Katherine H. is a proud mother of three living in Mandeville, Louisiana. Over the past year, she was laid off not once but twice, a humbling experience that pushed her resilience to the limit. With no family nearby to help and the cost of child care soaring beyond what her budget could handle, Katherine found herself facing impossible choices.
Paying for full-time care for her youngest child, Katalina, would have meant going into debt. It became a question of child care or groceries. There was simply no room in the budget for both. With limited options, Katherine made the difficult decision to work from home while caring for Katalina herself. Each day is a balancing act, trying to stay productive at work while meeting the constant needs of a toddler. It is exhausting and leaves little room for personal growth or career advancement.
Stretched Thin, Dreaming Bigger
Katherine dreams of a better reality. One where her children can focus on their schoolwork, sports, and personal development without the background stress of financial insecurity. One where she can focus on her job with confidence, knowing her youngest is thriving in a high-quality early learning environment. Instead, like so many parents across the country, she is caught in a cycle of sacrifice, doing everything she can to hold her family together.
If child care were affordable and accessible, Katherine says everything could change. Katalina could attend daycare. Her older children could enjoy the quiet and structure they need. Katherine could put her energy toward work, pursue promotions, and support her family without compromise. Right now, that future feels out of reach.
A Call for Change in Washington
This is why Katherine and her daughter Katalina joined Strolling Thunder, ZERO TO THREE’s national advocacy event powered by the Think Babies campaign. They are urging Congress to increase funding for child care through the Child Care and Development Block Grant and to support programs like Head Start. They are also advocating for the protection of essential supports such as TANF, SSBG, and child care tax credits that many families rely on.
