..and my brain isn't working. I'm moving house end Aug/early Sept, and kids will be going to new school.
Four kids, 3 will be at school full time in Sept, youngest is 2.5 and will be at home for another year.
I work part time but very sporadically - a day here, a day there - usually about a day a week, sometimes not at all for a few weeks, and then maybe 2 or 3 days in a week. Some of these are arranged in advance, but some are at short notice. I also have to go off on training etc sometimes, for between 3 - 5 days at a time, which I do have a fair amount of notice of. All in the UK.
Currently have a full time nanny, and a cleaner. However up to now I've had at least 2 at home for much of the week (no 3 will be starting reception this sept), and their school has been 35 minutes drive away, down a motorway, so I've needed someone mature and responsible to help with the school runs and/or enable me to leave small children at home when I do the school runs. Otherwise we'd all spend 2.5+ hours a day in the car. New school is more like 8 mins away (hoorah!) so that isn't such an issue.
So. I don't think I really need a full time nanny any more, but I'm a bit stumped on how to get childcare when I need it, on such an adhoc basis, otherwise. No 4 is an antisocial little thing who would be terrified at the idea of going to a nursery, so I don't think that would work at the moment (and I don't think it would have the flexibility I need either). Also I do really value the assistance in the holidays. I don't know.
Could I use an au pair? Would they be able to be that flexible, or do they have to commit to language classes etc? Some days they could do little or nothing. Or could I get a sort of housekeeper cum nanny who basically did all the cleaning and house stuff, but turned into a nanny when I needed to work? Do those people exist? Where do you find them?
All thoughts gratefully received...