So the Kansas Legislature is looking at something called Lexie’s Law that will completely shake up the registered home day care business in Kansas.  In Kansas you can run a day care that is licensed or registered, licensed being harder to obtain, having stricter overview and the ability to watch more children (and really charge more).

A little under a year, my wife wanted to quit her job and stay home with our daughter.  I wanted her to make money and complain less about work.  The result was a registered day care being opened in our home.  My wife is happier.  The bills get paid.  The bags surrounding her have changed from douche to poop-filled.  Being a registered day care, my wife can watch up to 6 children (including ours), 3 under the age of 18-months.  She has no desire to watch 6 kids, and the more over 18-months the better.

The people supporting Lexie’s Law don’t want to hamper my wife’s business, but they will.  If the law is passed, the main points of contention are that the provider must maintain line of sight with the children and only 2 children under the age of 24-months can be watched.  These would make my wife illegal from day one on both counts.  It would effectively not make it worth the trouble of running a home day care anymore, and make it near impossible to find a home day care we would want to use.

I feel for Lexie’s parents and their loss.  I often sit and think how awful it would be if something happened to my own daughter, but shit happens.  A few weeks ago, my daughter peeled three-fourths of a laptop keyboard off, and I had to restrain my anger at her for providing me with a sweet new afternoon project.  Now say she popped one of those keys in her mouth and choked to death while I was 30’ away.  I’d blame myself for not keeping a better eye on her.  I’d blame my wife for not closing her laptop again like any normal person would.  Then could I blame the laptop manufacturer for creating a keyboard that a 20-month old could tear apart while I strained to get one key off?

But that gets to the true root of the matter for me.  Lexie’s parents likely went with a registered home day care because it is closer to their home/work and cheaper than the other options.  If their provider was anything like my wife, they are paying someone roughly $4/hour to watch their kid.  I routinely let my daughter wander out of my sight and most parents are likely the same way.  You want someone to keep an ever vigilant eye on your child, you need to pony up the cash.  My boss pays about $300 more per month than what my wife charges.  My boss can watch her kid sleep on a webcam.

The great thing about day care is the choice.  You make the call.  You interview potential providers and look for what you want.  One of our first interviews involved a woman who operated out of her dungeon like basement and wanted to teach the children Mandarin.  Nevermind that Spanish would be more applicable living here in the US and that the only Mandarin my kid gives a shit about is an orange.  That lady was crazy and we never considered her once we stepped out that door.  If you want your kid in an open space where they can be viewed, hire La Petite.  Don’t put my wife out of business because you regret your decision.  Don’t put my wife out of business because of a freak accident.  Don’t put my wife out of business because you couldn’t take the time to check out who you were entrusting your child’s life to five days a week.

While I’m sure the home day care business in Kansas can use more regulation, it’s not the problem here.  The government isn’t that child’s parent, you are.  Take some responsibility.  Inform yourself.  If you show up to drop your kid off and there are 10 kids there, call the Health Department.  If you want the care of your child to meet a certain expectation, do it yourself or pay someone appropriately.