Moms and dads of 4 kids

[Anonymous]

We had our 4th recently and have other children ages 7, 4, and 3. The 7 year old is in second grade while the other two are in a morning montessori preschool each day until 12:30. Our childcare plans for the end of my maternity leave fell through and I’m wondering how others would advise we set up so that I can work set hours out of the house for about 5 hours a week. DH works M-F 8-5 and is not available for sick care or pickup/drop offs

Options are-
1. hire someone to pick up preschoolers from montessori at 12 and come home with the infant and watch them at house?
2. Leave preschoolers in after care at preschool until 5. I would pick up on the way home. Hire someone at the house for infant and to get 8 year old off the bus.
3. Put infant in separate day care center and leave preschoolers at school with after care.
4. Just stop working for a few years until kids get older and in school. I don’t want to do this as I love my work but I’m not the breadwinner and this all seems like more hassle than it’s worth emotionally or financially at this time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had our 4th recently and have other children ages 7, 4, and 3. The 7 year old is in second grade while the other two are in a morning montessori preschool each day until 12:30. Our childcare plans for the end of my maternity leave fell through and I’m wondering how others would advise we set up so that I can work set hours out of the house for about 5 hours a week. DH works M-F 8-5 and is not available for sick care or pickup/drop offs

Options are-
1. hire someone to pick up preschoolers from montessori at 12 and come home with the infant and watch them at house?
2. Leave preschoolers in after care at preschool until 5. I would pick up on the way home. Hire someone at the house for infant and to get 8 year old off the bus.
3. Put infant in separate day care center and leave preschoolers at school with after care.
4. Just stop working for a few years until kids get older and in school. I don’t want to do this as I love my work but I’m not the breadwinner and this all seems like more hassle than it’s worth emotionally or financially at this time!

I don’t see how working just 5 hours a week is worth all this hassle. I vote for #4. Just hire someone once or twice a week while you are home to help out so you can get a break.

[Anonymous]

I agree that 5 hours a week doesn’t seem like it’s worth the hassle of juggling daycares, etc. I have 4 kids & since we had the 3rd it had always worked out cheaper to have a full-time nanny. Now the 3 oldest are in school regular hours but before that she just took the youngest 2 for pickup.

[Anonymous]

You work five hours a week? I mean .... just get a nice high school girl to watch the infant while you're working.

[Anonymous]

If you work more than 5 hours a week I would hire a full time competent nanny who is responsible for all four kids including picking up preschoolers at 12:00.

If you truly want to work just 5 hours a week tell DH he is responsible on Saturday 12:00-5:00 for the foreseeable future.

[Anonymous]

We went for a nanny for #4, but I work FT. If I worked only 5 hours, I would see if you can find another family in the area for a part time nanny share. I would be willing to share our nanny to watch your baby for a day or two each week. Our nanny would be happy to make a little extra money and I wouldn’t mind paying a little less each week.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean 5 hours a day? Because that would make the childcare juggling worth it, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids and work 5 hours per week. I have a PT nanny who works 20-30 hours per week. It is such a luxury not to lug the toddler to big kid activities in the afternoon. Our PT nanny does our laundry and meal prep as well.

I used to have a full time nanny and worked part time (25 hours) when I had 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

See if you can find a family with a nanny who is free in the mornings/early afternoons while their other charges are in school, and hire the nanny two mornings a week. You can have them bring the baby to pick up to two middle kids, or you pick them up on your way home. I am a SAHM with 3, and that has worked well for me to be able to attend therapy appointments with my special needs oldest and run occasional errands or see my own doctor without kids.

[Anonymous]

You need a full time nanny if you plan to work.

[Anonymous]

One thing to also think about is back up care. with the little ones in pre school, they will get sick.... a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to also think about is back up care. with the little ones in pre school, they will get sick.... a lot.

Right. Which makes me think the answer is easiest to not work or just work when dh is home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 kids and work 5 hours per week. I have a PT nanny who works 20-30 hours per week. It is such a luxury not to lug the toddler to big kid activities in the afternoon. Our PT nanny does our laundry and meal prep as well.

I used to have a full time nanny and worked part time (25 hours) when I had 2 kids.

This is nice but I’m sure it would be very expensive and not sure that we can afford it? How much did you pay for hour?

[Anonymous]

I think your only option is a nanny or you SAH until your 4 and 3 year old are in school. To save money you could take the younger two out of Montessori preschool and have them do a cheap preschool 3-5 mornings a week .

Every other option sounds nightmarish.

[Anonymous]

Can you do the five hours on a weekend like a pp suggested? If so, do that and have DH take care of the kids. Try to go somewhere else to do the work.