Christmas childcare!

[Christmaschildcare]

Before I had children, I thought parents wanted Christmas off because of the ‘magic’ of Christmas with children. I’m sure some do but I now realise it’s mostly because THERE’S NO FLIPPING CHILDCARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE

I have three children under six. Their school is (naturally) closed, their nursery is closed. There are no holiday clubs in our area open whatsoever. We have no one to ask - everyone either works or is in same boat as us so cannot look after THREE CHILDREN for us.

We need to find cover for two weeks. My dh can take a week, and I can take a week, so we’re lucky that we can plan to share.

but even that has been an issue for both employees. We’ve both been told we ‘need to do our part’ and ‘can’t expect to be off just because you’ve got kids’ and ‘well it needs to be fair to everyone’ etc etc.

while I agree with this in theory - in practice, what on Earth am I supposed to do for childcare? If my employer says I can’t take the week off - well, unfortunately, I will be, as I can’t leave three children at home. I’m not being difficult, I genuinely have nowhere and no one to send them to. I wish I did.

is there some magical Christmas childcare solution I’m missing? Please enlighten me 😩

This topic comes up every year and most employers are fair to all employees and use a rota system as to who gets time off at popular periods.
If your employer has rejected your application for time off, you will have to work but as it’s still a couple of months to Christmas you and DH still have some time to work out getting temporary childcare.

I didn't say leave your profession, I said move jobs, other companies may have different rules or ethos. And it's not insane, it's parenting! All options are worth considering. You don't know how long it will be until your children can be left home alone, all children are different.

Holiday clubs! There are more options than you can shake a stick at! Christmas - it’s crickets

Oh really, please do let me know where I can obtain this temporary childcare. It’s not like it’s the point of this post or anything 🤣

Many places are open all year - hospitals, emergency services etc and others are only closed public holidays

Tinies.co.uk they supply amazing temporary nannies, £££ but they arw all highly qualified

The 'year round' nurseries in my area are actually only open 50 weeks and shut for 2 weeks at Christmas.

Thankfully DH and I don't have problems getting Xmas leave approved, but OP is right that holiday childcare over those 2 weeks just inexplicably isn't a 'thing' it seems.

Nanny agency or student nurses?

especially as this is only an issue while we have young children.

Quite a few years of juggling i am afraid. It doesn't get easier for a long long time.

Childcare/open all year is one of the reasons I didn’t choose to work in those jobs though to be honest 😬🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s a lifestyle for sure. Just like how lots of people choose jobs that are term time only for childcare reasons.

Our professions require working where we do. I wish they didn’t.

Any university students home for Xmas who need some cash?

It’s really crap. The only option is to find a company who aren’t a pain about it. DH and I work for companies for that allow Christmas off, and we simply book annual leave and there are no arguments. But if we had to work we’d be absolutely stuffed! There are no clubs, no childcare, etc. We could beg a relative to have our child for a day but that’s about it. I agree with others on the parental leave option, it’s worth a try to make them realise you’re serious.

I’ve tried nanny agency to no joy, I can definitely try advertising for a student etc as some have suggested. I will keep everything crossed!

I take it you're both doctors?

@Christmaschildcare

If money is really not a problem, then you will be able to get a temporary nanny.
There are plenty of Nanny agencies around that specialise in temporary nannies.

I was going to suggest ' Occasional and Permanent Nannies' which was a nanny agency in London - however they appear to be no longer, and an agency named Signature Staff comes up when I attempt the website.
However Signature Staff allege to have been around for over 60 years.

The thing is, if the work needs covering, the works needs covering. It’s not fair to expect that people that don’t have kids should cover those days, as though their lives and their christmases are not as important as those with kids. It needs to be shared fairly amongst all. If Christmas childcare is the issue one of you needs to find job that you do not need to work over Christmas. This is what I did when I had kids, left a job that was open throughout Christmas and therefore needed people to be in work, for a job that closes down over the Christmas period.

That's great for you must make things easy for parents in OP solution but you do realise that millions of people work in jobs that can't just shut for 2 weeks at Christmas. A few that spring to mind
Retail
Police
Ambulance
NHS
Care
Contact centre
Bank
Many shops will.only be closed 2 days iver the entire Christmas period, emergency services and tbe baxk up admin staff for these don't just stop. Care homes don't close. Many offices are open. It's not like OP is in an unusual job. If anything your work being closed for such a long period is more unusual

what area are you OP? I’m a nanny, I suggest joining your local nanny group on Facebook. Plenty of the families we work for will sort themselves out over the holidays if they have the time off like mine. There’ll be lots of Nannies happy to do some work for you and you’ll be able to ask their current family for a reference.

I’m just going to wish you peace and joy and leave it at that 😊

You should be able to find a short term nanny to cover the Christmas holidays, unless it's Christmas Day you need! You'll need to pay a premium though.

Where have you looked for a babysitter/nanny?

Change jobs, or take a week off sick? Can't really see another option. Most people plan their career around childcare if they don't have family support. That's why women's careers and earnings drop off a cliff

If your professions have taken decades to achieve, surely you are quite valuable to your employers?

I would try just explaining the issue and asking for more flex at Christmas

Failing that, a temporary nanny agency for future years. There will be one somewhere in your region, you might have to pay through the nose

If money is no object then the app Bubble offers on the day emergency nanny care (at least in London, but think it works elsewhere too). If you ring around nanny agencies they'll often let you book someone for a week or two who is currently job hunting for their next nanny position. I'd ring round a few if I was you

Can you each take your leave in blocks of a couple of days, say Monday and Tuesday on each week, for example, then you're seen to be around, not just away for a full week at a time?