How would you manage this childcare issue?

[firstworldprobz]

Probably a simple issue to fix but wondering how other mums manage this.

For context we have no other family (or friends who would be able to assist) so it’s just me and DH. DH works long hours and gets home around 9-10 in the week.

I work from home and freelance writing so I have flexibility to pick my DD up from school after clubs around 4.00-5.

From September I’m going to be studying and need to book my place on a course one day a week. The only courses I can find are finishing st 5.30 in central London, and we live in Zone 3. So all being well with trains I would get home (the school is close) by 6.15/6.30, but in the event of transport issues or strikes it could be later.

The school wraparound care finishes at 5.45.

What kind of childcare am I even looking for for this small once a week block? No nannies would work such a shift surely, but I’m also not comfortable with, say, an unqualified teenager looking after DD. (She is 5 and can be emotional, dysregulated after school and also hates having babysitters and gets really upset).

I know there are plenty of working parents without my flexibility who manage this daily, but I guess if you do it 5 days a week it’s easier to employ someone versus just one evening.

I really want to book this course as it will qualify me for further work but what’s the best solution for me?

Start with the school, ask if they have a list of childminders that pick up from your school. Next up I’d speak to the after school club, do they have any staff who’d be willing to look after her for a few hours that she already knows? I’d also ask in the class WhatsApp group if you’re on it, someone might have some recommendations. Also on the local Facebook group, see if there are any childminders or nannys who can help.

Hope you manage to find something that works OP.

😂 no, they really don't!

Of course OP can do a course - but maybe not immediately or until she / they have found a solution. This situation isn’t new to them - likely they work / live this way in agreement and because it works for them.
OPs DP is getting home at 9 / 10 every night from working - not leisure. He’s not getting free time or an evening which OP does being at home. I know which one I would rather! (& I speak from experience as my DH works long and late hours too and it is exhausting for him).
Unfortunately the world and most peoples’ jobs / working hours are not ideal and they can’t simply rearrange things when one partner wants to change an arrangement they’ve both agreed to and have probably been living with for years. That also doesn’t mean they can’t work towards that for the future.

This is assuming the man here would rather be working than with his child - it seems like an insubstantial judgement. Arguably he is the one missing out on the more important thing in this scenario.
Also he could well be funding the majority of his family’s lifestyle with the long hours etc.

Have you tried something like KoruKids? I keep being served ads for them and it says it can be flexible (I think it’s part time nannies, I’ve never had to use it). The good thing about living in London is we have many options!