what to do with kids while you work?

[ladyelle]

sorry. I tried to add something and deleted everything?

I was wondering what other moms do with their children while they are working. This would include holidays and summer breaks too.

I have been a stay at home mom for 8 years and am considering returning to work in the fall.

Thanks.

 

[ceecee]

Does your school offer a LatchKey program? Ours does for $2.25 an hour and they serve breakfast as well. Maybe another mom in your neighborhood will do it. A lady in my neighborhood has been sitting for years and she takes kids to school and picks them up, she charged $2.50 an hour. Daycare centers also offer before and after school care, usually more expensive than a private sitter.

 

[ladyelle]

Our school does offer latchkey. The price is $3 for the first child and $2 for each additional child. Latchkey is defintely an option that I can see working for us. I'm more concerned about all the other breaks and in case they get sick.

My family lives out of state and my husband's family is not an option unless it is an absolute emergency.

 

[Carolinagirl1063]

I am self employed and take DD to work with me. I also have used a local church's mothers morning out program. If I had to work for someone else I would try to hire someone to come to my house who I could trust to pick her up from school and shuffle to her extra curriculars.

 

[zippehsmom]

At my daughter's school, they offered camp programs during the breaks (all except christmas I believe).

Since I teach Kindergarten and my oldest DD is in kindergarten, I just brought her to school with me.

I know when we were little (my mom was a single parent). She always took her vacation when we were off school (except summer of course, she had to get a babysitter). When we were around 9 or so, she found a local babysitter in our neighborhood.

Good luck, it is a hard struggle when you work and have kids. I thank God for my MIL everyday.

zippehsmom

 

[strasfamily]

Do you have a Boys and Girls Club in your area? That is where my DD7 goes. She takes the bus provided by the school district directly to the club. They open early on early release days from school, and are open on non-holiday days there is no school. We pay $86 per month during the school year. During the summer, the fee goes up to $86/week, but that is for full time and includes lunch. They have computers, a game room, arts and crafts, gym, and field trips during the summer that you pay extra for.

 

[Sammy]

When we started having our kids, DH and I made the decision to work opposite shifts so we wouldn't have to pay for daycare (quite expensive for 3 kids). I worked day shift and he worked evenings. We had a 2 hour overlap in the afternoon that we alternated with MIL and a neighborhood babysitter. It worked wonderfully for 12 years. He was actually "Mr. Mom" during the day: getting the kids up and dressed, off to preschool, then off to elementary school, field trips, etc. He even learned to do DD's hair in the mornings!! All the Moms loved him! Then, the kids got older and started getting into all sorts of sports and activities and DH was missing all that in the evenings. So as soon as a 1st shift position became available at work, he was able to switch shifts. It worked out great for us and the kids had the benefit of Dad getting very involved in their daily activities.

 

[JoiseyMom]

When I worked full time, the kids were in Day Care. The summers they spend 8 weeks in day camp. I take my vacation when they are home. I used my sick days for them when they were sick. I have been a stay at home mom for the past four years and am currently looking to work only while the kids are in camp and school. I of course am looking at retail positions, not my past profession.

 

[becky7953]

We are doing the working different shifts thing. My hubby works noon til 8 or 9pm then I work 3 shift 3 nights a week. It is hard but I am home with the kids all day.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Do you live anywhere near a YM or YWCA? My daughter went to their after-school program for years when she was younger. They picked her up from school and after a snack, they settled kids in to do their homework before they could choose any other activities. That was great since it meant when I got her after work we could really enjoy the evenings without stressing about school work!

Over the holidays, the Y offers special all day programs to accomodate working parents and several summer camps. DD did them all, though I organized my vacation time around her scheduling needs. I also used my sick time to care for her when she was ill. Worked out fine.

As a single mom with no family nearby to help, I don't know what I would have done without the Y. They are a fantastic resource.

 

[McDisney]

I don't know what I would have done without the Y. They are a fantastic resource. [/QUOTE]

You can also contact the ywca and get a referece and referal list from them. I called them a couple weeks ago and they emailed the list to me (and sent a hard copy through the mail too). They take some prefereces from you (such as location, times needed, in home vs. out). They had people who were state licensed and just recommended through background checks (criminal).
good luck!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We are lucky in that my ds is 7, so he is in school most of the day. I work flexible hours - I'm out the door before he even gets up. This has actually been very nice for dh and ds, getting up is a special time just for them. I get home about an hour after ds's school day ends. This also works out great. His school has an aferschool program that is staffed by teachers. He has time to get help with any homework, have a snack, and play for awhile with friends. As an only child, this gives him an opportunity to be with other kids of different ages he would not have otherwise. I pick him up, and then we have our special time before my dh gets home from work.

