Both parents work, afterschool care closes at 6PM - what options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

Maybe they are police officers or other shift workers who don't have much control over hours.

Working in downtown DC and living in Arlington? Doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Au pair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Au pair.

This is a great solution if your house is set up for it. Not everyone's is, though.

[Anonymous]

1. Au pair

2. Stagger work schedule with DH so you can get home earlier

3. Find a SAHM that's willing to watch her after school until you get home.

4. Afterschool babysitter.

5. Hire a part time nanny - you may have to pay her more hours than you need, but she could do laundry, clean up the house, tc.

6. Share a nanny with another parent in your neighborhood that only needs some days or only morning hours. Post on MONA to find someone.

7. Do you have any local grandparents who could pick up 1 or 2 days a week?

8. Combine all of the above in a way that works for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

This is harsh, but true.

It's not fair to the kid OP. Somebody who is an adult needs to adapt. Not the kid, one of you, the parents that chose to bring a child into the world.

You have different priories now. It's not about you, you, you. I can't believe you don't want a sitter in your house with a child who is old enough to talk and report things and think sending them to the library where the homeless hang out is a better option . Either bring work home if you're soooooooo important or of you're a Fed in a non-telework office, one of you just puts down the pen at 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

Maybe they are police officers or other shift workers who don't have much control over hours.

Working in downtown DC and living in Arlington? Doubt it.

Then you switch to a different shift. I work for a Police Dept and work day hours and DW works for a large company and works an evening shift ( 3-11) Its what we did for our kid.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you need an after school nanny/sitter. I don't want to pile on you but those are very long hours for a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

This is harsh, but true.

It's not fair to the kid OP. Somebody who is an adult needs to adapt. Not the kid, one of you, the parents that chose to bring a child into the world.

You have different priories now. It's not about you, you, you. I can't believe you don't want a sitter in your house with a child who is old enough to talk and report things and think sending them to the library where the homeless hang out is a better option . Either bring work home if you're soooooooo important or of you're a Fed in a non-telework office, one of you just puts down the pen at 5.

PP, if you have to work, you have to work. Not everyone has the luxury of employers who understand family priorities. If you don't work your required hours, someone else will and there's no compassion in a lot of workplaces. And in case you haven't seen babysitters who just FB the day away, or ignore kids while they chat on their cellphone, let me just say that the realities for some parents are harsher than you think. BTW, homeless people are people too. The children's section of the library is not as bad as you think. My young daughter loves the library and spends more than an hour being read to. Some parents have it better than others. Don't judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

Maybe they are police officers or other shift workers who don't have much control over hours.

Working in downtown DC and living in Arlington? Doubt it.

ER docs then?

[Anonymous]

My first suggestion is to stagger hours. If this is not possible, is my next suggestion is one of you needs a more family friendly job. Lots of parents make job changes in order to prioritize their family.

If none of these are possible or within your priorities, you need to look for a nanny and have the child come home. Your child will have homework, need to eat dinner and get to bed at a reasonable time. Even picking up at 5 means a hectic night. You need a nanny that will make sure the child does homework and will prepare dinner. Maybe also be willing to host play dates because your child has to be very lonely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

Maybe they are police officers or other shift workers who don't have much control over hours.

Working in downtown DC and living in Arlington? Doubt it.

ER docs then?

ER docs have huge flexibility in what shifts they take, including only working 12 shifts a month.

The OP is just looking for ways to not disrupt her schedule at her child's expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you have a babysitter pick her up (at 6) and then take her to the library instead of home?

Eight? The hell is that?

OP, your poor kid is keeping hours longer than you. Give her a chance for a normal relaxed childhood. Get a babysitter right after school. C she can come home, relax, play outside with friends, eat a snack and recharge. The hours she has ro keep are brutal.

+1

I am a FT WOHM, but OP, what you describe is brutal for a child. Get an afterschool babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grow up. You had a family. Move her aftercare to the Y, they close at 6:30. Then rearrange your schedules so that someone gets her by 6:30. That's what the rest of us do.

This is harsh, but true.

It's not fair to the kid OP. Somebody who is an adult needs to adapt. Not the kid, one of you, the parents that chose to bring a child into the world.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you have a babysitter pick her up (at 6) and then take her to the library instead of home?

We haven't found a reliable babysitter, or have had a good experience with some and DH and I are not sure whether it's a good idea to leave the babysitter alone with DC.

I guess a collie is your only option, then.

[Anonymous]

You pull her out of aftercare and get a nanny you vet and trust to pick her up from school and stay with her T home til you get there. Expecting a kid to do aftercare til 6 then the library til who knows when (and eat dinner how? And where?) is brutal.