Working parents try to find the right care for their children but how do the kids feel about it?
Half of the pupils of Sixth Class in Ratoath National School in County Meath come from a household with two working parents.
After school care is the option chosen for Laura Gribben and her brother,
It's ok. There’s not many people my age though.
Robert Kavanagh is cared for by his granny, and Rachel Walsh has an au pair. For two of their classmates, the arrival of a new sibling influenced their mother's decision to stay at home full time.
She left work when my sister was born.
Many parents also commute to Dublin or further to their place of employment.
Things did not work out for Katie O’Reilly who recalls not liking the idea of having a childminder or a second option which saw her attend a creche.
I screamed and screamed until eventually I got to leave the creche.
Jake Colfer attends after school care, but preferred the setup when he was younger,
My mum was at home, and my dad didn’t work as late.
Not all parents work a nine to five job either. Despite best efforts, James Skully has not been able to replicate his mother’s ability to stay awake while everyone else is asleep,
She works in a children’s hospital at night.
This 'News2Day’ report was broadcast on 8 December 2005. The reporter is Laura Fletcher.
