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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder how other people cope with before school childcare?

42 replies

nothingbyhalves · 14/03/2013 22:25

dt's about to start school. I have to be on the road to get to work on time at the latest at 7:50am, dh at 7:30. The majority of breakfast clubs start at 8am. I'm a teacher, so there is no flexibility over my hours in work, and dh can occaisonally be late, but it can't be a regular thing. How the hell are we supposed to get around this one? our budget is stretched to breaking point with childcare costs as it is.

How do other people manage?

OP posts:
ToTeachOrNotToTeach · 15/03/2013 11:42

Our school breakfast club also isn't until 8 and no after school club!

mrsjay · 15/03/2013 11:49

do you have a neighbour who could take them for you ? i know you have to leave at 7 50 but could leave bang on 8 then get to work a little later , I know that is unprofessional

Bonsoir · 15/03/2013 11:51

Get an au pair. Live in childcare is the easiest sort to manage when you need split shifts.

ToTeachOrNotToTeach · 15/03/2013 17:08

If I had a house big enough to take an au pair where we live . . . I wouldn't need to work!!

Sadly only really an option if you have a spare room, otherwise we'd love to do it. Babysitting for the odd evenings too!

Original poster
nothingbyhalves · 15/03/2013 20:03

dh works 50 miles away!! he has been looking for a job closer but in the current economic climate its just not happening ( hge works in the building industry) his comapny have made redundancies so he can't really rock the boat. We struggle as it is with my parents evenings in work, ( he has to work through his lunch hour to come home early to pick up dc, as their creche shuts at 6).

no childminder would take on twins for just 2 days a week. Other mums have offered to help, but I do feel i can't ask as there is 2! There is one mum who is always offering, may ask her if we give her petrol money...... she is lovely and i don't want to fall into the trap of taking advantage of her lovely generous nature.

OP posts:
Original poster
nothingbyhalves · 15/03/2013 20:09

can't afford a nanny :( although i am a teacher dh doesn't earn a huge anount and we are really skint as it is. credit card bill is huge but we are getting it down slowly, od...another matter :(

OP posts:
musicposy · 15/03/2013 20:10

This is a bit off the wall (and maybe too late) but could your twins go to your school or one very nearby? I started DD1 at the local village school but found this such a nightmare that after a term when a place came up, I moved her to mine. I didn't teach her class - wouldn't have been fair on her or me. She stayed there and was very happy. It was a good move.

fairylightsinthesnow · 15/03/2013 20:13

DH and I both teachers at the same school. We leave home at 7.20, drop kids with CM at 7.45 and pick up at 6pm (she gives them tea). They are 3 and 1 but when they go to school she'll take them obviously. The late pick up means we can each do an after school club (pretty non-negotiable at our indie school). We get in at 8.15 and we really can't (having tried it) get in any later and realistically do our jobs properly. OP, the mum who is offering - have a serious chat with her and if you do it have some kind of formal arrangement (I think I am right in saying you can do up to 2hrs a day paid childcare without being CM qualified). That will make not a favour and you can negotiate a system that works for you all.

christinarossetti · 15/03/2013 20:23

I'd second having a discussion with the mum who is always offering to help. If she is able to offer taking your children to breakfast club/school a couple of mornings a week, you could do the same in return for her children or offer to have her children for a day or so during the holidays.

sarahtigh · 15/03/2013 20:34

my daughter is in a nursery school attached to primary 9 miles away as can drop off at 8am and pickup before 6 the local nursery primary school has preschool for 3-4years from 11.45-2.30 and for 4-5years from 9=11.45 so a change after 2 terms also no breakfast club no afterschool. lovely village school but I do not think she will be transferring there at 5 as childcare would be a nightmare

hopefloats · 15/03/2013 21:08

Our Breakfast Club opens at 8am or if we need to leave earlier, Gran & Grandad drive over from the next village. I know how lucky we are but we moved 40 miles to be close but not too close to PIL Grin

Mumblepot26 · 15/03/2013 22:44

We do a nanny share with another family, it does not come to much more than our nursery costs used to. God luck

Mumblepot26 · 15/03/2013 22:44

Good

maddening · 15/03/2013 22:53

Childminders sometimes start around 7.30 and do school drop offs.

nokidshere · 15/03/2013 23:15

I do early mornings and take children to school if necessary - sometimes just one morning a week sometimes 5 mornings! I start work at 7 (earlier if need be) and finish when the last parent picks up (usually around 6ish).

I have children who come to me for an hour a week. And I have had twins who came to me for 2 hours on a friday afternoon only. Find a good childminder!

InNeedOfBrandy · 15/03/2013 23:18

Breakfast club starts at 7:45 so I can just manage to get to work on time.

moodymai · 15/03/2013 23:20

I'm a teacher too. My kids go to breakfast club which starts at 7.30am.

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