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Original poster

Anyone else screwed work wise because of school hours

157 replies

Sewsosew · 28/08/2020 16:02

Previously working somewhere great under contract before lockdown. In process of being made permanent with DC starting secondary (meaning I could do longer hours also, but still term time, not quite full hours).
Current contract ended same time as lockdown.

Now they’ve decided they want someone full time, whole year (I imagine this is to do with recent management buyout).

DC is only back in school 8.30-2pm, no after school activities and has to be off site. Too young to be left for hours, can’t go back to childminder (too old really and she won’t take a child from a different school). Nowhere else to go.
DH is out 7-7pm.

I’m so hacked off. We are fine financially but I like working and I am so friggin bored! I like people and I like the extra cash as holiday money.

I know someone is going to say it’s fine to leave DC, but I’m not comfortable with that just yet, she only recently turned 11.

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 28/08/2020 16:42

Look into a nanny, it's not like you need someone Norland qualified! Just someone who will watch tv with a teenager for a few hours and make her a sandwich. Contact some agencies.

Even if you only break even it will be worth it because the problem is temporary and once normal hours you can review.

latticechaos · 28/08/2020 16:42

I am sorry op. If it makes you at least feel not alone, my dp has had to make some tough choices and the school situ has messed us up too. It is crap.

Too bad your employer has gone backwards to 37 hours only.

DianaT1969 · 28/08/2020 16:43

This comment about having a stranger in the house is strange. Lots of us have a cleaner - they are strangers initially. Dog walkers with keys. The person is only a stranger until you get to know them. You could employ a cleaner to be there every week day from 2-4pm, standard cleaning, prepping dinner, doing washing and ironing. Ask your friends for recommendations, or go through an agency and get references. It's only for a few months until you feel confident she's OK alone. If individual schools are closed down due to outbreaks, you might be pleased to have a regular helpful who knows your daughter and home (assuming they have availability to extend hours).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Oblomov20 · 28/08/2020 16:43

You can't be serious? A secondary school child should be fine for an hour or 2.

latticechaos · 28/08/2020 16:45

@Oblomov20

You can't be serious? A secondary school child should be fine for an hour or 2.
I think 11 is young actually, for every day.
Original poster
Sewsosew · 28/08/2020 16:48

@Oblomov20

You can't be serious? A secondary school child should be fine for an hour or 2.
It would be 3 hours dependant on traffic.
OP posts:
chubbyhotchoc · 28/08/2020 16:50

Also agree I think it's poor to leave an 11 year old alone until 5. Y7s are not that mature. Don't blame you op

TSSDNCOP · 28/08/2020 16:59

Y7 are fine to be left provided no other issues. In fact, they seem to enjoy the responsibility of getting a snack, doing their homework, walking the dog.

As to holidays: sport, drama camps etc

We got a friends 16 yo teen to fill the gaps.

RosieLemonade · 28/08/2020 16:59

How old is she?
Could you give her a little schedule to keep her busy at home? Have some snacks ready for her etc?

SnuggyBuggy · 28/08/2020 17:01

Year 7 might be a little young but they mature quickly so it might be worth it for the right job

latticechaos · 28/08/2020 17:01

Y7 are fine to be left provided no other issues. In fact, they seem to enjoy the responsibility of getting a snack, doing their homework, walking the dog.

Not all of them! It is pretty lonely going home to an empty house every day.

mrsm43s · 28/08/2020 17:10

I think that the term time isn't really an issue, it's only a few hours and she's 11. I do think the holidays and full days alone will be an issue, but presumably they could be covered with a combination of your annual leave, your DH's annual leave and some parental leave if necessary. It's really only this year that is going to be an issue. By the time she's in year 8, she will have grown up massively, and I doubt you'd worry about leaving her at all.

Most schools have homework clubs in libraries, although of course Covid may have changed that. Worth checking though. Also after school clubs and sports practices.

Original poster
Sewsosew · 28/08/2020 17:15

She would have been in school until 4pm if we wanted, but that’s all off.

I think holiday clubs etc are very much dependent on the economy of where you live. There’s certainly a lot of football holiday clubs near me but little else. Next town over has a sports club in the holidays but it’s a short day.
I don’t think there’s enough money in the world to make DD go to a drama club🤣
It’s why I gave up a previous career.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 28/08/2020 17:18

Can you go in an hour earlier and therefore get home an hour earlier too?

Presumably they want 9-5? Would they agree to 8-4 instead?

So you leave at 7.30 to get to work at 8. Your DD would have to stay in the house alone for 30 mins perhaps before leaving to walk to school, but as long as you trust her to lock up I think this would be OK. Then it's not so long in the afternoon to be left?

Graphista · 28/08/2020 17:21

A “mothers help” might be a better option as it’s only for a couple of hours and not looking after a child that’s young and needs a lot of input.

Check out local ads on this type of worker you might be pleasantly surprised.

Plus lots of nannies/mothers helps may be struggling to find work with so many wfh and having more flexible arrangements.

Or even an older teen say 15-18 year old? An older sibling of a friends child?

Regarding “stranger in the house” what an odd attitude! They wouldn’t be a “stranger” but someone carefully chosen

Alternatively could she go to a friends house and you compensate and show suitable appreciation to the parents?

But to be perfectly honest, as a former nanny and childminder myself with a wealth of experience with this age group too I also think she SHOULD Be absolutely fine on her own with suitable prep/rules.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 28/08/2020 17:23

Unless she has special needs I really can't see why an 11 year old cannot be left alone at home for 3 hours. If she really can't be trusted for a few hours at that age I would be questioning why and wanting her assessed tbh.

tootiredtothinkofanewname · 28/08/2020 17:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Disfordarkchocolate · 28/08/2020 17:24

If they are secondary school age then I think they are old enough to be home until you are home.

Every term they get older and more independent. Before you know it they'll be making tea a couple of days a week. They might like a bit of time on their own after being in a big school all day.

Sunshinegirl82 · 28/08/2020 17:30

I was an after school nanny for a year whilst I did my post grad. DC were 9 and 11. I was on university type terms so did extra in the holidays. There are definitely people out there who will do that sort of work.

allfloopy · 28/08/2020 17:46

I think if she's ok with it she would be fine, she could
Make a snack.
Do her homework/study.
Watch tv/iPad and chill in her bedroom.
And by then you would be home.

She has to start somewhere OP.

LoeliaPonsonby · 28/08/2020 18:03

There’s no way I would quit a job over this problem. You don’t even necessarily need someone every day, but even 3 days a week you could get someone in for a couple of hours - have you tried agencies etc? If none of the normal childcare options are running, what are those staff doing?

I would swither about leaving an 11 year old 5 days a week for 3 hours, so I do kind of see your point.

Fungster · 28/08/2020 18:03

It's only 2 and a half hours!! Unless your daughter has some kind of disability, this should be a non-issue. She's eleven.

Fungster · 28/08/2020 18:05

Unless she has special needs I really can't see why an 11 year old cannot be left alone at home for 3 hours. If she really can't be trusted for a few hours at that age I would be questioning why and wanting her assessed tbh. I completely agree. Part of our job as a parent is to give our kids opportunities to grow up. You're not doing her any favors by treating her this way.

heartsonacake · 28/08/2020 18:26

You’re not screwed over because of work hours, you’re screwing yourself over because you won’t leave her alone and allow her to gain some necessary independence.

WhatILoved · 28/08/2020 18:32

Yes I have two jobs and I reckon I will need to give up the thurs to fri one. It's something I'm not able to do from home and school has announced they are not running an after school club. It will cost too much to employ a nanny for those days. The school day has also been shortened to 250... so I imagine that's hard for everyone