The Alberta Rural Child Care Pilot Project

              SUGGESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM PARTICIPATING PARENTS
" The project was a huge benefit to our
farming operation. Biggest difference
was in my husband's temperament, " as
he is usually irritable and worried about
how he will get things done but this
year he is more relaxed about not
having to hire out the work."
" I felt the project made more of a
difference psychologically than
physically. Just knowing that help was
available and affordable relieved stress
and having the support of other
mothers was great." Grateful to know
that kids were not being exposed to
farm hazards. Affordable child care
allowed both parents to participate in
farm work thus increasing farm
production and efficiency while
reducing labor expenses. A few hard
workers in the group kept it running,
others were simply participants.
" Some of the families who needed this
most were the least likely to participate.
They did not have time to keep up the
paperwork, plan ahead or organize.
Some of the most cash strapped who
really need support had one or both
parents working off farm so didn't fit
the program. I would like to see child
care tax credits available to farm
families below a certain income. I do not
feel that a rural child care project should
be set up through public funding."
" Greatest success of the program was
knowing children were safe and not
sleeping on the ledge of a tractor."
" I felt I was contributing to the family's
livelihood and the kids were safer and
happier. It is economically more
practical to have wives assist during
busy times and emergencies."
Group meetings gave mothers a chance
to escape for a couple of hours, to relax
and share similar experiences with
others. " We need more of these fun and
comforting times together." Frequently
phoned each other in the evening just to
talk with someone. " The primary
organizer worked very hard to make
this project work."
" Felt less pressure to be " super mom"
and kids benefited from someone with
time for tea parties, mud pies, picking
saskatoons." All possible because of
hiring a child care person and not
feeling like ..." we were spending more
money than we had available."
Project took a stressful situation and
turned it into a happy time, had less
breakdowns and accomplished more.
Child was happy and relaxed, everyone
benefited, husband, child, baby- sitter,
mom.
" All farm women need support, even
those forced to work off farm. Tax credit
for child care would be most beneficial
and replace subsidies. Cost of child care
was approximately 1% of our total farm
expenses."