snow days and work outside the home parents - what do you do?

[Anonymous]

This certainly isn't a sure thing but we got an email from a camp our daughter has attended. The email came in the night before the snow and said that if there was a snow day they would be running the camp and you could go ahead and register that night. We didn't end up using it, but I thought that was a great idea for any camp groups that can throw something together at the last minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a huge fight with DH about this. I have taken the hit 95% of the time. DH's job is apparently more important.

That's your problem.

over the years we've changed who takes the hit. I know when hubby had deadlines coming up and he knows when I've had jobs that weren't flexable. Hubby and I make about the same. But, my SIL makes nearly 3times as much as my brother - he's the stay at home parent for the snow 95% most of the time (he also has the more flexible job).

PP here. DH outearns me by 5x. Before we had kids, I outlearned DH. I have already taken a huge hit to my career by scaling back.

[Anonymous]

We take turns taking days off. We use a private after school program instead of SACC. They have camp during most snow days, unless the storm is extremely bad. DS enjoys that on the days neither of us can stay. He gets to play with friends all day. In the past I've been the neighbor that was asked for day long play dates when I was home. It is difficult to do this all day and can lead to awkward situations with neighbors.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel for you. This was my story, everytime school closed or a child was sick, when I was WOH.

As a SAHM now, I am always available to help out my neighbors and friends if they are in this predicament - without anything in return. Mainly because I am in a position to help and remember my own frustration. Ask around in the neighborhood.

I would also recommend finding a home daycare near your house for this. It takes care of school closings even if it does not work for sickness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP, I feel for you. This was my story, everytime school closed or a child was sick, when I was WOH.

As a SAHM now, I am always available to help out my neighbors and friends if they are in this predicament - without anything in return. Mainly because I am in a position to help and remember my own frustration. Ask around in the neighborhood.

I would also recommend finding a home daycare near your house for this. It takes care of school closings even if it does not work for sickness.

My home daycare followed FCPS for closings.

[Anonymous]

nzone in Chantilly and Jumping Jack SPorts in Ashburn have snow day camps.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher. Last year, we had a nanny for before and after school, but she was not free teacher workdays. (College). A friend would take my 3, and I took hers on snow days. This year, my younger two are in SACC, but I also have a 7th grader, who I don't like to be stuck home all day on workdays. I texted her when I saw the cancellation yesterday, and took 2 of her 3. She'll take my older son on the workdays.

[Anonymous]

Honestly this is probably the number one reason we have an au pair. I have no idea what we would have done las year with all the snow days without her.

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of us have workplaces that let us do partial telework days on snow days. Mine does. I typically park my kid in front of the TV for most of the day with puzzles and crayons and barbies and legos and stuff, and I set up my laptop in the other room. I can typically get 4-6 hours of work done in an 8-hour day and take another couple hours of administrative leave. This is pretty standard for my department.

I've seen people bring their kids into work on these occasions, too. Nobody complains.

[Anonymous]

Nanny but we have done PTO in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of us have workplaces that let us do partial telework days on snow days. Mine does. I typically park my kid in front of the TV for most of the day with puzzles and crayons and barbies and legos and stuff, and I set up my laptop in the other room. I can typically get 4-6 hours of work done in an 8-hour day and take another couple hours of administrative leave. This is pretty standard for my department.

I've seen people bring their kids into work on these occasions, too. Nobody complains.

It is unetheical and if you work for the federal government may illegal to bill hours without childcare for young children.

[Anonymous]

I work part time, so I take friends and neighbors kids on snow days or delays. I don't want anything in return. Pay it forward! If I can't be around my husband or 13 year old watches our other two.

[Anonymous]

It is unetheical and if you work for the federal government may illegal to bill hours without childcare for young children.

But this thread is about elementary age children. I'm a fed and I'm not aware of any rule regarding not being able to telework with elementary age children. Teleworking with a 6 year old is vastly different from teleworking with an infant/toddler/preschooler.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote]It is unetheical and if you work for the federal government may illegal to bill hours without childcare for young children. [/quote]

But this thread is about elementary age children. I'm a fed and I'm not aware of any rule regarding not being able to telework with elementary age children. Teleworking with a 6 year old is vastly different from teleworking with an infant/toddler/preschooler.[/quote]

I think this is an interesting situation. Not a Fed, but I do have the ability to telework, with the stipulation that I have childcare. My kids are older (13 and 10) and I don't like to have them home alone the entire day, but they really don't require me there to watch them. So I do telework on occasion for snow days, but don't feel I'm breaking any rules. My kids really just need me in the house, not really doing any childcare.

[Anonymous]

I'm happy to be a SAHM, it is a luxury for my family - and since my husband can't ever take off work, a necessity for his career.