The high cost of a child care crisis: ‘It’s like we are paying our mortgage three times over’

“Vishal Komal and Pooja Attri of Concord did a lot of math after their baby, Vihaan, arrived nearly two years ago. Child care would cost them $400 to $500 a week, about 60 percent of Komal’s salary working in a school cafeteria. It was beyond their reach. Instead, they work opposite shifts, six days a week. The schedule prevents them from spending much time together as a family because they even work opposite days on the weekend. “It is especially hard for my son,” Komal said. “Until we find less expensive child care, we will do this. I’m not saying child care should be free, but it should be affordable to everyone. The only thing we want is for him to have a better life.”