what to call this position -- and where to find her

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wife?

Servant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - laundry is on a different floor of the house, so it shouldn't be awkward. And yes, we are planning to pay a very good wage (and guarantee it each week even if we are out of town or don't need the hours).

It's not that it will be weird that she is doing laundry. It will be awkward that she makes dinner for your family, then goes to another part of the house, then returns to clean it up. How are you going to feel when you go to get her to clean up one day, and you see her eating a diet coke and a yogurt in your laundry room? What if she wants to try something she made? Are you going to ask that she eat separate from your family, either at a different time or location? Are you going to end up inviting her to eat dinner with you and pay her to eat dinner?
I just don't see this arrangement working out for more than a few months unless you found someone you really connected with.
Also, if you want someone to take really good care of your home and your children, you have to give them some ownership so they are an independent person caring for this house or this child. You can't treat them like a servant like this.

[Anonymous]

This is a housekeeper.

She doesn't have to come in evenings if she does meal prep or cooking in the afternoons.

[Anonymous]

This sounds perfect for a high school student, as long as your preschooler gets out of school late enough for their schedule.

[Anonymous]

Housekeeper/sitter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - laundry is on a different floor of the house, so it shouldn't be awkward. And yes, we are planning to pay a very good wage (and guarantee it each week even if we are out of town or don't need the hours).

It's not that it will be weird that she is doing laundry. It will be awkward that she makes dinner for your family, then goes to another part of the house, then returns to clean it up. How are you going to feel when you go to get her to clean up one day, and you see her eating a diet coke and a yogurt in your laundry room? What if she wants to try something she made? Are you going to ask that she eat separate from your family, either at a different time or location? Are you going to end up inviting her to eat dinner with you and pay her to eat dinner?
I just don't see this arrangement working out for more than a few months unless you found someone you really connected with.
Also, if you want someone to take really good care of your home and your children, you have to give them some ownership so they are an independent person caring for this house or this child. You can't treat them like a servant like this.

It doesn't have to be awkward. I did a job with exactly this situation. I had a hearty snack in my car before work and then ate a light dinner after I got home. If the family wants to put aside a serving of the meal for the assistant to take home, they can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - laundry is on a different floor of the house, so it shouldn't be awkward. And yes, we are planning to pay a very good wage (and guarantee it each week even if we are out of town or don't need the hours).

It's not that it will be weird that she is doing laundry. It will be awkward that she makes dinner for your family, then goes to another part of the house, then returns to clean it up. How are you going to feel when you go to get her to clean up one day, and you see her eating a diet coke and a yogurt in your laundry room? What if she wants to try something she made? Are you going to ask that she eat separate from your family, either at a different time or location? Are you going to end up inviting her to eat dinner with you and pay her to eat dinner?
I just don't see this arrangement working out for more than a few months unless you found someone you really connected with.
Also, if you want someone to take really good care of your home and your children, you have to give them some ownership so they are an independent person caring for this house or this child. You can't treat them like a servant like this.

I agree with the awkwardness. The assistant prepares dinner for the family, then cleans up after the family eats, but the assistant can't eat the food and has to go do the laundry while the family eats. It's just so . . . "Oliver Twist".

[Anonymous]

If this person is getting paid fairly ($17-$20/hr), how could it possibly feel like servitude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this person is getting paid fairly ($17-$20/hr), how could it possibly feel like servitude?

My mama taught me that it is rude to eat in front of others and not offer them any food.

[Anonymous]

There is someone for every job, so I think you will definitely find someone willing to do it.

How long all in all would the person be in your house?

I'd advertise as a 'helper' and write a detailed description of what you need, like you did here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds perfect for a high school student, as long as your preschooler gets out of school late enough for their schedule.

Most high school students still live with their parents, who probably wouldn't want them missing their own family time/dinner to make some other family's.

I would say it would be good for a college student, who tend to keep a later schedule anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have 2 kids (4, 6 mo) and would like to hire someone a few evenings per week to:

pick up our son from preschool and walk him home
help with prep work for dinner
do laundry (while we eat dinner)
clean the kitchen (while we put kids to bed after dinner)

And ideally this person would sometimes be able to babysit in the evenings if we have to work late (in which case they would just take care of the kids), though that wouldn't be a regular thing.

So this person is not quite nanny, not quite housekeeper, and not quite babysitter or mother's helper. Is there a title for this that i'm not aware of?

Also, any ideas on how best to find this person? I'm guessing it will be someone who has a nanny job by day and wants to make some extra money in the evenings.

Am looking for extra hours,we're you location?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this person is getting paid fairly ($17-$20/hr), how could it possibly feel like servitude?

This job should pay a minimum of $40/he.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this person is getting paid fairly ($17-$20/hr), how could it possibly feel like servitude?

This job should pay a minimum of $40/he.

I agree with $40/hr. Some housekeepers earn more than some nannies.