To take a job with flaky childcare options?

[Monstersinthegarden]

I have one 2 year old DS. I live in a very small community and there are no daycares. There is a childminder a 20min drive in the opposite direction to the job but she can only take him thursdays, Fridays and alternate wednesdays. DH usually has Mondays and tuesdays off but his job is pretty unpredictable. I have one mum who has offered to help me out where she can, I would pay her. There are a few others who I could ask for favours and have done favours for before but wouldn't want to impose on regularly.

The main problem is that I won't have regular days, the shifts change week to week so I would always be having to schedule where he is going on what days.

It doesn't pay a lot but I am really not enjoying being a sahm and I think I can justify it by the fact that getting back out there quicker means I can get ahead and be earning more by the time DS is in school than by waiting and starting from zero.

Am I crazy? I'm really having a hard time with this decision and they need an answer by today.

I think you should be looking for p/t job that fits in with the childcare you can def have. You could work 3 days a week say Mon, Thus and Fri and have it pretty well sorted. Would also save a days childcare fees if your dh can help out.

I wouldn't take the job you have mentioned as I think it will be a nightmare and very stressful juggling childcare to that extent.

I think 5 8 hour shifts is a lot if you don't have flexible childcare available. I just can't see how that will work. I wouldn't be happy leaving a 2 year old with different people every week either. Mainly though I just think that might be incredibly stressful for you.

I know what you mean though, I have worked (part time) since Dd was 6 mths old and I would hate to be at home all the time. Is there no way you could do less hours till you get childcare sorted?

I wouldn't do it unless it was set hours each week, but then I'm not a shift person- I need routine.

YABU sorry. Being asked to look after a friend's kids every couple of months in an emergency is very different to being asked to care for them regularly based on uncertain shiftwork. You say that you would pay them but they'd feel very uncomfortable asking you for it if you conveniently forgot to. Would you pay the going rate for care or expect 'mates rates'? It just has the potential to be way too messy - there are a few parents at the school who try to get out of paying for afterschool care by coming up with arrangements like this and it never works out for them - in the end their reputation precedes them and newbies get warned.