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SO, with tuition and.. nowadays, many families have both parents working to make ends meet. I was wondering how you do it. What is my question?
What do you do on the many days that your child’s school has half day but both parents work those days? What do you do if the school starts “later” but both parents work far from home and need to leave earlier? what did you do if there WAS UNEXPECTED early dismissal for snow and you are in work far away and can’t leave early?
I am only asking those with both parents working with UNFLEXIBLE hours/days off! I know you do it, how? Do you have to hire a babysitter or rely on a non-working relative/friend?
I find it is getting very stressful each year but both parents must work otherwise my children will not even be able to be in school as we would not be able to pay!
Please tell me what you do, thanks!
I arrange for a highschool girl that is also going home, who lives around the same area to keep a key to my house on her for situations like these. She takes my little ones home. Looks after them and does her homework at the same time. She makes herself at home, uses my computer, cooks herself lunch and does what she pleases while doing me a great chessed
And I pay her too!
I am the non-working relative who babysits for my grandchildren. My pleasure. Not everyone has a Bubbysitter, and in that case, must rely on a babysitter. Unless you are paying your friend (and more important, trust her with your child), don’t keep asking someone you know to watch your kids. It becomes a tircha, and unless you reciprocate by taking THEIR kids, they come to feel used.
As we head into the 2-3 week break between camp and school, I am extremely sympathetic to your problem. While my husband I are now flexible enough to handle these issues, for many years we were not. I suggest a combination of the following:
1) Yes, find non-working friends/relatives who hopefully have kids around the ages of yours, so that it’s more of a playdate than babysitting. Find as many of these as you can so you are not always asking the same person. You know your family/friends, so don’t be shy about asking. Offer to take their kids in exchange on a Sunday or in the evening so they can go out.
2) Develop a relationship with local high school girls. Remember, if there’s a snow day or a half day, they’re off also. If you arrange with them ahead of time to cover on those days, you’re golden. Or, if you have the room and the temperament, consider taking in a boarder who, as part of the arrangement, will be responsible for the kids on those days.
3) Talk to your teacher’s teaching assistants. Most of them are single girls with transportation who might be open to earning a few extra dollars, especially if it’s for a kid they already know (and like!).
4) For slightly older children whom you don’t yet want to leave home, talk to your boss about the possibity of bringing them to work for a few hours and letting them sit in your office watching something on a laptop with headphones. Some bosses do not mind so long as the kids are not running around.
5) If most of your friends work, try arranging a round robbin for those half days. One of you takes a few kids each time – that way you only have to take one day off instead of every one.
I’ve been there, so hang in!! As the kids get older, it really does get easier. Hatzlocha!!
“For slightly older children whom you don’t yet want to leave home, talk to your boss about the possibity of bringing them to work”
I dont mind coworkers bringing their children in as long as they are not sick i have coworkers who when the child is dismissed from school for illness brings the child to work, if his/her germs are a danger to their schoolmates they are a danger to me as well.
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