This story is part of a series about childcare providers caring for children during nontraditional hours, including early mornings, nights and weekends.
New York
At 10:30 p.m. on a Monday in the Bronx, it鈥檚 bedtime for many children. But at Juana Grisel Pe帽a鈥檚 apartment, 2-year-old Brandon is just arriving. Pe帽a, who goes by Grisel, greets him with a hug as he joins three other children 鈥� 7-year-old Sage and brothers Legend, 2, and Legacy, 1 鈥� who are playing with toys in another room as they wind down for the evening. (社区黑料 is using the children鈥檚 first names only to protect their privacy as minors.)
The four children are spending the evening at Al Despertar, a licensed, home-based childcare program Pe帽a runs out of her apartment, which sits three blocks from Yankee stadium. Their parents are working late-night or overnight shifts: one at the MTA, another at a local grocery store, and a third at Amazon. Some of the children will stay at Al Despertar late into the night, while others will sleep over and get picked up in the morning.
From Monday through Friday, Pe帽a cares for up to six children in her overnight program, which runs from around 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. They arrive and leave at different times, depending on their parents鈥� work schedules. She has a staff of five childcare providers, three who typically work at the daytime program and two who assist her with night shifts.
When Pe帽a started her program about 10 years ago, it was initially only open during the day, but she quickly noticed demand among working families with jobs that stretch beyond traditional business hours so she adjusted course to meet their needs. Over the years, shehas transformed nearly every corner of her home around the children she cares for. Her living room is filled with learning activities and brimming with toys; bilingual signs about handwashing and nutrition standards hang in the bathroom and kitchen; and a pile of sleeping mats are neatly stacked in a closet of the second bedroom in her apartment, ready to be set up each day for the children.
鈥淚 want the parents to go to work and be in peace,鈥� Pe帽a said. 鈥淚 remember when I had my kids I didn鈥檛 feel that peace when they were in someone else鈥檚 care and I don鈥檛 want anyone to feel that way. I understand it鈥檚 not easy.鈥�
Pe帽a鈥檚 program meets a significant need for parents. Research by the estimates that 40% of young children under age 6 with working parents spend at least part of their week in childcare during nonstandard hours like early mornings, evenings or weekends. The care can be tough to find though since not all licensed childcare providers operate during those hours. 鈥淚 went through a lot of trouble trying to find this place,鈥� Sage鈥檚 dad said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a lot of overnight daycares.鈥�
There are countless small, yet meaningful moments that define the kind of care Pe帽a offers 鈥� whispered bedtime stories, shared mealtimes and comforting nighttime and morning routines that help children navigate transitions.
The photographs below, taken at Pe帽a鈥檚 apartment during one of her overnight shifts in August, offer a glimpse inside one provider鈥檚 experience operating around-the-clock care, revealing a side of childcare that鈥檚 rarely seen.
馃晵 8-11 p.m.
