Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My nanny used to work 53-55 hours a week (3 kids).

I do 45 hours a week and still spend time with my host family, sometimes I even cook dinner for us all.

Neither of these examples fits OP's request. Go back and read her original post. She needs 50 hours per week to cover work. Then she wants 10 hours per week of evening "help". That is 60 hours.

One of the PPs suggested AP and nanny. My suggestion would actually be AP and high school student. A high schooler is more likely to be able to do an hour or two every night as OP could look for someone with 2 blocks or less to walk. They could also come over and relieve the AP just at exactly 9 hours every day. For predictability, I would suggest a senior with several babysitting references citing timeliness. Also, a high school student is less likely to have issues with helping for most of the hours, instead of being full charge.

As the mom of a high schooler (and also Hm of an AP), I’m wondering whether you actually know of high school seniors who babysit for two hours per day? My experience is that kids either need to work - and work 4-5 hour shifts - or they don’t, in which case they are doing activities and homework and not babysitting in the evenings. I literally do not know a single Hs student who babysits on weekdays. I’m wondering whether this is something that is more common maybe in areas less focused on high achievement than inside the beltway neighborhoods?

Anonymous wrote:

My nanny used to work 53-55 hours a week (3 kids).

I do 45 hours a week and still spend time with my host family, sometimes I even cook dinner for us all.

Neither of these examples fits OP's request. Go back and read her original post. She needs 50 hours per week to cover work. Then she wants 10 hours per week of evening "help". That is 60 hours.

One of the PPs suggested AP and nanny. My suggestion would actually be AP and high school student. A high schooler is more likely to be able to do an hour or two every night as OP could look for someone with 2 blocks or less to walk. They could also come over and relieve the AP just at exactly 9 hours every day. For predictability, I would suggest a senior with several babysitting references citing timeliness. Also, a high school student is less likely to have issues with helping for most of the hours, instead of being full charge.

I do 45 hours a week and still spend time with my host family, sometimes I even cook dinner for us all.

Said no happy aupair ever.

My nanny used to work 53-55 hours a week (3 kids).

I do 45 hours a week and still spend time with my host family, sometimes I even cook dinner for us all.

Neither of these examples fits OP's request. Go back and read her original post. She needs 50 hours per week to cover work. Then she wants 10 hours per week of evening "help". That is 60 hours.

Anonymous wrote:APs only work 45 hours per week. Most APs don't even work that long. Those that do work 45 hours usually run out the door after their shift is over- they don't hang around to have dinner with the family- they want their own personal time so they don't burn out.

No, you cannot have them work more by paying OT.

If you have had a professional nanny in the past, I think you will be sorely disappointed/underwhelmed with the AP program.

If you do get an AP, her hours will be something like 8-5 M-Fri. You will need to get a separate evening nanny if you want help then.

I do 45 hours a week and still spend time with my host family, sometimes I even cook dinner for us all.

My nanny used to work 53-55 hours a week (3 kids). I paid her 53k per year. She was great, we loved her, she loved us, and was very happy with the pay.

She raised 4 kids of her own. She could handle it.

Anonymous wrote:

Depends. I've done 24/7, no burnout, but I had complete latitude about just about everything. Technically I had to pass everything by DB first, but reality was that I made the choices.

PP said that 11 hour days 5 days per week was beyond nannies. My point was that the are several nannies who do 24 hour shifts, and there are a few that do 24/7. Just because it's outside of AP hours doesn't mean OP can't find a decent nanny to fill the hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Is this post real?

Yes, a post from someone asking for aupair advice for her personal situation seems real. Are you?

I still don't believe this is a real person.

Depends. I've done 24/7, no burnout, but I had complete latitude about just about everything. Technically I had to pass everything by DB first, but reality was that I made the choices.

Anonymous wrote:

You need to look at your budget and disentangle wants from needs. If you can afford the extra help that you want, get a nanny and enjoy your 55+ hrs/wk of professional childcare. If you can't afford it or have other priorities for your money, get an au pair and handle the evening routine as a family.

Great points, but even if they do the evening routine on their own, they still exceed 45 hours with a M-F 8-6 schedule.

OPs expectations are really beyond most professional nannies too... 8-7 Mon-Fri?? Would a live-in nanny even have this kind of endurance? Sounds like a 2 person job to me. One full time and one part-time.

Depends. I've done 24/7, no burnout, but I had complete latitude about just about everything. Technically I had to pass everything by DB first, but reality was that I made the choices.

Is this post real?

Yes, a post from someone asking for aupair advice for her personal situation seems real. Are you?

Is this post real?

We need 7am-5pm coverage daily (gasp!) for three children (2 that are not in school yet). We have a part-time nanny that is happy working 2 days a week that the AP does a split schedule. The AP staggers on those days. I agree that the AP program is alot easier for school aged children, but you can make it work with the right personality for infants and preschoolers too. You can screen for these characteristics. Someone that is used to working longer hours in a multiple child setting.

This sounds like a great solution! And you may be able to work in some later evening help to get you through dinner/bath/bed a couple of times per week. I think you just need to keep in mind that AP will want some later evenings free to see friends or just be in her room alone with Netflix.

For the troll... yes, most families have both mom and dad who work full time...not sure what planet you live on if you don't think this is true. You also have no idea what OP's personal situation is...maybe she wants extra evening help to allow her some 1:1 time with each child, maybe DH travels, maybe a million things that she doesn't need to explain to the "let's bash working moms" troll factory!

We need 7am-5pm coverage daily (gasp!) for three children (2 that are not in school yet). We have a part-time nanny that is happy working 2 days a week that the AP does a split schedule. The AP staggers on those days. I agree that the AP program is alot easier for school aged children, but you can make it work with the right personality for infants and preschoolers too. You can screen for these characteristics. Someone that is used to working longer hours in a multiple child setting.

Anonymous wrote:

Sounds like you shpuld have thought a bit longer before having kids. Pretty pathetic that you need childcare nearly every waking hour. Poor kids.

Get them a long term nanny. They need a steady caretaker in their lives. They nees that reliable rock. They need a stand in.

OP, don't listen to these trolls. You are obviously part of the real world where working families need 8-6 childcare with full time work and commuting. You are doing a good job, mom!

I think you probably are getting the consensus here that the AP program doesn't work yet for you. Reconsider an AP when your infant is in preschool and your preschooler is in kindergarten/first grade.

This exactly. People should know better than to post things like this. Many parents find themselves with demanding work situations from time to time and shouldn't have to apologize for it, or plan their progeniture based on those few tough years alone. Shame on PP for the idiotic post. Snap out of your bubble.