how to find mother's helper -- is that what I need?

[Anonymous]

Looking for someone to pick up DD from school every afternoon and bring her home. She's starting a new school and neither DH nor I can get there on time to pick her up.

Anyone have someone who does this kind of thing for them? Where would I find someone like this?

[Anonymous]

First, a mother’s helper is usually a young kid who plays with the kids while the parent is home. That is clearly not what you want. You want an afternoon babysitter/nanny with her own car.

Second, everyone wants a babysitter or nanny for those hours and duties, OP. They are incredibly expensive. And you have to guarantee their hours and pay legally.

[Anonymous]

No, a mother's helper is someone who does childcare activities while you're still home. You're looking for an after school sitter - try finding a college student.

[Anonymous]

Afterschool babysitter’s are expensive! And college students, in our experience, are unreliable. We were paying $25 an hour (three years ago) for one kindergartener for three hours a day guaranteed and went through three in one year. Only the first sitter was good and reliable but her college schedule changed after one semester.

My friends are saying that nannies are asking for $30 an hour.

[Anonymous]

You need an afternoon babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

I would also assume that on top of the expense that you would have to let her drive your car and for that you’d have to add her to your insurance. At least this was our situation with a “pod” nanny last year.

[Anonymous]

Does her school not have buses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

I don’t think you’re fully comprehending what other PPs are telling you. If you just need her delivered from point A to point B, just call a taxi every day. But if you balk at that because MY CHILD and SAFETY, then what you’re really asking is for someone to be available every day M-F for exactly the same 30 minutes, without any leeway for lateness and flakiness, then yes, you’re going to pay through the nose for this. Especially if “while she’s there, it would be great if she could fix her a snack and help with homework and have her ready to go for soccer practice and maybe unload the dishwasher too, since DD doesn’t need a lot of supervision and she’s there anyway.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

So you just want someone to pick her up and bring her home and then leave? I think it’s illegal to leave a ten year old home alone, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

So you just want someone to pick her up and bring her home and then leave? I think it’s illegal to leave a ten year old home alone, OP.

+1. Leaving a ten year old home alone is a terrible idea. You need an after-school sitter who can drive (and has a safe car) and they are very pricey since everyone wants them. We pay $35 an hour for two kids, 8 and 6, for three guaranteed hours a day. She’s a preschool teacher who works at a school near our house and picks up the kids M-F. We have no coverage for sick days or my kids school holidays if she’s teaching however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

So you just want someone to pick her up and bring her home and then leave? I think it’s illegal to leave a ten year old home alone, OP.

Definitely NOT in illegal in many places, including anywhere in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for someone to pick up DD from school every afternoon and bring her home. She's starting a new school and neither DH nor I can get there on time to pick her up.

Anyone have someone who does this kind of thing for them? Where would I find someone like this?

Is your kid going to be alone when she gets home? Or do you work from home and cant pick her up?

You aren't looking for a mother's helper. Does the school have aftercare? If so, sign her up. If you are at home, perhaps someone lives near you but they might not want to do it everyday.

You and spouse may have to take turns!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes.
Ok, thanks all. Mine is 10 so not someone who really needs looking after that much. I just need her delivered safely from one place to another.

So you just want someone to pick her up and bring her home and then leave? I think it’s illegal to leave a ten year old home alone, OP.

Definitely NOT in illegal in many places, including anywhere in VA.

It should be illegal. It’s a dangerous and stupid idea. No ten-year-old has the critical thinking skills to handle an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Its called Uber. Keep calling one until you find a female driver and then negotiate off-books to get her to do the rounds daily for $15 a trip (assuming your kid isn't more than a 20 minute drive away).