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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Free Childcare

204 replies

viviswicked · 10/02/2023 16:18

Mulling over a comment on another thread regarding WFH and thought I would see how forthcoming people would be on an anonymous forum...

Those who are working from home has this been the opportunity to now have 'free childcare' no wraparound, no childminder etc needed as you are now always in the home.

Full disclosure this does not directly affect me due to children being older, I work hybrid and it's entirely up to me when and if I go into the office. My direct team do not have young children but I am part of a large organisation, many of the staff do have children and are not using childcare.

OP posts:
TightFistedWozerk · 10/02/2023 16:21

It would not be acceptable in my workplace, if the boss found out, the person would have WFH revoked I reckon. Then they would have to either find formal childcare or resign.

Leothebear · 10/02/2023 16:21

If I am taking care of my kids i am not working.
I work 3 days/week from home, my kids are at daycare the whole time.

Flamingogirl08 · 10/02/2023 16:22

Short answer? Yes

Fleur405 · 10/02/2023 16:23

I work from home full time and my daughter is in nursery full time. She’s only 1 so it’s not feasible to work from home and look after her. I guess if you have an 8 year old who can entertain themselves for an hour or so after school that is very different.

Chickenly · 10/02/2023 16:24

No. And frankly getting bloody sick of the posters on mumsnet who seem to think that WFH means not actually doing any work.

Smarshian · 10/02/2023 16:25

My kids are in childcare while I work. I do think in a couple of years time they will start coming home after school instead of afterschool club. They are 4 & 6 now, maybe when they are 8/9.

Thingsthatgo · 10/02/2023 16:26

My DH works from home, and it means that DCs age 8 and 10 can be at home instead of after school club. They don't need looking after, but they do need an adult at home.

EnglishRain · 10/02/2023 16:27

My DD is only 2 and in nursery or with DH when I work. However, we don't have much in the way of after school care round here so I imagine I will have to log back on after tea to finish my hours. If she is old enough (maybe 6??) to watch a bit of TV or do some drawing I'd try and get the day done earlier by tying up a few things then. The alternative would be that I job hunt for something with less hours and I know my employer would rather be flexible and let me do core hours of 10-3 instead.

Bobishere · 10/02/2023 16:27

No

puppacup · 10/02/2023 16:27

My go to clubs because I think it's good for them so I would do that regardless of working. We do collect them at 3:30 on a Friday & my DH is still working. But they are older & don't need watching, could never do it with a young child.

puppacup · 10/02/2023 16:28

Mine not my

BelleMarionette · 10/02/2023 16:28

I don't have the option of working from home, and I imagine people here would be reluctant to admit, but I know plenty who don't use after-school club because they work from home, and one mum who only used half days at nursery, then collected baby and put her down for a nap.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 10/02/2023 16:28

My six year old doesn't go to any form of wrap around care but he was never going to as my husband already worked from home. On a Thursday, he will sit with me for an hour and a half until I finish. No one has ever said anything. If they did, I'd log off at 4 as per my contract instead of 5.

Monkeybutt1 · 10/02/2023 16:29

Yes as in DS doesn't go to a child minder which he would of we were in the office, but he's 10 so he comes home and does his homework then occupies himself whilst we work. If I had a child at an age where they needed looking after if you know what I mean then they would be in childcare

TigerTea1 · 10/02/2023 16:29

No. My daughter’s 3YO so it’d be impossible.

tiredhadenough · 10/02/2023 16:30

My friends have saved money as their children are at the age where they couldn't be left alone in the house but once home can entertain themselves. This has saved them loads of money. The savings on fuel too. They are open about it as well at how much easier it is

puppacup · 10/02/2023 16:30

Thing is if you have an 8 yr old you don't really need to use an asc if you're wfh. And most 8 yr olds wouldn't need to be watched for that short windows between 3:30 & 5:00.

tiredhadenough · 10/02/2023 16:30

They nip out and collect from school too

EmmaDilemma5 · 10/02/2023 16:31

We both WFH most of the week, DH fulltime, me part time. Our kids are in childcare while we work except for 3.20pm-5pm when they're back from preschool which closes at 3pm. We work upstairs while they watch TV downstairs.

If we worked in offices I'm not sure what we'd do for after preschool childcare, I suppose we'd have to change childcare provider.

puppacup · 10/02/2023 16:32

They nip out and collect from school too

yes we do that but then we don't take an hour lunch break which we are entitled too. Most employers don't care when you do the work as long as it gets done.

Jxtina86 · 10/02/2023 16:33

I only WFH one day a week and DD3 goes to nursery 8-6 as normal. Only time I WFH with her is if she's off sick but my boss is aware of that and understands it's temporary. I definitely couldn't do it all the time - not fair on my colleagues, DD or me!

FlounderingFruitcake · 10/02/2023 16:33

Anyone ‘looking after’ babies or toddlers whilst they’re supposed to be working is doing themselves, their job and their kids a huge disservice. Obviously it’s different though if the kids are school age and are able to watch TV with a snack for an hour whilst you finish up work - so presuming you can get away to do pick up then yes you don’t need to pay the childminder and you’re much better off.

puppacup · 10/02/2023 16:35

I genuinely don't understand how you could attempt to work with a toddler on the loose!

cpphelp · 10/02/2023 16:35

I'm a SAHM, my kids (all 3 of them) go to nursery M/W/Th.
Today my husband came with us to the park this morning and swimming in the afternoon.

He also came to rugby and swimming on Tuesday.

Some people have this flexibility, some don't. What is your problem!?

CaptainWentworth · 10/02/2023 16:39

I tried WFH with a toddler when nurseries were shut during the initial lockdown (DH is a doctor so was still out at work), and it was hellish - never managed to get anything done until after her bedtime.

There is absolutely no way I would deliberately inflict that on myself again. I work 4 days a week, 2 of them from home now, and my 1 and 4 year olds are in nursery for both of them. It’s good in that it’s only 5 min to nursery, and I imagine once they are older I might not need to use after school clubs as much as otherwise. Also I sometime cook tea while listening to online training!