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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder how anyone pays for holiday childcare with more than one child and no family help nearby???

88 replies

ssd · 05/07/2011 09:01

i can't believe anyone except maybe lawyers or other proffessionals can actually afford to work during the summer when the have MORE than one child and NO free childcare in the form of granny etc.

this issue prevents me from working in any sort of decent job, instead of a crap paid term time only job ( i have 2 kids and no free regular childcare)

how on earth do people in my situation do it?

OP posts:
GiddyPickle · 05/07/2011 10:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ruddynorah · 05/07/2011 10:10

As it goes, dd wants to go to the school holiday club to see her friends. So she's going twice a week, 9-2pm for £9. A full day is £16 7am to 6pm.

mrsbiscuits · 05/07/2011 10:11

Yes I manage holidays with no family help whatsover and yes it costs. We earn a moderately good income between us but are no means loaded. You just have to factor it in throughout the year. My youngest is not of school age yet and already costs more than our mortgage every month in nursery fees but at least they are 51 weeks a year so that has become our norm. We have had to get creative with DS1, he is now 6 and loves football so is going to football club for 2 weeks ( £120) I will take 2 weeks off and then he will go to holiday club for the last 2 weeks ( £200).

TheRhubarb · 05/07/2011 10:11

ssd. It's a nightmare isn't it? I live 200 miles away from the kids grandparents. Previous holidays have seen me tearing my hair out and begging dh to come home from work early because I haven't been able to cope.

My kids are 10 and 7 and finding activities for them BOTH to do is awkward. However there are plenty of things going on if you know where to look.

Museums, libraries etc all have free activities or stuff that costs just a couple of quid and these are sometimes all day events. I think you also need to be cheeky and ask mums at the school for help, perhaps offering to have their kids during the weekend. If you can spread it out like this you might only have to pay for childcare twice a week - less if you have a sympathetic boss who allows you to work flexible hours.

The only other thing you can do is to take a week off and have your other half take a different week off and you can each do things with the kids on 'week'. Then as you'll both have another week's holiday at least, use that for a family holiday during half term.

It's awkward and it takes a shit load of organisation but it is possible.

KidderminsterKate · 05/07/2011 10:13

I have 4 children and use holiday clubs. I use them for about 6 weeks of the holidays and use my leave/ flexi/ parents to cover the rest. You can claim TC as well. I'm a lone parent so cant split the hols with somebody else.

This summer I'm taking 2 weeks leave (one on holiday, one at home), 3 weeks holiday clubs and then my parents/ flexi time/ wing it a bit for the other week.

I've negotiated with the holiday club abd because I use 6 weeks over the year for 4 of them they now give me a free place, so actually I only pay for 3. This summe its about £500 for the 3 weeks......I set aside my TC payments and a little extra over the year so I have enough. It is possible, just takes planning. No way could I do it by paying the whole lot out of a months salary. You need to have forsight!

Bramshott · 05/07/2011 10:14

Our local sports centre runs a playscheme which is £20 per child per day (8.30 - 5.30), so if both DDs go there I am still paying out less then I'm earning. It's do-able. I also childcare-swap with friends as I don't work full time so that's free. Grandparents tend not to help out unless in a real emergency.

CMOTdibbler · 05/07/2011 10:14

I've got one child, but no family help at all. DH and I take time separately, together, use school holiday club (which is good value esp if booked well in advance), football training camp, and next year will be exchanging weeks with another family

Lizzylou · 05/07/2011 10:14

Don't get so stuck on the no help, 2 kids thing, SSD.
There are lots of suggestions here, would any of them work for you?

Lots of holiday clubs only run for part of the day, is your job flexible? Can you work from home? Could you offer another Mom that you'd babysit at weekends or whatever so they could help you out a bit during the holidays? Could you change your hours? DH is working 8-4pm and I am doing 9.30-5.30 to cover the days when the boys are at sports club.

redskyatnight · 05/07/2011 10:16

DH and I take holiday separately

We budget for holiday club over the year.

I'm lucky that my employer allows me to work flexibly so sometimes I can work round DH so we use less holiday. (the flip side of this is that I make myself available to work outside my normal hours at other times of year).

