upworthy

daycare

Family

All families in New Mexico will get free childcare in unprecedented policy move

“It’s not an expenditure, it’s an investment."

Photo credit: Canva

As of November, all childcare will be no-cost for families in New Mexico.

In the modern era, one of the biggest financial considerations families have to navigate is the cost of childcare. Many families can't make it on one income, but those who work in lower-wage jobs often find that childcare costs nearly as much as they make, putting them between a pricey rock and an expensive hard place. Single parents are even more stuck, and with the cost of other basic living expenses putting a squeeze on people's pocketbooks, most have no choice but to work full-time.

That's why New Mexico becoming the first U.S. state to provide universal, no-cost childcare to all families across the state, regardless of income, is a big deal. As of Nov. 1, 2025, that financial burden is lifted for all families statewide.

new mexico, policy, childcare, families, kids, daycare New Mexico will cover childcare costs for all families across the state, regardless of income. www.facebook.com

“The blueprint for early childhood education in America is happening right here in New Mexico,” Lujan Grisham said at a news conference at the state Capitol. That blueprint includes eliminating the current income limit (which is 400% of the federal poverty level) to qualify for childcare assistance, increasing the pay for childcare providers to a minimum of $18 an hour, and a plan to build 55 more licensed childcare centers and register 1,000 new in-home daycares. The state estimates an additional 5,000 early childhood professionals are needed to fully achieve a universal system, which means more job opportunities for New Mexico residents as well.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) currently spends about $463 million per year (about half of that department's budget) on child care assistance for families. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will reportedly seek an additional $120 million during the 30-day session that begins in January to fully implement the new plan.

“It’s not an expenditure, it’s an investment," said Lt. Gov. Howie Morales. That appears to be how many countries around the world view it as well, since the United States sits as an outlier among developed nations when it comes to money spent subsidizing childcare.

“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” said Lujan Grisham. “By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

Pew Research found that a majority of Americans believe providing free child care would encourage more people to have children, which is significant since birth rates in the U.S. have dropped and fertility rates worldwide are in a sharp decline. Economists and other experts have expressed concern over declining populations being unable to replace themselves and the social and economic ramifications of that potentiality. While the number of children someone has is a personal family decision, initiatives like universal childcare make it easier for families to have the number of children they desire.

“Early childhood care and education is a public good,” said ECECD Sec. Elizabeth Groginsky. “By providing universal access and improving pay for our early childhood workforce, we are easing financial pressure on families, strengthening our economy, and helping every child learn in safe, nurturing environments. This is the kind of investment that builds equity today and prosperity for the future.”

new mexico, daycare, babies, toddlers, universal childcare Families in New Mexico won't have to worry about affording childcare. Photo credit: Canva

What many Americans may not know is that the U.S. actually did have universal childcare once before. During World War II, the U.S. government subsidized childcare so mothers could work and contribute to the war effort. An estimated 550,000 to 600,000 children were cared for at daycare facilities at no cost for families, but despite letters and petitions asking to keep the program going, the government ended it in 1946.

Will other states follow in New Mexico's footsteps? We'll see. New Mexico appears to be a good place to start investing more in early childhood and childcare, as the state ranks close to the bottom in child well-being, health, and education. While government can't fix all societal problems, it can strive to ensure that families have the resources they need to stay above water and afford the basic necessities.

From Your Site Articles
families
FamilyParenting
Modern Families

Boy joyfully greeting his mom at daycare pickup for five years is the cutest compilation ever

That squeal of delight is just too precious.

@TeesePeese/Twitter

A mom shared five years of daycare pickups, with her son squealing in delight every time.

There is nothing more pure in this world than the love between a child and a caring parent. But even in the world of healthy attachments and strong family bonds, this viral video takes the cake. Twitter user @TeesePeese shared a compilation of highlights showing her son's reaction at daycare pickup, and it's seriously the most precious thing ever.

"I really do love this video," she wrote. "I recorded my son's pick up almost every day and this is his reaction every single time. For his 5th bday (yesterday) I took my favorites and made a lil compilation, from infancy to just last week." The squeals. The smiles. The skipping for joy. Gracious, it doesn't get any sweeter.

Clearly that's a boy who adores his mama—and also has an adorable sense of enthusiasm.

Some new parents may worry that sending their child to daycare will negatively affect their child's attachment to them, but according to psychologist Noam Shpancer Ph.D, that worry is unfounded as long as the family environment is healthy at home.

"Available data indicate that, for most children, parental attachment processes are not disrupted by daycare participation," Shpanccer noted in a 2017 article for Psychology Today. "Home variables, such as maternal sensitivity, are the strongest predictors of parent-child attachment, even for daycare children."

Clearly this kiddo's parent-child attachment hasn't suffered from being in daycare. Research also shows what common sense should also tell us—the quality of daycare matters.

daycare, kids, parenting, quality, childcare Kids in daycare. Canva Photos.

