what to do with kids while you work?

[btass]

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.

WOW! The Boys & Girls club in your area is expensive! In my town, for the bus from school and the afterschool program it is $5 per school year. Yep, that is not a typo it is $5! For camp it is $50 a week and it is the only camp I can find that goes from the monday after school ends to the friday before school begins again.

 

[strasfamily]

WOW! The Boys & Girls club in your area is expensive! In my town, for the bus from school and the afterschool program it is $5 per school year. Yep, that is not a typo it is $5! For camp it is $50 a week and it is the only camp I can find that goes from the monday after school ends to the friday before school begins again.

Is that $5 for the bus, or for the Boys and Girls Club? We don't pay anything for the bus, but the $86/month is for the club.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I work part time evenings and overnights and DH works days. I use a lot of my vacation time when the kids are off. We also have an inlaw apt so my mother's here as a buffer which is incredibly helpful. When the kids were younger I used babysitters and child care but they're getting easier to care for now (almost 8) and I also cut down my work hours so I'm home more often.

 

[btass]

Is that $5 for the bus, or for the Boys and Girls Club? We don't pay anything for the bus, but the $86/month is for the club.

The $5 is the membership fee for the Boys & Girls Club - the bus is free.

I love free stuff don't you?

 

[DiznEeyore]

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.

 

[wintergreen]

After many years of day care, and after school care at the kids's school, we started getting au pairs 2 years ago. We use a highly reputable exchage program, which brings international girls in for a year (or more). PM me if you want more info. This may be a good option for you, since you have 5 kids. The only thing is that you have to have room in your house (a separate room) for the au pair, which some folks might not have. The nice thing about the arrangement is that the child care is in the house, and the kids get exposure to other cultures.

 

[summerrluvv]

Are you shaking your head because you think it's horrible that a parent that has to work drops their child off a hospital for childcare when they are sick? If the choice comes down to the parent taking the day off work and getting fired (surely this happens), or dropping the child off at a sick daycare center, I would like to think that the *smart* choice would be to put your child in the daycare and keep your job, what about you?

 

[summerrluvv]

I used to work part time and was able to get my son on/off the bus. I started working full time in February and the bus came at 9, so my sister would get him on the bus and he would go to aftercare at the school until 5:15 at a rate of $10 per day ($200 per month). The aftercare program doesn't have any options on half days or school vacations, which makes no sense since the people using these aftercare programs obviously need the childcare or their kids wouldn't be in it. Anyway, during school breaks, his father takes him or I'll take a day off here and there. I don't have any other family nearby, so sometimes it's rough, but it usually works out. Summer camp doesn't start until mid July for him. I signed him up for Farm Camp for two weeks and a camp at the local gym for five weeks. His father will watch him the rest of the time.

I think working for the school district offers the most ideal hours, but unfortunately they don't pay much (less than $8.00 an hour here).

 

[txgirl]

Are you shaking your head because you think it's horrible that a parent that has to work drops their child off a hospital for childcare when they are sick? If the choice comes down to the parent taking the day off work and getting fired (surely this happens), or dropping the child off at a sick daycare center, I would like to think that the *smart* choice would be to put your child in the daycare and keep your job, what about you?

When it is all said and done a sick child needs their mother... period
I agree with the shaking of the head for a sick-child daycare. I can't imagine my sick child being cared for by someone other than me/dad/ or a close friend or family member. There is no job worth that.

 

[summerrluvv]

When it is all said and done a sick child needs their mother... period
I agree with the shaking of the head for a sick-child daycare. I can't imagine my sick child being cared for by someone other than me/dad/ or a close friend or family member. There is no job worth that.

It just might be worth it for that person (typically a single parent) that *needs* that job to put a roof over their heads and food on the table and has no other options.

Oh, and FTR, my employer doesn't have a problem with sick child days.

 

[8 Ears]

I started out subbing and now I teach. I teach in a different district than the boys attend but the scedule is pretty close to the same. Sometimes if I have a workshop they will spend the day with one of their grandparents or go over to a friends house and I send some snacks and drinks. They take along a movie and GameBoy. I offer to pay but usually the parent is happy to have their child have a friend over and say no.

Yes, I know I have it easier than many. They boys have gone to school with me if they have a doctors appointment in the morning or I need to get out early to take them. For short periods they have also hung out with Dad at work. We are lucky that he is a Store Manager so they go out back and do homework or take a movie along.

 

[Ladybugsy]

I just started working from home, and it's great. You can get lots of good information on LEGITIMATE work at home companies from www.workplacelikehome.com and www.wahm.com These sites weed out the scams, and people are making good money working on their computers from home. I started 3 weeks ago, and it's great to be able to be here for the kids. They pay on time, and I can do my work in my jammies...lol.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Are you shaking your head because you think it's horrible that a parent that has to work drops their child off a hospital for childcare when they are sick?

