Part-Time Working Moms: Summer Care?

[ekatiel]

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

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Are your 20 hours spread over the whole week, or can you squeeze it down to 2 or 3 days? We had to pay the same for daycare whether the kids were there all day or part of a day, but got a break if they were only there 3 days a week.

 

[crisi]

How old are the kids? We've had ours in daycare, park and rec summer programs, had grandma watch them, and had them stay home alone depending on their age. I almost had a good 17 year old sitter from church one year, but that fell through. At one point I was having my mother come over, but the kids would t be home, they had constant play dates. I do work full time.

Do you have a neighbor with kids you could coop with? She wouldn't have to work 20 hours, you'd take her kids so she could work, golf, shop, care for an elderly relative, whatever....

 

[Chelley00]

Try preschools. A lot of preschool teachers watch kids during summer breaks to make extra money.

Usually my husband goes on third shift for summer so we don't have pay for child care. Not sure that will work this year.

 

[nchulka]

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.

 

[lastminutemom]

I have many, many friends that work part time year round. Do you have any flexibility? (Like working 40 hours one week, none the next?) I ask, because my friends have formed a co-op and they take turns keeping the kids while the other moms work.

It is a win-win for all -- moms can work and kids get to play.

It helps that they all go to the same neighborhood pool and kids swim on same swim team.

Also, everyone packs lunch for their child(ren) each day but "host" parents provide snacks.

 

[ekatiel]

Thanks for the suggestions. The kids will turn 6 and 8 this summer. The hours are somewhat flexible-- I get to set my own schedule of when I will mentor teachers, and some teachers will not be teaching over the summer, so I should have less mentoring hours to fulfill over the summer, also. My supervisor mentioned that during the summers they do a lot of prep for the next year, so I'm not sure what that will involve. For nine months out of the year, the job is great-- if I want to go to one of my kiddo's activities at school, I just schedule my mentoring hours/days around the activity. It is even more flexible than a traditional teaching job in that way, so I think the summer hours will be worth it, if that's the only downside to being a mommy-friendly job. I feel strongly that I am making a difference in the lives of low income pre-k children and their teachers, also, so that counts for something . I'm thinking a sitter might be my best option at this point-- I could schedule her early 7-11:30 (my "office" will likely be at a nearby school, so I'll have very little commute time on office days) or 8-12:30, and be home to have fun with the kiddos after that. Our parks and rec also offers a day camp, which might work, too-- It seems to be reasonably priced at $190 per child for two weeks-- that would be slightly less than the sitter option, but there is a lottery system for the camp. Thanks again for the ideas. Keep them comin'!! --Katie

 

[disneychrista]

Do you have a Boys & Girls club in your area? Our offer pretty reasonable rates for summer. I know each club is run differnetly but it might be worth it to look into it.

 

[hhh]

With 2 kids, I agree that a $10/hour babysitter will be the cheapest option (assuming grandparents aren't an option). That's what I'm planning for my two kids this summer. You can't beat the flexibility either - you're only paying for the child care hours you really need.

 

[kleubanks]

I didn't go back to work until my daughter was in 5th grade...still too young to stay home alone. I contacted our two local high schools and asked if the counselors could post a job announcement for a sitter.They were very helpful in suggesting responsible students! Wish I'd thought of this years earlier for regular nights out as it worked out beautifully.

 

[nowellsl]

Do the public schools in your area offer any summer programs? Our Extended Day Program offers summer care at certain schools during the summer.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I've been thinking a lot about this very same thing. I work full-time, but was planning to switch to part-time and realized I couldn't, for this very same reason.... summers are too expensive! The camps I saw were $150 at the minimum a week. I definitely think sitters are the way to go. If you aren't sure where to find one, I was browsing sittercity.com and happened to notice that one of my daughter's old preschool teachers was looking for summer work! So you may want to try that, too.

 

[QVCshopper]

I get around this problem by working at night. So, basically I'm a full-time SAHM and then a part-time employee after dinner until 1-2 am. It's a hard schedule, but I have been able to do both mom and worker until now. Just had a new baby, so I'm not sure what's going to happen with work... I know this won't work for the OP, but it's helped us save on the childcare expense. Sadly, I've gotten quite used to the schedule, as I'm sleeping more during maternity leave with my newborn than I have in years.

 

[auralia]

I wonder if you know any sham's that would be interested? This is the kind of thing I would love to have fall in my lap because it would give my dd some friends to play with a few hours a day and I probably wouldn't charge the full 10 an hour just because it would be something that helps me too getting dd some regular playmates. Perhaps you know someone like me that you didn't really consider?

 

[trinchick]

Did you check with your town's parks and recreation department? My town has a variety of low-cost summer camps that work really well for part-time working moms. For instance a lot of them run 9-12. Also, our rec department runs a playground program that is actually FREE and the kids check in and out and are fully supervised and there are organized activities and even field trips. I think that one runs 9-1. I thought it would stink for that "price" but I know a mom who used the program last year, and she said her kids had a blast and she was completely comfortable with the level of supervision/care.

I'm looking for full-time day camp this year for the first time (my mom had previous watched the kids, but she's not up to it anymore). I'm relying on word of mouth for ideas. At every activity/party/event I go to, I ask the moms what they're doing for summer. I've learned about a lot of things that aren't well advertised.

Good luck. Finding quality child care that the kids actually like is such a struggle!

 

[bjscheel]

I've always worked summers, used to be 3 days a week, now it's more. They were at daycare. When it got to be April or May of 2009 and my kids (7 and 10) were dreading the end of school and the beginning of daycare, and plotting ways to escape daycare, I knew we needed a change so they could look forward to their summer.

We got a neighbor 16 year old girl to watch them. I paid her $4/hour. Some may think that's way low, but this is rural Iowa, and it's a distance to any jobs, and the towns are small with few opportunities for teens. My kids were pretty low maintenance at that age and she spent a lot of time reading while they entertained themselves. She was happy to end up with $100/week to hang out at our place 3 days a week with no nights or weekends, and only a 3 mile drive.

My kids LOVED her. It was the best thing we could have done and made our summer so much happier. They still miss her- we sent her cookies at college for Valentines Day this year.

The following summer she couldn't come as often, so we got a girl from church to fill in the other days. That wasn't as good- whereas our original girl was more like their older sister, this girl was more like camp counselor- we will all do the same thing together, you will eat all the fish sticks, etc. We survived though

Just wondered if $10/hour is for sure the lowest you can get a teenager for?

 

[pixiewings71]

I was going to suggest the same thing bjscheel just posted. See if you can find a younger teen that might want to do it for a few extra dollars. I know if my DD15 was asked to do this she would jump at the chance. Good luck!

 

[brymolmom]

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.

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.

 

[Ginny Favers]

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.

Not to hijack this thread, but bravo to YOU for pointing that out. If I gave my daughters the option of the summer daycare at the pool or "fun with mommy", they'd take the summer daycare every time! They love it like crazy! And I work full-time during the summers.... it is actually the reason I work, to afford the things that make them happy. OP, you should not feel guilty for taking a summer job that is 20 hours a week. You still have the other 148 hours to spend with them

 

[encinc]

Would it be possible to work full time during half the weeks of the summer and take the other half off with the kids? I work PT and did that last summer, and it worked well. Every other week was plenty for camp for my boys and it helped to keep the cost down.