Jessica Cuevas loved her job as a college counselor at a high school. She had been relying on her mother for help, but her parents have been spending more time in Mexico, leaving her without an affordable and reliable child care option. Ms. Cuevas, who is 35 and lives in Chicago, works part time from home for an education nonprofit, though the work is sporadic and the pay is inconsistent. She wants a full-time job — in part so she and her husband can buy a bigger house — but she is concerned that the expense of child care would wipe out any financial upside. “I feel like right now, considering the economy, considering just the cost of living, we feel stuck,” she said.

---

Persons: Jessica Cuevas, Cuevas, ” Locations: Mexico, Chicago