help - wise experienced heads give advice please

[jayho]

I am a single parent. I have two primary aged children. Until Easter both spent mid week night any eow with ex plush half holidays.

Ex has decided not to see one of the children anymore - do not want to go in to back story but unlikely to change.

I work ft out of the house, we live rurally. Up until easter I worked in big city either side of the midweek and alternate monday/fridays on contact weekends.

I can't do this now.

Please can someone describe a childcare solution/model I can put in place as a solution.

some notes:

1 I have no family support in my area
2I do not have space in my house for live in help
3 I earn a reasonable income so am open to reasonabe high cost options
4 children are too old for nursery etc - older ds is 1 goes to secondary in september (he's the one the father isn't seeing)
5 I am sole family suuport, flexing working arrangements not an option - limping on at the mo and my city team being tolerant

Thanks - at wits end,,,,

excuse typos....

jayho - can you repost without the typos? When do you actually need childcare.

Nanny?

So is it childcare for a secondary school aged child? How many hours per day?

Think local. Who would be interested in providing care before/after school and during school holidays? Advert in village shop may get a part time nanny.

A childminder near the school might work - are there any?

Sorry, went down with a migraine shortly after posting which may explain the inability to type......

The more I think about it there just don't seem to be any do-able solutions that don't involve me seeing even less of my children than I currently do.

I think I have to go back to the drawing board in terms of work/life balance. As much as I love my job, my current project does't fit my family responsibilities and I need to ask to be re-assigned. Depressing but realistic.

Thanks for the responses though.

A nanny who does after school and holidays, average out their monthly pay. It would be easier if you work the same hours every week. Contact a nanny agency. If you offer enough money on an hourly rate you will most likely find somebody even for awkward hours.

An after school nanny/childminder could be an option, After school activities as well?

For the bigger holidays are there holiday clubs or day/residential camps that would work for you

Would non-local support work for a week or two of bigger holidays - for example staying away with grannies/aunties/uncles/ cousins could be a big adventure.

Do you have any friends you could swap childcare with?

I think you need post age of kids . And are in state or private? What holiday club are in your area . Any special interests of the kids.?