Stand By Me: Childcare in Rural America

Left to right, Kaizley Singer, 3, Brenick Singer, 5, and Paxton Singer, 7, play as Chasity Shepherd, 30, and Shane Singer, 36, use weed-whackers at Pythian Grove Cemetery near Cr-1315 and Colemansville-Berry Road on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. Chasity stayed at home to watch their first child, Zayley, because childcare was too expensive. “I definitely can’t afford childcare now,” Chasity said while gesturing to her family. Chasity homeschools the children, but needed to pick up work when Shane had an open-heart surgery this year. Shane returned to work as an excavator and the two have kept the job at the cemetery.