Pe艅a helps Sage, age 7, with a puzzle. Sage, whose dad works at a grocery store Monday through Friday, typically arrives around 6 p.m., eats dinner and spends the night at Al Despertar. His dad picks him up early the next morning, around 5:30 a.m.Pe帽a looks at Legacy, age 1, in the mirror after changing his diaper and getting him ready for bed. His mother, who works shifts at Amazon and at Yankee Stadium depending on the night, picks up Legacy and his brother, Legend, age 2, around 10:30 p.m. By then, both boys are in their pajamas and ready for bed.Pe帽a cuddles Legend, while Xiomara N煤帽ez 鈥� a childcare provider on Pe帽a鈥檚 staff 鈥� holds Legacy.Sage, still focused on the puzzle, is eager to show off his progress. Pe帽a asks the children to play with one toy at a time, a rule that helps keep the room tidy. Brandon, age 2, arrives around 10:30 p.m. as his mom heads to her shift working for the MTA. 鈥淚 tell everybody about this place,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 like the flexibility and he gravitates towards Grisel.鈥�鈥淚 miss my brother,鈥� Sage announces while playing with 2-year-old Legend. He explains that his brother lives in another state.Pe帽a serves meals and snacks for the children in her program. She does her grocery shopping on Saturdays and said she spends about $300 on groceries a week.Around 10:45 p.m., while doing some paperwork, Pe帽a gets a call that Legend and Legacy鈥檚 mother has arrived to pick them up.With Legacy in her arms and Legend clinging to her leg, Pe帽a takes the boys on an elevator ride from her third-floor apartment to the lobby, where their mom will pick them up.The elevator in Pe帽a鈥檚 building lets them out one flight above the lobby. One more staircase to go, hand in hand, before the boys reunite with their mom.After a brief chat about their respective evenings, Legend and Legacy鈥檚 mom initials a sign out sheet before the kids hug Pe帽a goodbye. At 10:45 p.m., Sage is ready for bed, without a fuss. Brandon lies on a bed nearby, ready too. 鈥淭hey sleep through the night, which is great.鈥� Pe帽a said.N煤帽ez tucks in Brandon. Pe帽a tucks in Sage.After turning the lights out, N煤帽ez turns around to take a peek at the two children fast asleep.
馃晵 11 p.m.- midnight
Around 11 p.m., with a quiet apartment for the first time in hours, Pe帽a takes a fleeting moment to herself.With the children fast asleep, N煤帽ez and Pe帽a get to work disinfecting and tidying up every inch of the play space in preparation for the next day of childcare.Pe帽a wears gloves as she swaps bedding from one of the playards in preparation for the next shift. Cleaning a bucket of magnetic tiles one by one, N煤帽ez explains the pride they take in keeping the childcare space clean and recalls Pe帽a鈥檚 dedication to disinfecting during the pandemic. 鈥淪he was crazy, but nobody got sick.鈥� N煤帽ez said they cared for about 14 children of essential workers during that time. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 take our masks off until 2022.鈥� 鈥淭his is our time to catch up about the day,鈥� N煤帽ez said around 11:15 p.m., while sitting with Pe帽a in the dining room. They take a beat to catch up about their personal lives. Pe帽a shares photos from a trip to Italy she took with her church, and N煤帽ez talks about her Zumba classes. But only for a few moments before work takes over again. Soon, they鈥檙e pulling out paperwork and reviewing schedules for the days ahead before N煤帽ez heads home just before midnight.
馃晵 5:30-8:30 a.m.
The next morning, Sage鈥檚 father picks him up around 5:30 a.m., tired from a long shift at the grocery store but happy to reunite with his son. Before they leave, he remembers he has something for Pe帽a: a bounty of yuca and plantains. Just before 7 a.m., as sunlight begins to fill the room, Pe帽a gently wakes Brandon with a few pats on the back. His eyes flicker open. 鈥淕ood morning Grisel,鈥� he announces in a small, cheerful voice.First things first: Brandon starts his morning with Pe帽a helping him brush his teeth.While Pe帽a heads to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast, Brandon picks a toy and plays quietly as he stands in a pocket of morning light.Scrambling a few eggs, Pe帽a calls to Brandon, whom she affectionately calls “Brando,” to sit down at the table.Brandon waits patiently at the table, admiring artwork on the wall created by the children in the daytime program. 鈥淥ooh a jelly fish,鈥� he said in admiration.Around 7:30 a.m., one of Pe帽a鈥檚 staff arrives to work the daytime program. She starts by opening the blinds to let sunlight into the still-dim apartment.After serving Brandon鈥檚 breakfast, Pe帽a takes a second to carefully comb his hair into a ponytail. The two sit together in comfortable silence at the table. Coffee for Pe帽a; milk, eggs, toast and oranges for Brandon. When his mother arrives moments later, he鈥檚 in no rush to leave. Instead he invites her to join them at the kiddie table, which she does. He finishes his eggs with his mom on one side and Pe帽a on the other.
This story was supported by New America鈥檚 Better Life Lab Childcare Reporting Grant.
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