I would ask around with your neighbors and see if anyone in your neighborhood offers before/after care, since you need so few hours. It might be more worth it to a SAHM with kids of similar age/same school to keep your kids a few hours in the morning, since she is home with her own kids anyway, and make a little extra cash. Someone that would actually have to "commute" to your home--for so few paid hours, it might not be as worth it.

^as extra hours

Baby sitting in the evening, schools closed, sick child if you offer this you may find a sahm to help

Thx. I would be fine guaranteeing hours including on holidays. But I don't see it likely working out to offer more hours than we need. Appreciate the feedback that this could make hiring tougher.

Anonymous wrote:"at least be more flexible in working with a good candidate? "

what would this mean? I'd be open to hiring someone bringing their own child so long as it's a kid near in age to one of mine - ideally a playmate for the older one.
- OP

Yeah that could be an option. I guess I mean out
Out there 3-5 with a rate and say "option for more hours if desired - willing to work with the right candidate" so people know you're open to more than just straight two hours a day. Also offering guaranteed hours and holidays would help. Maybe try it first with just exactly what you need and no more and if that doesn't work, get more flexible.

"at least be more flexible in working with a good candidate? "

what would this mean? I'd be open to hiring someone bringing their own child so long as it's a kid near in age to one of mine - ideally a playmate for the older one.
- OP

It's pretty hard to find the 3-5 shift for sure. Even at something crazy like $25/hour, the $50/day doesn't seem to be worth many people's time to be long-term reliable. Any way you could make it 2-6 plus a date night for a total of 25 hours a week or at least be more flexible in working with a good candidate?

Not by enough to get by.

I would think morning would be easier to find, but I've never looked. Could you and your DH stagger schedules?

OP
I would be ok with either but we live near end of SS red line so not really near the DC colleges. Possible we'd find a Montgomery College student I suppose?

If you're looking to get college students, after school is probably more popular (few college students will want to be up at 6 AM to get to your job). If you want perhaps older "grandmother" types or working nannies with another job, before school is probably better. But I'm almost certain there are more college students looking for PT jobs than the second category.

It looks like we will have to be transitioning out of our share in the fall. I'm debating what to do w/ my kids (2) but know that i don't want them in both before AND after care. Which is easier to find - someone to do before care (7 - 9) or after care (3-5)? I know it will be a struggle since it's just a few hours so i'm hoping to get a feel for how to best position it (at a competitive rate of course) so that it would fit someone well who has another job or commitment for the other part of the day since obviously it's no where near FT wages.