Part-Time Working Moms: Summer Care?

[h2oophelia]

I'm definitely a fan of Boys and Girls Clubs. My DD8 went there last summer (and will go again this summer) and loved it. They even went on field trips every week to various places...swimming, the movies, museums, etc. Definitely worth checking out!

 

[lisaross]

My kids go to camp! It is very expensive but they've been going since they were about 5! They LOVE camp - my p/t job is pretty much to pay for camp/sport activities etc!

So, my part time job was cut last year in our state's budget cuts (I mentored pre-k childcare teachers through a state funded grant). Last year, my contract did not require me to work during the summer months. I just got a call yesterday, that the grant has received some additional funding, and they were hiring a part-time mentor and thought of me . So, it looks like I'm starting to work part time again (20 hrs a week) after Spring break. During the phone call yesterday, I asked what summers would look like, and they informed me that I would still be working my 20 hours a week . I'm not sure what to do with my kiddos during the summer. During the school year, I can simply work during their school hours, so no biggie. I've looked at some daycare "summer camp" type options, and they look really pricey ($525 for a 5 week session, 3 days a week!! per kid). Other "camps" around here that are part time-ish (9am-2pm, type camps) are about $150 a week per kid . It seems like with 2 kiddos, it would actually be cheaper to pay a baby sitter for the 20 hrs. a week I'll be working (that would be $200/week at $10/hr). That still leaves me working for not much $$$ in the summers. Anyhow, that was a really long post to ask-- Those of you who work part time, what do you do with your kiddos in the summer?? --Katie

 

[clm10308]

Another suggestion is to chech out local churches for Vacation Bible School weeks. One of my form neighbors was a nurse who worked nights and had to sleep during the day. While not a problem during school days, in the summer she would scout out the local churches and have her kids attend several different VBS programs. Most are free or very low cost. It might not work for every week in the summer, but would provide some variety from a teen babysitter.

You could also look at girl scout/cub scout day camps. I don't know about the cub scouts, but I know that the Girl Scout camps will take girls who are not members for a slightly higher fee. Where I lived, an expensive GS day camp was $45.

 

[disfan07]

Why were you sad? If it's anything like the ones I see around here - there is a huge group of your friends all splashing and having fun together - like a giant birthday party. I say BRAVO to the day cares and day camps who are able to go to the local pools. Not sure why anyone would be sad for those kids, unless, I guess the counselors weren't nice or something.

I do the part-time thing too and summers are a bit tough. A word of warning - you get what you pay for. Our town has a rec program day camp that we did last year. It is DIRT CHEAP (maybe $200 for 6 weeks per kid??). My kids did it and were not thrilled at all. I think part of it was that they were only there 2-ish days per week so most of the kids had 'groups' formed with the full timers. But also, it was a bunch of college aged kids who did have some fun with them - but also left them to have fun on their own a lot. Kind of 'here - go outside and play' which is fine but not nearly as structured as I would have liked. Anyway - we are going to use neighbor teenagers this year. The kids can stay at home - swim in our pool AND hopefully it will motivate me to keep my house clean most of the time. I will pay what it takes to make it better this time around.

I know...seriously. Apparently that poster spends all of her time with her kids and thinks camps are bad.

My mom never worked during the summer. She worked at my elementary school so she had the same vacations as me. Guess what....I started camp at 3 and went to camp until I was 12 (when I started working at a preschool camp). My brother went to the same camp. EVERYONE went to camp where I lived for at least some of the summer. If you didn't go to camp, you would be spending your entire summer at home during the day.

I think most kids would rather spend a day with friends at camp than spend everyday with their parents. Camp is a great way for kids to make friends, develop some independence away from their parents, and try new things. If you find a GOOD summer camp, for most kids, it will probably be one of the best parts of their summer.

OP, don't let anyone make you feel bad about working during the summer. Parents don't need to be with their kids all the time. If you can find a summer camp that you think your kids will enjoy and that you can afford, I would say go for that option.

 

[2Monkeys]

Another vote for a babysitter in your home. I work part time as well with flexible hours (to an extent). I was able to concentrate my hours to 3 days a week and we got a sitter to come to the house - she took them to the pool, the movies, played games, and they got to stay at home!! I didn't have to get anyone ready to go anywhere, no lunches to pack, etc. And, I got to spend 2 whole days a week with them! It was by far the best option for us!! I paid her $6/hr, but I provided food and extra $$ for them to go places once in a while.

It is pricey to pay for childcare when you only work part-time, but I looked at it like this: I didn't make much in the summer after taking out childcare, but it allowed me to keep my job and work during school hours during the school year.

 

[sherry7]

Honestly I would turn the job offer down. 20 hours may not seem like that much, but when you figure you have to still do all your household stuff in addition that really cuts into your summer fun time with your kids. My kids are 8 & almost 10 and I can't imagine working summers. We like to go on camping trips and fun days at the park and lake. Last summer I took my kids to a local swimming pool one day and was saddened to see so many kids there with day cares and day camp programs.

Wow, seriously? Both DH and I work full time, and my toddler is at daycare 5 days a week for 10 hours a day. By your way of thinking, I suppose you'd feel sorry for her too, even though she loves "school" and her daycare providers.

We all don't have the option to be SAHM's, and posts like this get on my nerves.

Sorry to hijack your thread OP. All of my suggestions have already been posted, except you might want to check the care.com website.

 

[ekatiel]

Thanks for all your suggestions, guys. I tried to ignore the poster who said I should turn down the job. I didn't want this thread to turn into a SAHM vs. Working Mom debate. Obviously, I've been on both sides of the fence, so I'm OK with whatever people choose!! I think we'll probably go with a combo of camps, VBS, a baby sitter and my parents (who are wonderful and live very close by-- I just don't want them to feel like they have to take care of my kiddos all summer!). The hardest part is not knowing exactly what my summers will look like so I can plan! HR is supposed to call me sometime soon to work out pay/hours, etc, so hopefully I'll know more then! --Katie

 

[msmama]

With a 6 year old and 8 year I agree with a teenage babysitter.

Around here my library offers babysitting classes so that's a place you could look for one with "training." When I was in high school I babysat for kids around that age and they were pretty easy - easier than toddlers anyway.

 

[crisi]

Thanks for all your suggestions, guys. I tried to ignore the poster who said I should turn down the job. I didn't want this thread to turn into a SAHM vs. Working Mom debate. Obviously, I've been on both sides of the fence, so I'm OK with whatever people choose!! I think we'll probably go with a combo of camps, VBS, a baby sitter and my parents (who are wonderful and live very close by-- I just don't want them to feel like they have to take care of my kiddos all summer!). The hardest part is not knowing exactly what my summers will look like so I can plan! HR is supposed to call me sometime soon to work out pay/hours, etc, so hopefully I'll know more then! --Katie

Over the long term, that's what has worked best for us. Grandma gets to see the kids without feeling she needs to be here EVERY DAY. The kids get to do their share of camps and activities (particularly my daughter, who would move in to summer camp if she could - bugs and all). The costs became reasonable. I would also work from home when they were younger, which gave them a day "with me" - really they were running around the backyard or hanging with the neighbors while I worked or was in phone meetings. It took some more coordination and some flexibility by all the involved parties, but it kept the kids busy and active, and yet having a "normal" summer that wasn't five days a week of daycare surrounded by much younger kids.