Unfortunately, quality daycare can be prohibitively expensive, which is why the proposed affordable childcare provisions in former President Joe Biden's 2021 Build Back Better plan were a huge deal during his administration. Millions of parents have to work to support their families and middle-class American families spent an average of 14% of their income on childcare in 2021—double what the limit was under the Build Back Better framework. in 2025, that number has ballooned to 22% according to Care.com's annual Cost for Care Report.

The U.S. remains an outlier in this area. According to The New York Times in 2021, other wealthy nations contribute an average of $14,000 per year for a toddler's child care costs, while the U.S. contributes merely $500. In 2024, Statista revealed U.S. couples with two children must spend 20% of their disposable income on childcare while single parents spend 37%, according to data gathered in 2022 from the OECD. In comparison, in Switzerland, the second most expensive OECD country in the world, single parents must contribute only 18% of their income if working full-time. It's a huge difference no matter how you look at it, and in 2023, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called the state of childcare in the U.S. a "broken market."

finances, childcare, costs, parenting, daycare The state of childcare in the U.S. has been called a "broken market."Canva Photos.

The virtues of stay-at-home motherhood versus working motherhood have been debated for decades, but no one can deny that childcare should be high quality and affordable whether a parent chooses to work or has to work. Personally, I was able to and chose to stay home during my kids' early childhoods, but I would be thrilled for my tax dollars to go toward helping all families get the support and childcare they need to make their individual situations work.

At any rate, we love seeing kiddos loving on their mamas, especially ones with infectious grins and delight-filled squeals. Thanks for capturing your sweet boy's joy and sharing it with the rest of us @TeesePeese. You brought smiles to so many faces.

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

From Your Site Articles
child care
Modern FamiliesFamily
Pop Culture

'She's a hero.' 4-year-old's quick thinking saves her teacher's life after she collapsed

"It was a shock to me to see that she knew exactly what to do in a situation like that," her mom shared.

Photo credit: Canva

Kids have better instincts than we give them credit for.

We do our best to teach our kids everything they need to handle what life throws at them, but sometimes they are simply born with the right instincts.

When four-year-old Kyndal Bradley saw her daycare teacher collapse due to a seizure, leaving the entire classroom alone without an adult, she knew exactly what to do. Rather than freezing up or crying, she immediately went to get help.

Without this fast action, her teacher would have been in serious trouble—as in, a life or death situation. But luckily paramedics arrived in time to take the teacher to the hospital.

As reported by WSMV Nashville, Taylor Moore, Kyndal’s mom, had no idea of this brave feat until she went to pick her little girl up that afternoon.

“They were like, ‘She’s our hero for the day,’ and I’m kind of looking like, what happened?” Moore shared.

Understandably, this news was unexpected. Though Moore had been teaching Kyndal a few basics, like her phone number and home address, she “never thought to introduce what to do if an emergency arises, so it was a shock to me to see that she knew exactly what to do in a situation like that.”

At the same time, Moore told WSMV that Kyndal has a natural "nurturing spirit,” and is always taking care of her fellow classmates, so in some ways, it’s not that much of a surprise. Regardless, Moore is “very proud” of how Kyndal handled the situation.

And how’s this for heartwarming? When asked if there’s anything she’d like her recovering teacher to know, Kyndal simply said, “I love you.” What pure sweetness!

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Down in the comments, viewers also hailed Kyndal a hero.

“I have epilepsy, that little girl is so brave. I know adults who are petrified by the thought of a seizure occurring near them. She’s gonna be a caretaker of some sort when she grows up. Good job baby. Keep up the good work, keep helping people in need.”

“Great job mom. What an amazing little girl you have.”

“What a great example of great parenting! Teaching this precious little girl to be nurturing and caring to others! Her caring and concern for the needs of those around her and her mom teaching her emergency skills amazing! This little lady is a little hero !!! God bless her and her mom for teaching her to care and what to do in an emergency!!!”

“What a heartfelt story!! This is what the world needed to hear because of the chaotic times that we are in. Not only is she beautiful and quick on her feet, but she is very intelligent.”

Moore hopes that this moment acts as a reminder for parents to “not underestimate” how their own littles might fare in a crisis, and to start teaching them skills sooner rather than later.

“They’re little, but they may be our saviors, so they need to know how to react.”

Preparing kids for emergencies

nashville, nashville news, positive news, good news, daycare, emergency preparedness A child dialing 911Photo credit: Canva

In most emergency situations involving kids, a major skill to learn is how to successfully handle a 911 call, even when nerves are at play. That means making sure they know how to give their phone number and address correctly (just like Moore taught Kyndal), to state whether someone is ill or hurt, and to know if they need to leave the area before calling (in the case of a fire, for example). In this day and age, it’s also super important that they know how to unlock a mobile phone and dial on it.

