Nyla Moore Wants to Change the Narrative Around the Accessibility of Childcare

Story By: Bruce Poinsette

Illustration By: Desarea Guyton

Things have changed considerably for Nyla Moore and her daughters since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior, Moore was working from her office, her 8-year-old was in school and after care and her 2-year-old was splitting time between her great aunt and great grandmother.

Now Moore works from home and her eldest daughter stays home to do virtual learning through Portland Public Schools. Moore’s youngest still goes to spend time with her great aunt twice a week. One of the biggest challenges, especially for Moore’s eldest daughter, has been the isolation.

“My daughter is a very social person,” says Moore. “She thrives being around other kids and adults and situations where she can be herself and move her body. [She] hasn’t had the space to thrive, to be herself.”

Juggling work and watching the children all day has been a major adjustment for Moore and her fiance. Both work full time. Since the pandemic, they have also had to add “teacher” to their list of duties. They tried to host learning pods with other families but coordinating became too much of a challenge. Now, they try to navigate being in each others’ space as best they can.

“Having your kids and your partner and all these noises around is a huge change,” says Moore. “Not only am I this worker, this employee, but I’m a teacher. I’m a mother. I’m the housekeeper. I’m the lunch lady. Whereas I used to  be able to put those things into buckets.”

One thing, however, that’s been consistent for Moore and her children is the concept of raising young people using “the village.” When she was young, Moore says her older sisters looked after her.

“I don’t remember ever having a daycare provider,” she says. “It was like ‘Oh, you’re going to cousin’s house, auntie’s house, sister’s house.’”

Moore, however, doesn’t glorify the lack of institutionalized care. In fact, she says the pandemic has made her realize just how important it is for parents to have daycare options.

“I remember when I had my first child,” she says. “No one talks about childcare. No one tells you that you’re going to want to go do something and you won’t have anyone to watch your kid.”

In an ideal world, Moore believes effective childcare would entail no barriers to access, providers who look like you and your children, access to healthy foods and the outdoors and clean space. She envisions a system where her children and others are truly able to make friends and learn together.

“I’ve always looked at childcare as something that wasn’t for Black people,” admits Moore. “I think changing the narrative that childcare should be accessible should be something for all families. We should not, not have access to childcare because of the funding.”