Where on earth am I likely to find...?

[Emmiedarling]

I am a single mum to an amazing yet hard work 21 month old little boy.

I work three full days in central London (wednesday, thursday, friday)

He is currently at nursery for Wednesday & Friday but has a nanny for Thursday as the nursery did not have space for him. She also watches him on a Monday afternoon for a few hours so I can go to the dentist/go the loo in peace/generally manage my life.

I have zero family around and am extremely isolated..

On the rare occasions I do go out of an evening I use an agency called Likeminders and make sure my son is in bed with the door closed before I go so that he doesn't even know I've gone.

So, the current situation is the nanny is leaving due to ill health. Where can I find a replacement than can be supportive to me as a single parent? Someone that isn't working somewhere else? What I mean is, I would ideally like someone who is super flexible - so if, as happened the other day, my LO is ill at nursery, they can go and pick him up and look after him at home. Or next week Tuesday I have a hospital appointment but I can't go because I have no one to watch him.. I'd like someone mature...I guess like having a grandma figure around..

I am asking the impossible right?!

Why wouldn't you hire another nanny in that case then?

A nanny or au pair (if you have space) is your best option. Unless you can use a babysitter from the agency for three days?

CMs may well be the most cost effective, but they obviously have other children to look after, so may not be able to provide the flexibility that you always need.

If you want someone more mature I would advise going through an agency and requesting that type of person.

Hmm, I guess it sounds like you need another nanny, but if you have problems with money then getting someone that flexible and paying for them might be tricky. If money is not an issue then the decision is easy.

Is there really no way you can share nannies? Perhaps with another single parent or someone with an only child? Another family may be in a similar situation to you.

Alternatively, if you want in-home care and have a spare room you could look at an au pair, but your son is quite young for that and I don't know if you'd be comfortable with live-in help.

Likeminders do permanent staff too