I need help on weekends

[Anonymous]

I have a five year old and a four month old and DH is deployed for six months. We have a nanny during the week for the baby and to pick the older child up at school at 3. But I really need someone on weekends just to care for one child while I do something with the other -birthday parties, lesson, grocery shopping, etc.

I will guarantee four hours either Saturday or Sunday - is $25 a good rate to retain a good sitter? TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a five year old and a four month old and DH is deployed for six months. We have a nanny during the week for the baby and to pick the older child up at school at 3. But I really need someone on weekends just to care for one child while I do something with the other -birthday parties, lesson, grocery shopping, etc.

I will guarantee four hours either Saturday or Sunday - is $25 a good rate to retain a good sitter? TIA

I should add that our wonderful weekday nanny can’t do it.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located?

Not in DC but a major metropolitan area.

[Anonymous]

I pay $30/hr for a similar situation for one infant. The weekend hours are usually more in demand, but depending on where you are, you might be able to find someone for $25.

[Anonymous]

Please email me. I would definitely be interested.

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I think if you are open to changing the schedule weekly to accommodate plans the sitter might have each week that would go a long way in retaining someone. Weekends are hard to give up because that's when most people want to go out and do stuff with friends and family. If you aren't in the DC or California area, I think the pay you are offering is good, especially if it will mostly just be one kid.

On a personal note, thank you for your sacrifice and please DO NOT let anyone make you feel bad about needing the extra help. You do whatever you have to to get you and those babies through. It sucks and I'm sorry! Sending you virtual hugs, wine and chocolate!

Signed, a fellow Milspouse whose husband is also deployed.

[Anonymous]

You may run into an issue with only guaranteeing four hours sometime on either Saturday or Sunday without setting a specific on call schedule, especially if you need specific hours occasionally, but it wouldn’t be the same hours or even day every weekend. What you may want to do is look for a high school college-aged sitter or nanny, schedule the same hours both days every week as on call, and let her know you’ll pay 4 hours each day regardless of whether she works. Most 5-year-olds won’t have birthday parties that start after 3, and most people don’t schedule them for Sunday morning if any friends attend church. So, maybe set the on call schedule as Saturday 9-5 and no Sunday if you don’t expect birthday parties before noon, but Sunday 9-5 if you may have morning parties. You don’t want to guarantee 4 hours on a day that you only have 5 on call hours, and most sitters/nannies consider 4 hours the minimum to be worth their time.

I wish you luck, and both you and your dh have my thanks. My family is military (parents met on base!), so while I know it can be tough, I also know you can do it. You may want to consider whether a teen whose parent has been deployed or a milspouse without dependents at home could work out, because they will be so much more understanding of your older child missing dad than anyone who has never been in that situation. Try looking through military avenues first, because even if you can’t find someone with personal experience, you may find a nanny whose charges dealt with a parent deploying.

[Anonymous]

I'd schedule one four hour period when you can do your grocery shopping and errands that will include the typical lesson time. That will likely be a Saturday morning shift. You'll sometimes have to drop off/pick up the older child for birthday parties (assume this is is occasional) with the little one in tow, but it won't be that difficult. If you need an occasional babysitter for an afternoon, hire one. I would only commit to and pay for the one 4-hour shift and I'm sure you can find a way to use it every week (think pedicure, haircut).

[Anonymous]

You can 't take care of two kids for one day?! Why do lazy people have children? Let

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can 't take care of two kids for one day?! Why do lazy people have children? Let

It sounds more like "I need someone to watch the infant while she's napping at home while I take the 4 yr old to a birthday party and to buy new shoes." 4 month olds sleep a LOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can 't take care of two kids for one day?! Why do lazy people have children? Let

You again... sweetie, go out and try to get a little life for yourself and stop haunting this forum. You are so boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can 't take care of two kids for one day?! Why do lazy people have children? Let

She has a deployed husband and works FT so she is literally at work or with her kids.....all the time. Its ok to want 4 hours to yourself in a week of 168 hours of catering to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can 't take care of two kids for one day?! Why do lazy people have children? Let

You again... sweetie, go out and try to get a little life for yourself and stop haunting this forum. You are so boring.

Agree. Same sad poster writes exactly the same pathetic post on a nanny forum. I actually feel sorry for her.

To OP, good luck and thank you for your family’s sacrifice for our country! Hope you find a great nanny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can 't take care of two kids for one day?! Why do lazy people have children? Let

It sounds more like "I need someone to watch the infant while she's napping at home while I take the 4 yr old to a birthday party and to buy new shoes." 4 month olds sleep a LOT.

Np but so what? You can still take the baby out too.
I do think it's weird that OP thinks she can't care for 2 kids. Of course she can. Paying a sitter is just throwing money away.