Help me with type of childcare we need, older kids, driver, cooking and laundry for the family

[Anonymous]

You need a housekeeper. My advice is to start by looking for a general housekeeper who comes daily and does laundry, regular cleaning, and meal prep, and then in an interview ask if they’re open to doing occasional childcare. A job posting that requests housekeeping AND childcare is going to scare people off because they’ll think you don’t have realistic expectations and it’s better if an employer is PRIMARILY either in charge of the house or the kids.

Driving to activities would hopefully be something the housekeeper would be open to but if not this is easy to outsource to a college kid for a lower cash rate than what you’d pay a housekeeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need a SAHM for driving to and from activities and making meals

How about a SAHD?

[Anonymous]

Alice from the Brady Bunch.

[Anonymous]

I own a domestic staffing agency.

You need a household manager/nanny. Mothers helpers are 12-15yos learning how to babysit under the supervision of the parent. Housekeepers only do cleaning.

[Anonymous]

The person you are looking for is called a HOUSEHOLD MANAGER/NANNY

Cost range from $30-$40/hour , require 2 weeks PTO and 5 sick days (just like a regular nanny contract should)

A good advertising place to find one is "Household staffing solutions" Ive had great success with them.

Several nanny agencies post there (there might be a fee associated with it, im not sure)

Also You can look on Indeed, I have found they advertise it as well.

Hope this helps,

AC (nanny for over 31 years)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there such a thing as a household help au pair?

Au pairs are not slaves and this is what you need. Why don't you take care of your children and house?

[Anonymous]

A governess and a maid. Preferably from a convent and very musical.

[Anonymous]

Why did you bother having children?

[Anonymous]

Must be a lot of bored SAHM today ragging on OP. Not everyone marries for money, and they end up needing two parent incomes to pay for a reasonable life and college etc.

We don’t have a nanny, and it sucks but teen activities are not aligned with working parents.

For one kid, they have 3 activities that start at 5pm, but they get out of school at 3pm. So do I make dinner for them at 4 when they arrive? Oh wait I’m working till 430, even with a flexible job that is a bit of an ask.

Other kids have activities at 6 and 7, some the same night. So I’m dropping off and picking up in succession — meanwhile spouse is at home making dinner and caring for other kid or 2 who don’t have activities.

Then we daily cooking, cleaning dishes and kitchen, and laundry for 5 people which adds up fast esp with sports practice.

I wish activities could be more aligned and associated with school — most middle school and high schoool sports are cut, so if you want your kid to just have some fun with friends, it comes down to a car drive (and it’s not like neighborhood friends are around, they are off at their sports)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A parent.

DH and I did all that while working FT.

Wow, do you want a cracker? Your comment is unhelpful and doesn't address the question and only highlights your undemanding (probably low paid) jobs.

OP- sounds like you need a FT nanny/housekeeper because your kids are young-ish. Our nanny did a lot of the driving, all groceries, laundry, light house keeping, and organizing. We paid her ~75k/yr with 6 wks of vacation. She had an undergrad degree so she was more expensive than some, but made our home run smoothly and therefore worth every penny. It enabled us to spend a lot of quality low-stress time with the kids. We were able to be fully present without the burden of chores, organization, or housework in the background. She was with before our youngest until she was 12, so about 14 years and retired during the pandemic. We didn't replace her. We bought cars for the older kids and ask that they do their own laundry. We order groceries online and hired PT maid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Must be a lot of bored SAHM today ragging on OP. Not everyone marries for money, and they end up needing two parent incomes to pay for a reasonable life and college etc.

We don’t have a nanny, and it sucks but teen activities are not aligned with working parents.

For one kid, they have 3 activities that start at 5pm, but they get out of school at 3pm. So do I make dinner for them at 4 when they arrive? Oh wait I’m working till 430, even with a flexible job that is a bit of an ask.

Other kids have activities at 6 and 7, some the same night. So I’m dropping off and picking up in succession — meanwhile spouse is at home making dinner and caring for other kid or 2 who don’t have activities.

Then we daily cooking, cleaning dishes and kitchen, and laundry for 5 people which adds up fast esp with sports practice.

I wish activities could be more aligned and associated with school — most middle school and high schoool sports are cut, so if you want your kid to just have some fun with friends, it comes down to a car drive (and it’s not like neighborhood friends are around, they are off at their sports)

So it can be done but we have low paid contracting jobs that are essentially hourly and flexible — so we can shift around work for a FT week.

I certainly wish we had focused on money making rather than our passions, but we didn’t know better 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

The house manager suggestions are right. We had a few years of a housekeeper who came every weekday and did cleaning, laundry and driving. She was in the house when tweens were home but they didn’t need care. Worked out well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there such a thing as a household help au pair?

Au pairs are not slaves and this is what you need. Why don't you take care of your children and house?

I’m confused and intrigued by this comment. You think OP needs a slave? What century do you think we are in?

[Anonymous]

An au pair with a good driving record. If she does all the kids laundry/bedding/towels you can just do yours. Chances are if you need less than 45 hours a week and don’t abuse her you can get her to do more in the way of cooking/food prep than the average au pair too.

[Anonymous]

You need a wife. That's my job in our family, and I work outside the home as well