Need a mother's helper for a couple of hours on weeknights - does this exist?

[Anonymous]

Next year I will have a toddler and an infant. I work full time (and will return post-maternity leave) and my DH travels Monday-Thursday every week. I'd like to get someone to help me from 6:00 to 8:00 Mon.-Thurs. with dinner, clean-up, baths, and bedtime. It's premature to actually post around looking for it now, but has anyone ever heard of someone making an arrangement like this? We live near Howard University so I was thinking maybe a college or grad student would be interested as a way to make a little cash.

[Anonymous]

My ex mb had someone do this. She came, cleared the dishes, helped with the night time routine. It took her a while. She paid about $25 an hour

[Anonymous]

A college or grad students will have enormous turnover. Pay well but don't except anyone to stay for more than one semester.

[Anonymous]

Sure. Anything can be had for the right price. It would have to be someone close by who is willing to work for just two hours. I wouldn't count on it being inexpensive, however.

[Anonymous]

It would likely appeal to someone who lives very close by in order to make financial sense for them.

Also, do you mean cook dinner, then clear the table + load the dishwasher while afterward giving the children their baths?

If that is the case, then that is a lot of labor & you should offer the highest rate in your area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would likely appeal to someone who lives very close by in order to make financial sense for them.

Also, do you mean cook dinner, then clear the table + load the dishwasher while afterward giving the children their baths?

If that is the case, then that is a lot of labor & you should offer the highest rate in your area.

Not by herself. I would be there doing those things too. I do it now for my 1yo but I think it will be harder with two kids and I'll want an extra set of hands. So if she could play with them while I cook, help the toddler while I feed the baby, and clean up while I do baths, e.g , that would be a huge help. Or some other division of labor along those lines. I was thinking $20/hour - too low?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would likely appeal to someone who lives very close by in order to make financial sense for them.

Also, do you mean cook dinner, then clear the table + load the dishwasher while afterward giving the children their baths?

If that is the case, then that is a lot of labor & you should offer the highest rate in your area.

Not by herself. I would be there doing those things too. I do it now for my 1yo but I think it will be harder with two kids and I'll want an extra set of hands. So if she could play with them while I cook, help the toddler while I feed the baby, and clean up while I do baths, e.g , that would be a huge help. Or some other division of labor along those lines. I was thinking $20/hour - too low?

It really depends on the person. Why not starting interviewing and ask?

[Anonymous]

Depending what you're up for the tween age can be terrific for this kind of thing - playing w/ a toddler, feeding a baby, etc... They're less likely to be helpful with much cleaning but basic picking up of a play area at the end of the evening is certainly something you can ask.

For $10-11/hr you could have a couple of girls who come on different days and you're building up a pool of future babysitters that way also.

Perhaps not the same thing as you envisioned but something to keep in mind.

[Anonymous]

You can't take care if to children at one time? Ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't take care if to children at one time? Ridiculous!

Did you mean ...of two...?

[Anonymous]

Sure it exists - try at $20 an hour and see what response you get. I agree with other posters to keep in mind that these students never stay more than a few months so keep all 2nd and 3rd choice applicants information. A high school student could help as well - not a tween as previously suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't take care if to children at one time? Ridiculous!

I'm sure I could, but I don't want to. Getting two kids ready for daycare, commuting downtown, working a full day, commuting home, preparing and serving dinner to a toddler and a baby, giving them baths, doing story time, brushing their teeth, and getting them to bed, and then cleaning the kitchen and preparing my own dinner and often doing a little more work sounds exhausting (it's tiring with one kid now). Repeat x 5 days/week. Having some help would be a huge improvement in my quality of life.

[Anonymous]

Sure! You can find someone to help. Your best bet to find someone will not only be salary but a consistant schedule for them. She plays with one while you do baths, etc. I think it's a great idea.

[Anonymous]

I am a student and wouldn't do this job. I sometimes don't understand why people are under the impression that students have all this extra time to waste on a 2 hours/day job. I'd rather do 2 shifts on weekends or a 2-4 overnights somewhere make close to $400-500 a week than this for 250 a week and commute close to an hour plus 2 hours of work for 4 days. OP should handle this job, not worth it for another person to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a student and wouldn't do this job. I sometimes don't understand why people are under the impression that students have all this extra time to waste on a 2 hours/day job. I'd rather do 2 shifts on weekends or a 2-4 overnights somewhere make close to $400-500 a week than this for 250 a week and commute close to an hour plus 2 hours of work for 4 days. OP should handle this job, not worth it for another person to do.

That really depends on the circumstances. I mentioned Howard because we live a couple blocks from there. Obviously no one would willingly commute for an hour to do two hours of work, but a 5-10 minute walk may be a different story. I was a college student and law student once (not that long ago) and I had plenty of free time. Everyone's schedule is different and I'm sure it won't appeal to plenty of people, but if I can find someone willing to help me out for the right price, why "should [I] handle this job" myself?