You bet I am. Single parent or not, I think the idea of dumping your sick child off somewhere (especially somewhere where they're likely to pick up even MORE germs) is awful. I'll never apologize for saying that children -- especially little ones who are sick -- should be at home with a parent rather than being raised in a "center". If that offends you, too bad. Parents who don't raise their own kids offend me (and I worked in preschools/daycare centers for years so I'm speaking from first-hand knowledge as both a former caregiver and a mother who scrapes by to be home with her child).

 

[summerrluvv]

Parents who don't raise their own kids offend me (and I worked in preschools/daycare centers for years so I'm speaking from first-hand knowledge as both a former caregiver and a mother who scrapes by to be home with her child).

Ahhh, you are one of those. Gotcha.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming

 

[mum4jenn]

I work in a school lunchroom. I started off 6 years ago as a sub and then was hired at full time within a few weeks with one county and when we moved to another county I made the switch to the county we live in (and dd goes to school in!!) .I have been in this county for three years and in that time I went from regular worker to head cashier,then assistant manager and this past January I was made the manager at one of the schools.


The hours are great. DD goes in with me in the mornings and since she is still in primary school she rides the employee transfer bus to her school. I get off work at 2:30 each day which gives me enough time to either pick her up at her school,or get her off the bus when her bus gets to my school OR she can ride the bus home and that gives me a few minutes to run an errand or get dinner started before the bus gets home.

I work almost the same schedule as the school calendar. We have two training days,two days before the beginning of the new term and one day after the end of the school that I have to find somewhere else for her to go but with only 5 days a year to worry about it is great!!!! No worries about summers either!!!!

 

[PatsGirl]

I am also one of "those". Been a single parent for 15 years and almost always managed to be home with my children when seriously ill. Not talking about the average cold, but fevers of 101, diarrhea, throwing, that sort of thing. Not sure I could leave my child with anyone other than family or close friends when seriously ill. Of course, I'll never say never but to this day....

I get into constant arguments with parents who choose to drive SUVs, live in houses where each child has their own room (and tv usually), multiple bathrooms, but ...itch they have a hard time making ends meet and must work six days a week and sometimes at night...

Well, you know what? Choose to put two or three kids in a room, share a bathroom between 4 or 5 of you, eat grilled cheese occasionally, and drive a car for 6 or 7 years before trading it in. Then, just then, you might be able to afford staying home the day your kid is seriously ill.

While I know this is not always the case and I admit I have a VERY sore spot on this subject, there are far too many that people that believe materialistic rewards are better for their children than the simple love of a parent!

Brenda

 

[AnninIowa]

I don't have children, but I have two businesses that I run from my home so I thought I would post. I have a gift baskets business (www.AnnabellasGiftBasksets), which I consider to be my primary job. Then I am also an Independent Consultant with The Body Shop at Home (www.thebodyshop.com/athome/anneckhart). If you are only looking for something part time that will give you flexibilty, I would suggest looking into direct sales such as The Body Shop at Home, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, etc. Did you know that 80% of women who make over $100,000 a year do so through direct sales?! I do Body Shop parties about once a week...I average $20 an hour, with my usual party last 3 hours. Plus I just started, so hopefully as I continue and build up a reorder base, it will grow. Like I said, I don't have children, but I do have a 73 year old father who lives with me, so I need the flexibilty. It is definitely something to look in to!

 

[Snowysmom]

After being a SAHM for many years, I started working part time temporary for Accountemps. It worked out well. I worked while the kids were in school and took school vacations and summers off. Working Temp gives you a little more flexibility especially when the kids get sick. I also got offered a part time permanent job from temping and they were willing to give me the summers off while they hired a temp. Now I work part time at a library and I can change my schedule around somewhat but there are 2 days a week where I have to in during the day for certain hours. But my kids are teens now so they can be stay home alone even though I do try to be home as much as I can. Temping worked well for me when the kids were younger.

 

[summerrluvv]

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[jpeppers]

I can't believe people are being that judgemental of someone having to seek help when there child is sick. They are talking about leaving them at a hospital daycare for a day. I don't think at $40 a day she was looking for someone to raise the child. Unfortunately some of us don't have the option of giving up our jobs for a day of daycare when our child has a cold. I don't think anyone was talking about a seriously ill child. If my daughter was seriously ill I would be with her but if she has the sniffles I have to find other options. Someone said no job is more important than your kids. I agree to an extent, but if you lose your job because you have to stay home, is raising your child in poverty a better option. Some of us aren't that rich. My daughter is the most important thing in the world to me and if possible I would always be with her. I wish I could quit my job and stay with her all the time but I want her to have a nice place to live and a college education when she grows up and maybe some medical/dental coverage so if necessary I seek other options on the days she is sick as long as I know she is in good care.