Unexpectedly laid off- what to do about childcare? Has anyone been through this?
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Anonymous
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I was extremely unexpectedly (as in I truly thought I'd be at my job for 20 more years until retirement) laid off and I'm just so lost on what to do about my nanny and upcoming preschool. Our Nanny has been with us since my oldest was 3 months old so 5.5 years. We were planning on ending with her in August when my youngest goes to full time PreK (which nanny knows). We just lost 45% of our HHI and she is definitely our biggest expense, more than our mortgage. It seems like the job search market is bleak right now for my industry. I am going to apply to jobs, but have a feeling I will pivot into consulting on my own.
Do I keep my nanny on and eat into our savings? Let her go and stay home with my little one and slowly job search or build up consulting clients during nap time/early mornings/evenings? Part of me has a pang that this is an opportunity for some time dedicated to my last baby before the kids are both in FT school next year. Staying at home does not appeal to me long term as I get so much personal fulfillment from working and isn't ideal for our finances, but maybe it would be a mental reset and quality time for short term? I also have to register for prek on Jan 28 for August and it always fills up that day. I'm stressed about committing to a year of full time PreK tuition when I don't have a job or know what my schedule with look like next school year. Has anyone been through this and what did you do? |
Anonymous
| When I was laid off, we had to unfortunately lay off our nanny. I job searched as much as possible on evenings and naps, and found a job 6 months later. When I accepted the new job, I had a week before I started, during which I found new childcare. |
Anonymous
| I would let the nanny go and stay home and enjoy your kids for a few months. You can do so many fun things with them. I’m sure you got severance and will be able to collect unemployment. I would rather dip into savings for time with my kids vs paying the nanny. |
Anonymous
If the pre-k is that in demand, there must be a waiting list? So you can back out if you find out it won't work for you, because they'll have other families waiting in the wings? |
Anonymous
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Sadly I think you’d have to let your nanny go, particularly if you think you’ll be home for awhile either due to the time to find a new job or by choice.
The other thing you can do is explain your situation- tell her you were laid off and will be looking for a new job. Give her a whatever notice you think is appropriate and tell her if you do find a new job in that timeframe, of course you’d love to keep her if she is still available/willing. |
Anonymous
| I would let her go and be honest that if you get a new job you would love to rehire her but that you dont expect her to wait for you. Honestly when you find a new role you can tell them you are piecing together childcare and may need to delay your start. It doesn't make sense to pay a nanny when you are home and dont have an income. If you can afford it maybe see if she would come part time for the next month while she looks for something else too, to give yourself some dedicated time to get in to the swing of job searching. But if she has something else lined up you have to let her go. |
Anonymous
| I would have her come part time - maybe just a few hours a week to give you a break and have some continuity for your child until the child goes to preschool |
Anonymous
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I'm so sorry OP, I think I saw your original post. This sounds so hard, though just from your posts I can tell you are going to come out ok on the other side. I agree with others and your gut that maybe this could be some special time with your youngest (and oldest - you'd get to do pick up and drop off, fun things in the afternoon some days) that while not planned, could be a silver lining as you build up consulting clients. It will be nice because it is time limited. You won't be a SAHM, you'll be a parent home for six months with a little extra special time (I'm sure it will be exhausting too but generally special).
So hard to say goodbye to your nanny who you all have had for so long, help her find another family by posting on your local list servs etc. and hopefully she can find someone quickly. I feel like it will be really stressful to be paying for the nanny for long without your salary and would add to your pressure to "fix" the situation when it sounds like it probably isn't a quick fix, but more of a long term pivot. You'll need time to process that pivot, get prepped for it, and start building. For the pre-k I would personally probably sign up and like another pp said, worst case scenario you back out and lose a deposit (I know sometimes this is large like one month of care) but most likely you will be in a position where you are ready for your youngest to go back to full time care. Since you don't have interest in staying home long term and it sounds like your child will be 4 and ready for preschool, its ok to plan that way and if you have to pivot to a half day preschool program you can. |
Anonymous
This is a good idea, maybe you could ask if she would be interested in going down to part time while she looks for a new position to give yourself some breathing room and also provide a softer landing for her. |
Anonymous
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Lay off the nanny with the same severance package structure you got.
She'll get unemployment payout. That's why you've been paying unemployment insurance. You can offer the job back when you get back on your feet. |
Anonymous
| I'm going to be the outlier here and say keep her if you can (at least for a few months if you can swing it) and use this time to job hunt full time. If you haven't found anything in a few months, it would be time for plan B. |
Anonymous
| I would keep her for another six weeks but be honest with her that you were laid off and can only keep her that long. Say you understand if she quits for a different job at any time. I think this has three advantages: it gives her time to job search and set up her next job, it gives you some breathing room to job search aggressively, and if you get a job right away it minimizes hassle/transitions. |
Anonymous
| You give her good notice like 4 weeks and post on your neighborhood moms Facebook or email groups that a great nanny is available and of course give her good recommendations. |
Anonymous
| It's not like she can't get another job. I'd use my savings to spend time with my children. |
Anonymous
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Since you were already planning to part ways with your nanny in August, I think you let her go now (with severance or if she wants a PT schedule while she looks for a new job).
I would sign up for the PK- your kid is 4 and regardless of your job situation, it’s time for her to start school. |