HELP URGENTLY NEEDED IN MILTON KEYNES TO LOOK AFTER 7 YR FOR 4 WKS MORNINGS AND EVENINGS. FAMILY MEMBERS SNUBBED ME AND WONT HELP ANYMORE.

[Happymuppet]

Please can someone help me...i have started a goverment based training course which i have done for 2 wks now. My dilema is that my mother helped me with my son whilst i was away at the course as its generally live-in, now she has changed her mind. I have no-one to help. I am a single parent and if i cannot find anyone to help take my son to school and pick up i have to give up the course ...leading to no job! It was my 40th birthday yesterday and my family completely snubbed me cause they disagree with what im doing. This is a great career move that i have never had before so i need to do it. I have decided not to live-in but to travel the 100 mile each way trip as i have no other choice. So this would mean someone either sleeping here to take over when i leave at 6am and taking my son to school and collecting him later,untill i get home. Has anyone got any help or what should i do. I have tried talking to my family but they dont want to know.

I'm so sorry you're having so much trouble. Pity you live so far from me as i would not mind getting up early for a few weeks
But you could just ring around some childminders anyway and see if they would do it as a one-off (but they may charge a lot).
Good luck, don't let your familly bring you down to their level!

I m afraid i agree with thee others that it is too short notice to find an AP and she wouldnt be very keen for only few weeks.
As for a nanny, she wouldnt work for £100 pw.

But i think you could write a nice e-mail to all your friends/neighbours/fellow mums at school. Sometimes 'mentioning it' to friends is not enough. You have to ask directly (but nicely ). If you explain them the situation and you offer help in return? Do you know fellow single mothers or someone who is pregnant or someone scheduled for an operation? Then you can offer to help them in return. It is only few weeks you need and will be shame to give up now.

I really feel for you about your family letting you down last minute. But perhaps use the experience to be even more determined to finish the course. What is the course by the way?

And happy 40th !!

Put an urgent message out on the Netmums website for childcare. Someone may come to your aid.

HappyMuppet: Whereabouts in MK are you? I know a nanny who might be available to help for school pick ups but she works early mornings in another job so she couldn't the 6am shift. It might help though if your friends could help in the mornings?

Have you thought of taking the child with you to the area you are at college in. There may be a childminder near the college that you could leave your child with. That way you wouldn't need to leave him that early and you could pick him up as soon as you finish. He could sleep on the way there and back. Not ideal but if its only for 4 weeks. The CIS would have details of childminders in that area. Would be cheaper than a nanny.

Sorry you have fallen out with your family. I can understand their concern for your child, however, it is such an out of date concern in this day and age. Lots of women have careers and children. Just show them that you can cope and see if they come round. Sounds like a bit of jealousy from your lousy sister. I would walk on broken glass for my sisters.

Happymuppet - did you have any luck sorting anything out?

Hi Happymuppet.

Have u sorted out your childcare arrangements cos I might be able to help. Send me a msg with email or something if you still looking for help.

place an immediate ad in gumtree for live in au pair. Its not ideal but as its drop off and collect you should be fine plus get some cleaning and ironing done. I live in London and pay £80 a week live in. You should be able to get someone who can start within a couple of days.

Hi Guys, Sorry i havent got back to you all but i have it sorted out for now anyhow. Managed to get my son in with a childminder from the school. So i get my poor little boy up at 6am to be dropped off at hers for 6.45. Then i have to drive 80 miles to college. Do a days training and drive back again. Luckily i have managed to get back in time to collect him from afterschool club so far. I am almost exahusted but im still going. So now i need to find someone to help with my shifts when i start my job. I will be working 7 days of day-shifts then 3 days off, then 7 days of evenings (these are from teatime till midnight). So i will need someone to help on these nights, to collect son from afterschool club take him home and feed him then put him to bed and wait till i get in. What a stressy time im having so far! I am so tired. Have put some messages on a couple of sites. Seen someone on Gumtree too. If anyone has any help on this one...crack on! This is going to be a good career when it gets going and my son and i will benefit. I just have to sort the creases out to make it work. I should hopefully get to change the shifts in the future, i just need to show willing to do them i guess. Must go get some sleep!

I live in Bradwell and son goes to local school in next village!

Glad you got something sorted.

Hope you don't wear yourself out too much - just remember to look at the longterm goal, you'll get there

Ok so all going ok after a few days of travelling almost 400 miles since monday morning but i wont give in ! So this problem is sorted..goes to childminder in morning before i travel and i collect him in evening from school club and i have a friend on standby if i dont make it. I have a new prob and have started new thread...need help with when im on evening shift work! It just dosnt end!

glad it seems to be working out, though the travelling is hard for you

make sure you take care when driving and relax in evenings when your ds is in bed

Happymuppet I am willing to help if you send me an email address or message me.

Any ideas what the general rate for nannies? Are they paid by the hour,day or week? I have no idea. They would be live out. I need them to collect my son from afterschool club around 5-5.30pm,take him home,feed and put to bed. My shift pattern is 7 days,3 off,7 evenings,4 off, then back to days etc. The latest i finish is midnight and i work local.
I need to find someone b4 the end of march.

nannies pay all depends on area, age and experience

but would have thought it would be £8-10nett (sorry nick)

"My shift pattern is 7 days,3 off,7 evenings,4 off, then back to days etc"

you need 7hrs a day every 22days - is that right?

you may be able to find a old teenager (17/18) who needs/wants some pocket money and would do for maybe £35/40 a night

Hi happy muppet!
I saw your thread and wondered how you sorted this problem! I have a similar problem, trying to work to look after my kids (get no help from my useless ex boyfriend) and I get no help at all from my family who are not interested. Did it work out OK? and how does your son feel about it as I am worried about that too!!