Both parents work, afterschool care closes at 6PM - what options?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| DH and I work in downtown DC, and child is in Arlington elementary school. Unfortunately, our hours are a little long, and we wonder what our options are when DD finishes school, and the afterschool care no longer accommodates her after 6PM. We are thinking of having a babysitter to pick her up from her afterschool care, and then bring her to the public library, or go home. But I wonder if there are other practical options? |
Anonymous
| Can one of you go into work early so that that parent can pick up by 6? |
Anonymous
|
You and DH stagger your work hours, stagger only a few days a week and trade off with another family in the same situation, work from home a few days a week with your DH doing the same.
We had a babysitter one year. Another year DH and I switched off for pick up. Later I scaled back my hours in the office and worked from home half the day some days and from home all day on other days. I had to take a different kind of job but it was worth it as kids got older. It certainly wasn't as easy as daycare when we could drop off early and then pick up at 6:30~ |
Anonymous
| Why would you have a babysitter pick her up (at 6) and then take her to the library instead of home? |
Anonymous
| This is what we did for one year when our kids were in different places (school vs childcare) in the evenings, and the logistics just didn't work based on where everyone was at 6:00. We paid a college student to pick up DD at daycare and bring her home, where one parent met them at 6:30. Definitely doable. I'm not sure you have any other choice. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
| Staggered hours. I get to work by 7 so I can leave by 4:30 most days. DH goes in after dropping off DS, and works however late he has to. |
Anonymous
|
Babysitter after school but really you need to adjust your hours and don't waste time whining that you can't.
After care is just the start. As the year(s) go by there will be after school activities and you can have a sitter do all that for you but if you do your kid will end up being one of the fe what doesn't have a parent present and you will miss out on getting to know the other parents, |
Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
|
I would work my hardest to stagger work days. My husband works 7am - 3pm, for example. He rarely has to work late, so he also handles dinner prep. I work 9am - 6pm.
I do morning school runs and he does evening. |
Anonymous
Maybe they are police officers or other shift workers who don't have much control over hours. |
Anonymous
Though most of us manage to do it without your attitude. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
|
Your poor kid shouldnt be at school all day, then aftercare, then the library, thats crazy.
Find a sitter that can pick up from school and watch your kid in a home until you pick up. Let your kid have downtime if he needs it. I have a 4yo and a sahm Mom watches her for me 10 days a month from 3-6. She has already agree to do the same when DD starts K next year. Her son will also be in K. She wants the summer off but is happy to do the school year. In the summer we have a teen sitter from the neighborhood do it. Look for home daycares that pick up from your school, or in the bus area from your school. or find a HS sitter |