On Thursdays and Fridays, I work 5 hour days. This allows me to pick ds up when school is over, so he can participate in activities - he's done gymnastics, acting and singing, etc.

During the summer, ds attends a summer day camp that wants children dropped by 9 and not picked up until after 4. This is perfect for us. We continue on our same schedule, and I am able to pick him up when he's done.

What works and is comfortable for every family is different. You may have to experiment some before you find the situation that is most right for you. The most important thing is for you to feel comfortable, and be happy.

If you do decide to return to work, try to find something that you value, and are happy doing. Try to get your kids excited about, rather than resentful, that you are working. My ds enjoys school, so it's easy for him to understand that I enjoy my work as well.

Balancing work and family can be a chore or a challenge. Attitudes make a big difference!

 

[ladyelle]

Thanks for the great ideas of what works for your family. We do not have a Y nearby so that is not an option. We do belong to a health club and they offer summer camps. The price is about $165 per week per child. I have 5 children so I would have to work the numbers to see if it would be financially worth all the childcare costs and the stress to work full-time.
I may have to change my profession to one while the kids are in school as another noted. Before kids, I worked in corporate accounting/finance and was required to work many extra hours and late nights. Another option I had considered if childcare will not work is to do temporary work in my field during the school year and take summers off. Has this worked for anyone successfully?
Thanks again for your help.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

I'm more concerned about all the other breaks and in case they get sick.

Our childrens hospital has a sick daycare. If your child is ill you can leave them there for the day. I think it is $40/day.

Our school district does summer camps and activities during other days off. The fees didn't look too high but I can't recall any at the moment. I know one flyer DS 7 brought home was for a free playground camp. It was a few hours a day for a couple weeks over the summer.

Another option is to hire a nanny. She would have to be flexible to your schedule needs.

 

[crisi]

Are you an accountant? If so, why not hang out a shingle? A few small business clients, schedule meetings only when the kids are in school.

I've temped - years ago, not with kids. Long term temp assignments are the best, but they are as flexible as a regular job. i.e. they will expect you there every day. Day fill in assignments don't generally provide regular work.

To answer your question, my kids are in a Kindercare. Next year they will both be in elementary school and we will use the school program - we discovered with my son in kindergarten this year that they quickly move to "school friends" and leave "day care friends" behind. (at least he did). My husband and I use our own sick leave for them - its a Minnesota law that you can. Occationally, if they are sick for a few days in a row, my mother will take them. On the few days not covered by day care programs (and our afterschool program runs full day programs for off days), we take a vacation day.

 

[ladyelle]

I have an accounting and finance degree; however, I am not a CPA. My work experience has mainly been in bank auditing and corporate finance and accounting. Actually, working from home would be the ideal situation for me. I have thought about it. I have just never had any time to myself in the last 8 years to actually put things in motion. I will try and go that route. I think that will be best for my family and I can still use latchkey services offered at school if needed. Wish me luck and thanks for your help.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Another option for you to consider - working for a local non-profit. This may mean a slightly lower salary, but you will find increased flexibility in your work hours, and more understanding if you need to do something for your kids. Plus, it usually means more vacation. You may be able to work mainly from home, or find something that suits you. Just putting it out there...and that might be a great place for you to start a small business, servicing a niche clientele.

 

[Laurajean1014]

My DS9 goes to an after school program til about 4:45 when I pick him up.

In the summer, his AS program has day camp and we booked him for 4 weeks out of the 10 offered.

Because my son received all A's on report card, he and DH are going to a hockey camp for a week in August.

Other than that, he goes to work with DH who owns his own business.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My kids are 14 & 11 so I've had many types of daycare arrangements over the years.
See if your school or YMCA has an before and after care school programs.
Most are usually reasonablly priced. My town only has after school, so I have college girl that comes every morning to put my younger DD on the bus.
During vacation breaks I had the same girl sit the whole day. These days get expensive at $10.00 an hour, it cost $100.00 a day.

The've been going to the same day camp for 5 years now, in which the girl drops them off and I pick up at 5:00.

Before they were in school, I had a women that came to the house.
She's take them to nursery school, library etc.

I'm glad to say come September it will finally be over as both DD go to school at 7:00 a.m.!

 

[tlbwriter]

During the summer, my daughter goes to the same daycare she went to before she started school. But with 5 kids, that might not be worth it to you financially (though as an accountant, I'm sure you know the true cost of daycare is lowered by tax deductions). Is there any possibility you could get a job at their school, as an aide or working in the office, so you'd be out when they're out?