MOTHERS HELP OR JUST SOME IDEAS PLEASE

[5babyangels]

I have looked into the possibility of a nanny before but with the number of children we have we are required to employ 2. This seems a bit ridiculous to me as between my DH and I we are juggling 2 companies and anything up to 8-10 children....6 live with us full time. Children living with us at home range from 13yrs-5mos. Most of the time 5 are at school leaving me with the baby, but DH's job is 24 hour and at any point he could be out the door, leaving it hard for me to plan my work. The days I'm at home I try to get a bit of work done. I'm still BF and I don't want him to go to nursery yet, but school hols are a nightmare. I'm not incapable to managing the whole lot but could do with an extra pair of hands to take the the little ones to the park while I play mediator with the teenagers! Does anyone have any ideas? East Sussex on an adhoc basis and how much it would cost?

If I didn't already have two jobs that I loved I'd ask to come work for you! Sounds like a good experience and suits my preferred age range (older children).

I have no idea what price though. I'm on £10 gross for both of my jobs, one in Lewes and one near Rottingdean. Don't ad hocs usually charge a bit more? How much notice do you usually get with your DH? I know you said he can be required to leave whenever but I'm assuming that he'll sometimes get a bit of notice?

Maybe it's worth having a few nannies lined up around the area? I know that there are a lot of part-timers about or people who work four days but happy to do an extra on occasion.

He literally doesn't get any notice! Which is absolutely no help. The phone rings and I know he could be out the door in a matter of minutes if it's an emergency! However that's fine if it's term time as I only have ds5mo, whose v good mostly! I have been known to work with him on my lap, lol! It's holidays!!!! I've got to plan them better as I nearly had a nervous breakdown last week we had 7 until Wednesday, although 9 on Tuesday! And most of them are boys! Arms and legs everywhere, lol! I've got half of Easter hols sorted and I will be able to take a couple of days off the second week but we will have 7 poss 8 for the whole week! If I knew that a couple of those days someone would come and and ease the pressure it would be far more manageable! We r Eastbourne, so much on tap for kids.

You're not 'required' to employ 2, it's just that the terms of their insurance won't permit them to be 'in charge' of more than a certain number of children at a time. Same problem with a mother's help really.

I think if you want they much flexibility you're looking at employing someone FT. The 5mo probably won't be happy to stay on your lap for long.

You could get an au pair - just someone to be an extra set of hands. The downside is they're not regulated or qualified like nannies so you wouldn't want to leave them in sole charge of six, I wouldn't think!

Had thought of an au pair but we only have 5 bedrooms so not enough space, also i know au pairs are restricted to only so many hours a day. We really want something flexi. I wouldn't expect them to be in sole charge as I'd always be in the house. Dont even need anyone qualified just someone with a bit of common sense. Don't think my ds nearly 14 is going to enjoy being babysat. He's out most of the time. The older ones r quite independent.