Yippeeeee I have an interviews....I'm already panicking about my childcare

[niceglasses]

Local uni rang today to say a post I applied for a while back is vacant again and do I want an interview. Now I know I am getting carried away and may not get the job, but I have got to interview stage before and pulled out because I freak about childcare for my 3 kids. Help me calm down and go for this interview.

Its 20 hours. I have 3 kids, 2 of whom will be at full time schl, youngest doing 2 and a half hours am. There is a local wraparound, but other than that my options are limited - not much able family around. My dh works till at least 7 each night. I panic about them being shunted around, about them not doing bits of homework, about suffering really.

I also need this job for myself. I'm going mental with boredom and have been on ADs for over a year. I'm fairly well qualified to MSc - I know I need a bit of stimulation.

How do others with maybe 2 or more cope?

[niceglasses]

Sorry, re-read that didn't mean to sound patronising in a sort of' only those who are educated need stimulation' kinda way - its just that I've done about 7 yrs of childcare now and I've come to realise I've had enough!!!!!!!!!

Oh and we need the money pretty despo.

[Fireflyfairy2]

I have 2 children. I don't work but I am a student 3 days a week. I have a childminder for ds.

Dd is at full time school & then an after schools club. A friend picks her up from school & drops her at her after schools club for me.

I then pick ds up from c/minders & get dd from her club. We go home, dd starts her h/work whilst I begin dinner

After dinner we chat, get ready for bed & when they are in bed I collapse in a heap

[niceglasses]

So you think it works (sort of)? Is worth it obviously?

I think some of the issue is as well, I've lost a bit of confidence......

[ggglimpopo]

Whatabout an aupair?

good luck with the job!

[Fireflyfairy2]

God, I had zero confidence when I started uni.

I hadn't a clue what I was going to do about dd. The first year was fine as she was at playgroup & that's where her after schools club was too so she stayed there all day. Ds was just a baby so that's why he ended up with a childminder.

dd then started school & ds's c/minder had a son out at the same time at a diff school so she couldn't pick dd up. A woman I knew through dd offered to pick her up & drop her at the club for me & I jumped at the chance.

Now this is my 3rd year & as I don't know my timetable yet, I have no arrangements made for dd to go to after school club yet. I do have her name down for every day, just to keep the spaces open, but as soon as I know what days (if any) I need them for, the other days can be given to other children.

I only hope that I can get the same friend to drop dd off this term! That's another worry, but it's definitely worth it!!

[LIZS]

How is the 20 hours split ? I've just been for an interview for a similar one with more hours, also have no back-up, but both kids are in school ft and there is after shcool care should I need it . Can you find as childminder for your younger one to bridge the gap or have 2 of your 2 1/2 hour sessions in the same place, am and pm . Does the Uni have a nursery ? Try not to panic until you have got the job though ! Good luck

[Hurlyburly]

It's all about muddling through.

Deliveries (to school) are done by me once a week, DH twice a week and another lady in the street twice a week. Collections are done by DH (once a week) au pair (three times a week) PIL (once a week).

To make it work, I do insist on a strict routine being followed. So whoever is in charge between 3.00 and 7.30 has a schedule to work through:

Collect
Feed them something wholesome and nutritious and listen to the complaints (and endless requests for ice-cream instead)
Do homework
Check homework books/logs and deal with letters from school
Pack school bags
Piano practice
Freetime (they can addle their brains on the DS/TV/play games or whatever)
Bathtime at 7.30
Bedtime at 8.00
Booktime 8.00-9.00

You have to insist that whoever does the childcare follows the routine otherwise it all goes pearshaped. Gumshields and school trips get forgotten. They turn up with the wrong kitbags. We lurch from disaster to disaster.

[Fireflyfairy2]

Would you have evening shifts niceglasses?

[ChippyMinton]

Niceglassses, i just clicked on the back to work topic as i am sitting here in the same position as you. Have been SAHM for 6+years, two at school, one at preschool 5 mornings. There's a job going at DH's work, they will consider part-time/job-share and also someone else is coming back from maternity leave and may want PT, so it's definately worth applying for. I was thinking of trying to get 18 hours (which is half a post) , starting early and finishing by 2.30pm for school pick-up. That leaves me with DD to sort out, for the next year until she starts school. I've never used childcare (other than preschool) and am a bit apprehensive as well as clueless as to what's available. Can't hide behind that as an excuse for sitting at home dying of boredom though