Afterschool driver in NoVa - hard to find?

[Anonymous]

I am wondering how difficult it is for parents to find an afterschool driver/sitter in Fairfax County. I have two tweens who are in different private schools a ways from our house due to special needs. We've had an au pair but we really just need someone to pick up one of them after school sometime between 4 and 6 each day. My husband doesn't think we could find someone reliable and should just get another au pair. Anyone with experience with managing sitters who could drive? I would hope it would be less expensive than having an au pair.

[Anonymous]

You’ll find it very, very hard to find someone reliable for only 5-15 hours s per week. Additionally, you’ll be paying a minimum of $200-400 per week. At that rate, you’ll likely find an AP much more reliable.

[Anonymous]

We have a reliable after school sitter who drives kids around. She wants no less than 15 hrs per week at $20/hr even though we could get away with 11 hrs per wk.

[Anonymous]

Very hard.

[Anonymous]

Your car? Your insurance?

[Anonymous]

I'm currently unemployed and would love to do this but I live in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your car? Your insurance?

We have a car they could use

[Anonymous]

It's incredibly hard. Anyone who takes it will drop you the minute something busier or better comes along, whether it's a full time job or school gets busy or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your car? Your insurance?

We have a car they could use

You’ll need to add her to your insurance, which means you need to hire someone with a driver’s license who has a good driving record. State in your ad that you will run a background check with driving record search, and that you will want to view license at the first interview.

Are you planning on this person helping with homework or just telling them to do it? I would recommend no household tasks, but an errand or two (drop off or pick up dry cleaning on the way to picking up kids) could work, if you budget time for that, especially if she wants more hours. You might find someone willing to cook for and feed kids or meal prep the household meal.

[Anonymous]

I would do it for $15 an hour. I love driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do it for $15 an hour. I love driving.

you love driving in rush hour traffic? There isn't much driving during rush hour more like stop and go


And to echo the other posters, yes, it is extremely difficult. 5 years ago, I tried to find someone and offered $25 hr for one 5th grader - just pick up at school, drive 15 minutes, and make sure they got into their after school class. Couldn't get anyone to do it. The myth of the desperate college student who would love to do this job is just that a myth. Even high school students were a no go because most are involved in their own after school stuff and don't have the time or desire.

Now there are several car services for kids and I would absolutely use those if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm currently unemployed and would love to do this but I live in MD.

Exactly why OP won’t find someone reliable. You’ll quit as soon as you’re not still “currently unemployed.”

[Anonymous]

You’ll need to add her to your insurance

This is it. If I were the person hired, I wouldn't want to take on the added liability -on my insurance- not for a 15/hr, job. God fore bid, maybe I'd be sued, maybe by the family, if there was a fender bender with their kid in the car. My car insurance could deny all claims saying I was driving "for work", getting paid.

[Anonymous]

Here is my advise for what its worth, it might be harder if your kids are in private ( and parents are mostly high income) but we have a Mom from my kids school watch DD after school twice a week. Her son is the same age as my kid and she has a high school age son as well. My kid is 2nd grade. She picks DD up with her own son, takes them to her house then lets the kids play, they eat dinner and my kid eats with them then I pick her up at 630.
She has been doing this since K. Sometimes my kid has to to go to her kids sports practices or go and run an errand with them but im ok with that.
We do pay her, but not close to $20 an hour because my kid is one of three, its not one on one care.

I know your situation is a but different in that you want them brought home but see if maybe someone at their school might be interested in bringing them home for some extra cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is my advise for what its worth, it might be harder if your kids are in private ( and parents are mostly high income) but we have a Mom from my kids school watch DD after school twice a week. Her son is the same age as my kid and she has a high school age son as well. My kid is 2nd grade. She picks DD up with her own son, takes them to her house then lets the kids play, they eat dinner and my kid eats with them then I pick her up at 630.
She has been doing this since K. Sometimes my kid has to to go to her kids sports practices or go and run an errand with them but im ok with that.
We do pay her, but not close to $20 an hour because my kid is one of three, its not one on one care.

I know your situation is a but different in that you want them brought home but see if maybe someone at their school might be interested in bringing them home for some extra cash.

Wow, you are getting a great deal.