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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Nanny here.  I have worked for multiple families where both parents had big jobs (including two lawyers at white shoe firms, one who made partner when the kids were toddlers).

You need a full-service nanny.  That means someone who can drive and is willing to work longer hours and handle the majority of logistics relating to kids.  If you really really love your current, non-driving nanny and she isn’t too expensive then I would maybe consider keeping her and hiring someone else to do pick-up 5 days a week and work evenings, but it will be easier overall if it’s all the same person.

E.g., my current charges are 4 and 5.  They are in full-day preschool and I work 7:30am-5:30pm M/W/F and 7:30-7:30 Tu/Th. Mom does bedtime on weekends and Wednesdays and Dad does Monday and Friday.  That means mom can work as late as needed any work night but Wednesday and dad can work late any Tu/W/Th. I do drop-off and pickup by default but if either parent is having a light day they will take the kids to school, but I pack lunches and make sure the kids are dressed and all that while the parents get dressed and have breakfast.

I am paid during school hours and use that time to manage all kid laundry, do grocery shopping twice a week, make 100% of kids’ food, pack lunches for the parents, and stay on top of kid logistics—scheduling doctor/dentist/etc., making sure we never run out of toothpaste, handling sick days home from school and school holidays, and registering for summer camp and remembering when it is pajama day and all that constant buzz of stuff that you have to plan and prepare and remember for kids.

I am paid very well ($75,000 per year) for my services, and someone like me is hard to find but it is worth it if your goal is to build a major career without a SAH spouse.  [/quote]

This is good advice and money well spent if you want to go all in on your career. Personally I didn’t but it’s a valid choice either way. [/quote]

Yep, this. I made partner last year in my ninth year, with a 5 and 3 year old (and another on the way now), and it is certainly thanks to a wonderful (driving) nanny who works 60-ish hrs a week and a 3-days-a-week housekeeper who does our grocery store runs and almost all cooking. We outsource everything else too -- yard work, home repair, etc.  All of this is a huge hit to our income but we love our jobs (husband is fed but works nonstop) and can entirely focus on the kids for an hour each morning and 2-3 hours a night...before logging back on :). I don't think it is sustainable for 30 years, but it's fun for now, keeps all career doors open, and the kids seem really happy and proud of us.

Plus being in biglaw means I control my own working hours and can take the kids to soccer, swimming, etc. at random times each week -- even random museum/zoo trips when things are slow. The flexibility of biglaw is surprisingly suitable to erratic kid schedules. Go girl![/quote]

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