Original poster
ssd · 05/07/2011 10:18

thanks

my boss is totally unflexible and doesn't offer childcare vouchers

i can't work from home, don't do an officey job

dh works shifts that change from week to week

i think i'll have to stick to my crappy job for a bit longer until the kids are old enough to be left 9-6

god have years to go........

OP posts:
TheRhubarb · 05/07/2011 10:18

Help here with childcare costs

Local council will have a list of free activities during hols, google them and google your library and museums near you.

Catslikehats · 05/07/2011 10:19

I think most WAHP's factor the costs in over the year and although then whilst summer seems expensive it is an absolute bargain compared with the days when DC's weren't in school at all.

Sewmuchtodo · 05/07/2011 10:20

A group of us were in the same boat a few yrs ago......

I have 2 dc's, other friend has 2 dc's and third friend just has 1dc.

We all live a good distance from family and no 'free' childcare around. We each took 7 days annual leave each (covering 4 weeks and 1 day.....why does school always finish on a thursday???) and took care of all 5 kids for those 7 days each. We then all had our 2 week family time at the same time (end of Aug) to avoid anyone being left with childcare issues.

DH and I now have the school holidays off (and live somewhere else) but it was a great solution at the time.

EightiesChick · 05/07/2011 10:20

In your position I think I would be trying to strike a deal with friends who also have kids. Each/all of you take 1 week off and have all the kids that week (gulp) - tough but it would save your bacon. Do you have any friends who would be up for this?

Original poster
ssd · 05/07/2011 10:21

it has been interesting to read how some of you manage anyway Smile

OP posts:
EightiesChick · 05/07/2011 10:22

Ooh Sewmuchtodo cross post - great minds...!

TheRhubarb · 05/07/2011 10:25

Yes but has any of it been any use ssd?

Lizzylou · 05/07/2011 10:25

Oh SSD, that is an almighty pain.
Hope you get it sorted.

Original poster
ssd · 05/07/2011 10:26

swapping with friends would work but i don't know anyone else here in our position

most mums have grandparents nearby or don't work at all

and i really hate asking for helpBlush

OP posts:
Original poster
ssd · 05/07/2011 10:29

TBH rhubarbO none of these suggestions are things i haven't heard before, don't mean to sound ungrateful with that reply though

I'm just in a dead end with childcare, only thing that'll make a difference is kids growing up!

OP posts:
Lizzylou · 05/07/2011 10:33

I think you may need to start asking for help then, hard I know!
Is there anyone whose child does something in term time with one of your kids? So you can say "Look I'm a bit stuck with childcare for the holidays, can you help at all, even for a few days. I'll take Johnny to cubs/football all year if you can" or similar, you get what I mean.
So you're offering something back?

Have you thought about changing your job? Not easy in todays climate I know, but there are lots of flexible workplaces/hours/flexitime out there.

TheRhubarb · 05/07/2011 10:36

Well if I were you I would post an ad in the local listings on here and in Netmums asking to organise a childcare 'pool' for the holidays. I'm betting you'll get loads of replies.
Yes most mums do have family or friends to help but as this thread demonstrates, there are plenty of us who don't. If you lived near me I'd be happy to organise something with you as it would help me out too.

Even if you've tried these things before, try them again. Don't give up, things change and you never know what luck you might have this time around.

KidderminsterKate · 05/07/2011 10:36

there is always an answer if you really want to do it! Perhaps you are happy with the status quo? A term time job - even at crap pay is often the ultimate goal for many parents!!!

GandTiceandaslice · 05/07/2011 10:38

I can't. I have 3 children.
I will go back out to work when the youngest goes to school. By then my DD will be 13/14 & will be able to look after herself.
The middle child is more of a worry as play schemes tend to stop at 11 & he will be 11.
I struggled when I was in work anyway with just the 2 of them. I'd save for the holidays so 1 pay packet wasn't hit with a huge childcare bill. I worked school hours but all year, not just term time so had no childcare other than the holidays.
It was harder when one of them was ill as well. If I had local family then chances are (unless it was a sick bug) that they'd look after them.
My dh travels so he would be unable to take time off.

Personally I think childcare should be subsidised. It can't be cheaper as CMs/nurserys etc have to make money. But the government should fund it. IMO.

TheRhubarb · 05/07/2011 10:40

Well the childcare tax credits does help. Why doesn't anybody claim these?