Split-Shift Parents Cut Childcare Costs

May 28 -- Each day, steel cutter Jennifer Kawalski sets off at 4:40 a.m. for her shift at the plant, while her husband, David remains at home and cares for the children until the afternoon, when he too, must head to work at the same steel plant.

They never see each other on the job. In between their shifts at the American Axel and Manufacturing Plant, there is a half-hour lapse when they hand off the care of their four children — two sets of twins.

"She gets out of work at 3 o'clock, I start work at 2:30," David Kawalski said. "So every single day, we need somebody to come over for a half hour to make sure everything's OK."

It's become the most painful juggling act of our time. There are now 15 million so-called "split shift couples" in this country, couples working at different times of the day. Most of them are parents struggling to make ends meet, who want to save on child care and spend quality time with their children, as opposed to leaving them with outsiders. In 48 states the cost of childcare for a 4-year-old is more than public college tuition which is why for millions of working families it's simply unaffordable.

They also want to keep their marriage afloat.

A Big Price

For the Kawalskis, they save on child care costs, but pay a huge price when it comes to their marriage.

The hardest part about split-shift parenting is not seeing his wife, David Kawalski said.

"You know planning is rough," David Kawalski said. "We always look at the calendar. Make sure we set an appointment. It's tough getting time alone. It really is."

Their time apart also puts a strain on their time together, Jennifer Kawalski said.

"When we have time together and go out there is this expectation that we're supposed to be all hugging and kissing and holding hands, and you know, walking quietly," she said. "And it's just never that. It just doesn't work that way."

The days are hectic. One morning at 5:30 a.m., Jennifer was running late.