Who goes to work on this day?

[BikeRunSki]

DH and I alternate days off during the first couple of weeks of the school holidays. On one particular day, one of us has won a prestigious (albeit internal, but large household name type employer) award and wants to go to the ceremony to collect it. This person didn’t originally have the day off, but arranged a swap when the award ceremony came up. There will also be a meeting at the same location afterwards which this person really ought to go to, and has been arranged for this time/location due to this person being there. It would be very much frowned upon to put in a leave request now.

The other one of us has been asked to go to a meeting with a very big global organisation (the type of people who get in the news for not paying enough tax)as a potential new client. This person is director of a small company, and all the other directors will be away.

No local family.
Kids clubs all booked.
Friends are away.

Who stays at home with the dc?

Prize winner gets to go as the other parent had already agreed to be off on that day I reckon.

@BlueSkiesLies - We have paid for every second of childcare we have ever had, but are struggling for availability at short notice.

Is there any possibility of the meeting person taking the DC with them and letting them sit in an office or staff room with their tablets?

@Amibeingdaft81 - they are 7 and 10.
@Floralnomad - they have one grandparent, and she will be overseas with her other grandchildren.

Between us DH and I have one sibling in the UK. He’s 300 miles away, but is a teacher so likely to be free. It may come to a 600 mile round trip for about 4 hours childcare!!

@JoxerGoesToStuttgart - it’s on a building site. No kids under any circumstances.

Why did the director of the business agree to the meeting, when the other parent had already changed their day off and a meeting was arranged arround their attendance.
If the family was away on holiday, like all the other directors appear to be they wouldn’t be able to attend, or if it’s a cancel a holiday type of deal why are none of the other directors changing their plans?
If there really is no child care, student, family friend or relative (which I find very hard to believe if you have money to throw at the problem) who can have the 9 year old then which persons day needs the least amount of time/ is closest?
That person takes both the children as near to where their meeting whatever is, then gets the 14 yr old to mind the 9 yr old for the shortest possible time. Cinema and lunch, library or museum then lunch that sort of place where there are responsible grown ups around if something goes wrong. Mobile phone check ins when possible.

if it’s only 4 hours can’t they be trusted to stay home and behave if they had a neighbours phone number for emergencies .

Definitely the prize winner.

The construction person shouldn't have arranged a meeting for a date they aren't available. They need to explain sorry they are not available and could meeting take place on another date.

Oops skirt just saw it was a op who said they were 14 and 9 and they are actually younger. But are they sensible kids who could cope for a couple of hours of a meeting?

Any teaching assistants who live locally who would do it?

Have you really got no friends or neighbours who could help out? Doesn’t have to be other parents, when our DS was young we made sure we had all sorts of friends, neighbours etc in the local community who could (occasionally) help us out. We had no family near by so it was essential that we made local contacts. I had ‘child free’ friends who would help me, or friends who were grandparents, local teenagers etc.

Honestly, a pleading post on your private Facebook - you need a friend to watch the kids, you’ll pay back by taking their child out to cinema one evening, or if it’s a friend with no kids, you’ll pay in booze, meal out.
I’m always happy to help out friends when I know they’re in a bind.

Well what are all the DC's friends doing? There must be one that is at home with a parent that will take yours in for the day (with promise of reciprocation later, obviously).
I'm also struggling to believe that every single kids club (near your home or either of your workplaces or anywhere in the middle ...) is booked up.

Which activity would require more time away from home or is at a more awkward time of day?
E.g. If the meeting only takes an adult out of the house for 3hrs in the afternoon, but the ceremony would mean being away for 5, inc DCs’ supper and bedtime, then the 3hr person should cancel as you’d be more likely to get childcare.

Person with award goes to work 1) because award, 2) because the other person already agreed to take the day off

Have you tried the leisure centre? They often run clubs during the school holidays.

Yes they have @Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

Is it really that unbelievable that holidays clubs are all booked 10 days before the start of the summer holidays? We’re quite rural, we’re not dripping in choice.

@Fizzypoo - no leisure centre, not one close enough to get to, to then get to a meeting.

I’m not being obstinate or precious at all. I chose to move away from where my (remaining) family are, I have a good knowledge of childcare, holiday clubs and wraparound care available. It has occupied a great deal of my thoughts for the last 10 years! We’re just struggling with availability.

I'll do it for £500

My 16 year old DD would do it. Seriously, if you are within striking distance of Northants just let me know. She’s very reliable (more so than her mother!)