your spouse is deployed it's free, but you had to get a little card or something from airman and family readiness in order to sign up. it was usually on friday nights or saturday during the day.
Just to put it out there ACS Torii Station offers x amount of free childcare a month when you volunteer with them. If you take classes through them child care is also paid for. I have enjoyed doing a couple hours a week because it is a job skill I can add to my resume. So try checking into something like that.
Re: XP: free childcare?
The only thing I know about free childcare from the CDC is 10 free hours, when your spouse is deployed
Because we get 16 hours a month, I take 4 hours about once a week and go to lunch and a movie, or shopping, or wherever just to get away from the kids for a bit. Not that I don't love being around them, but 24/7 by yourself gets frustrating after a while. You know.
Volunteering is a good idea! I know here, a lot of places on post offer free childcare for their volunteers, so if you have that option you could do that and still get out and just go somewhere every now and then if you also get free deployment hours.
I'm also planning on joining our local Y soon since I can get a single adult household membership for less than $50/month (it depends on income here), and that includes free childcare while you workout. I'll get my exercise on which helps me handle stress better, they'll play in the daycare area, and I can even take them into the pool for another activity for them every now and then.
It does get frustrating sometimes.
I never even knew! Thanks again!
What the other ladies said. I volunteer at our base thrift shop and my childcare expenses get reimbursed. So check with who/where you will be volunteering at to see what they do as far as childcare. It's so rewarding to help the community AND get some adult time.
Good luck!