It’s also vital for kids to understand how to recognize when a medical emergency might be happening, whether it be a person collapsing, like in Kyndal’s story, or simply gasping for air.

On the preventative maintenance side, families can do emergency planning together, including bringing the children in on creating emergency kits and doing practice runs.

And, as Moore said, it's equally crucial to trust that kids will know what to do with the lessons we try to bestow onto them.

From Your Site Articles
good news
Pop CultureInternet
Joy

Daycare workers share the most 'unhinged' requests they've ever gotten from parents

If this doesn't give you a whole new level of empathy for childcare workers…

_gracesaylor/TikTok, Photo credit: Canva

Serving divorce papers? Bet no daycare worker expected to do that during a shift.

We all know that childcare can be a major source of stress for parents. Without even taking the lack of available, affordable daycare into the equation, there's also not being able to physically be there all the time to provide for all of your child’s needs. Sure, this separation has to come eventually. But still, it’s understandable that some parents might have a hard time transitioning.

And yet, some requests (or demands, even) that parents make to childcare providers are, to put it politely, nuts.

Recently Grace Saylor, a home daycare provider in Minnesota, decide to quell her boredom by asking fellow childcare providers to share the “unhinged” things parents asked to accommodate.

“I’m not talking about ‘my 2 year old doesn't need to nap anymore.’ I’m talking the borderline crazy expectations they have,” she clarified in the onscreen text.

@_gracesaylor_

What is the most unhinged thing parents have asked you to accommodate? #momsoftiktok #childcareprovider #childcareworker #daycareprovider #inhomedaycare #inhomedaycareprovider #daycarelife #daycareteacher

Let’s just say, there were no shortage of baffling replies—from zero awareness of boundaries to outrageous examples of entitlement. Below are some of our favorites:

"'Don't tell her no because it upsets her’ and I said ‘okay so strictly redirection?’ and this said ‘no we just let her have free range to make her own decision and let her choose what she wants to do.”

"A Mom texted me while I was in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism (she knew bc she was friends with my mom) bc her 5 year old son wasn’t given his lovey at nap time."

"A mom cussed me and my coworker, because her son caught the flu…..he was the first in the room to get sick."

"I had a parent ask me to count how many string beans her child ate at lunch."

"Child had digestion issues, mom asked us to chew his food for him, then feed it to him. No no no way."

“Kiddo had a dr. appt. Mom called and said they were on their way back. I asked how it went. She says, “oh, he has pneumonia. Be there in 5.”


Claire Driving GIFfrom Claire GIFs


"Had a parent say their kid couldn’t eat our food because it's too processed and packs her kid kraft mac and cheese everyday for lunch."

"A dad stood on top of the cubbies and did a backflip off in response to me saying this is the children’s class. He said he pays enough in tuition and can do whatever he wants! blocked parents entering."

“Normal milk gives him a ‘stomach ache.’ Asked us if we could give him chocolate milk instead.”

"We weren’t allowed to label anything with the toddler’s name because she didn’t want her to get kidnapped."

"I had a parent who wanted us to start toilet training her son at 3 months old. Don’t even get me started."

“Had a parent who wanted us to confirm that her child would get out first if there was a fire alarm or bomb threat. As if we had a priority list of which child gets out of the building first.”


Joan Crawford Mommie GIFfrom Joan Crawford GIFs


"We had a kid come from Disney legit straight from the plane to the daycare like they had had enough of this child on vacation they were done."

"Had a dad storm into my 2’s classroom and demand that we not allow his son to play with dolls or dress up clothes while at school... because 'that’s for girls not boys.'"

“On picture day, her child needed to change her whole outfit, make sure her bow was a certain way and socks were a certain height, she had her purse, her bracelet and necklace…this was a 1 year old.”

"Mom asking that all children leave the room so their child could nap. classroom and sleeping area is 1 room."

A few actually had nothing to do with a child at all:

“One time a parent asked us to call her half way through the day saying her child was sick so she would leave work.”

“Can you serve divorce papers to my husband. I said no.”

And while, okay, sure, these definitely fit the “unhinged” bill, Saylor still ultimately has a lot of empathy. “As a parent I completely understand wanting your child to have the very best of everything and I know it takes a lot of trust and confidence to allow others to care for your child,” she told Upworthy.

In her own experience as a daycare provider, she (luckily) hasn’t dealt with any “crazy requests.” However, the most frequent issue she does run into is parents who pick up their children late. Which, naturally, comes across as disrespectful. “[They] don’t take into consideration we also have families and other focuses then just being a childcare provider,” she said.

Childcare workers want your and your child to feel taken care of…within reason. Perhaps parents can benefit from asking themselves why they are making certain requests, and seeing what can be done to address the root cause behind whatever concern is prompting it in the first place.

TLDR: treat childcare workers like humans.

From Your Site Articles
parents
JoyHumor
Trending Stories