CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) -
It's something parents of young children already know, daycare is expensive.
But a new study finds paying someone to watch your little ones is more expensive than putting a roof over their heads!
Heartland moms say it's their number one expense. Even higher than their rent as the study says, and even their mortgage.
But we found some aren't complaining, saying their children are priceless and worth every penny.
Jonna McClard is a working mother of two. We caught up with her on the job while her two children, four-year-old Harper and 15-month-old Beckett spend the day at Christian School for the Young Years.
"I feel like day care is necessary," said McClard. "I'd prefer to be with my kids everyday, but I don't have that option. So I have to pay someone else to take care of my kids."
She says no doubt it's expensive. At $260 a week for the two of them, she says it's more than her house payment. And according to one housing website, easily more than Missouri's average rent payment of $500 a month.
"It's an expensive thing to do and it's necessary, but I don't worry about my kids during the day," said McClard. "I pay a lot of money more than my mortgage but my kids are the most important thing. If I don't have to worry about them it's definitely worth the cost."
According to a new report from Child Care Away, the annual coast of child care continues to rise. If you have two children, it is now higher than the average rent payment in all 50 states
"We are willing to pay the bill because we want our kids being taken care of, and they are being taken care of well," McClard said.
Other working moms like Brittany Price say it's their number one expense.
"I pay like $880 a month and my rent is $750, Price said. "At the top what's important to me is to get it paid."
Price is the mother of four-year-old Jack and two-year-old Brooks.
She says day care is not only the most expensive, but the first bill that gets paid.
"My kids are number one without a doubt," said Price.
She says she looks forward to the day when the two of them go to school making those day- care dollars available for other bills
"It puts us on a tight budget pretty much empty after we pay everything," said Price.
According to child care providers, they say they know it's expensive but it's also an expensive business to run, considering the cost of diapers, food, and a clean safe environment.
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