we have our kids in art and language exchange in the NW area. Is 10 dollar for the hour or exchange care with other mom in the area.

I still want to know how you’re only paying 35K for a nanny and 12K for private school.

[quote=Anonymous]OP here - yes we could juggle the pick up and drop off. The downside would be summer care cost and then sick days/ days off etc. What do you do for summer care typically with 3 kids? Just curious what everyone does ?
TIA[/quote]

Daycare was open year-round.

Anonymous wrote:
Keep the nanny. Who will take care of the kids when they are sick? Off school? In the summer? Camps will be $400/week per kid. Send your kids to public school and keep the nanny.


This. Aftercare is costly. Camps are costly. Sick days/professional development days need attending. We do public school/nanny.

I would keep the Nanny. I know it's painful financially right now, but I think she is probably a lot better for the whole family is she's doing the things that you describe for you. $3000 a month seems very affordable in this area.

The summer camp at $500/week adds up fast. And I think, while a viable option, gets tiring for kids. They need some downtime too vs doing camp all summer. Plus, you're putting out $2000/kid/month.

Anonymous wrote:Keep the nanny. Who will take care of the kids when they are sick? Off school? In the summer? Camps will be $400/week per kid. Send your kids to public school and keep the nanny.

This. Aftercare is costly. Camps are costly. Sick days/professional development days need attending. We do public school/nanny.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look into an au pair. Around $18K a year.

I am the mom above who said I have many spreadsheets etc. I have looked into this and the reality is I don't have enough time to make it a fun/positive cultural exchange opportunity. Thats a huge element of the program people just throw out the window.

Being not snarky and totally honest, I thought that element of the program is more on the au pair in their off time. You basically provide the info, time and opportunity to do them. I didn't think you were expected to plan actual experiences and activities for them except for maybe occasional one off things that come up. Am I way off?

The point is that it sounds like pp is already stretched thin enough to not see kids very often. The program is supposed to be about creating cultural exchanges within the family though, which would be too much.

[quote=Anonymous]OP here - yes we could juggle the pick up and drop off. The downside would be summer care cost and then sick days/ days off etc. What do you do for summer care typically with 3 kids? Just curious what everyone does ?
TIA[/quote]

Look at ref center camps. Some are as low as $100/kid per week.

Is this nanny working in the dc area? It was my understanding that a ft nanny costs significantly more in this area. Sounds like you have a good deal.

Keep the nanny. With three kids and one just starting daycare, you are looking at at least 35 sick days. And then their are school holidays and teacher-work days.

Nannies are expensive but worth every penny.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here - yes we could juggle the pick up and drop off. The downside would be summer care cost and then sick days/ days off etc. What do you do for summer care typically with 3 kids? Just curious what everyone does ?
TIA[/quote]

You send the kids to camp. Even with three of them, it will still be cheaper than $35k. [/quote]

I don't see how aftercare for 2, full time daycare for 1, plus spring break, winter break, and summer camp with aftercare for two would come out to less than $35K, unless you seriously cut corners on aftercare/daycare/camp providers.

In my experience, as both a teacher and a parent, the difference in quality and safety between cheap daycares and camp vs. pricey os so much bigger than the difference between public and private school, that I can't see being someone who would choose private school and then choose cheap daycare. [/quote]

OP says above that they could juggle the pick up and drop off. No mention of before or after care.

Sick days are tough, but there are thousands of families who manage to find solutions. It may not be convenient, but it will be cheaper than 35K. Most before/after care programs have drop in options for the in service days off.[/quote]

+1 school aftercare usually includes coverage for school breaks and all those kinds of days. Sick days & snow days get covered by the parent with lower need to be in person at work that day. In a pinch, there are sitting services.

If you’re in dc, you get free preschool. Is it a possibility to take advantage of that too?

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here - yes we could juggle the pick up and drop off. The downside would be summer care cost and then sick days/ days off etc. What do you do for summer care typically with 3 kids? Just curious what everyone does ?
TIA[/quote]

You send the kids to camp. Even with three of them, it will still be cheaper than $35k. [/quote]

I don't see how aftercare for 2, full time daycare for 1, plus spring break, winter break, and summer camp with aftercare for two would come out to less than $35K, unless you seriously cut corners on aftercare/daycare/camp providers.

In my experience, as both a teacher and a parent, the difference in quality and safety between cheap daycares and camp vs. pricey os so much bigger than the difference between public and private school, that I can't see being someone who would choose private school and then choose cheap daycare. [/quote]

OP says above that they could juggle the pick up and drop off. No mention of before or after care.

Sick days are tough, but there are thousands of families who manage to find solutions. It may not be convenient, but it will be cheaper than 35K. Most before/after care programs have drop in options for the in service days off.