Nanny during lockdown?

[NoGoodOptions]

I'll caveat what I'm about to say with the admission that we really are privileged -- both my partner and I are gainfully employed, able to work from home, and have enough disposable income to afford the technology we and our children need to connect with the world.

All that said, I'm feeling so overwhelmed with the prospect of home-schooling, childcare and performing my job all t the same time, in the same space. I'd say I can manage to eek out 3 hours a day of work within the current set up, and my job is fulltime. My children are 7 and 5, neither can learn independently and they need supervision most of the time to play together, too. I feel as though I'm trapped in a world where there are no good options, and I can only see failure on the horizon -- that I won't perform well at my job, that I won't parent the way I'd like to, that my relationship with my partner will suffer and that the children will fall behind in their schooling.

I wondered whether any others have considered getting a nanny during this period of school closures? Or sending their KS1 children to a childminder? I just can't see how to make things work and I think we could afford about 10-15 hours per week, depending on rates.

Please help!

I should have added that my partner and I both work full time.

I have a younger child but would do this in your position and will consider it myself if nurseries close. I think I would be at risk of negligence and breach of my profession’s conduct standards if I tried to work while also doing childcare and it would be wrong and dangerous for my ds too. With an older child after schools being closed for a lot of the year with no end in sight my absolute priority would be making sure that they got an education, though I would have some worries about employing someone at the moment with all the duties that go along with it.

There might be supply teachers willing to work as a nanny part time on a temporary contract? Or alternatively a tutor a few times a week plus a student or similar to do a bit of childcare.

Lots of people in my area have advertised requesting babysitting. People aren't coping with homeschooling and nothing wrong with paying for help. Mental health is more important than a virus where 99.8% of people are just fine. I would go for it to avoid reaching breakpoint point.

Thanks to both of you! That's really helpful and comforting 🥰

Would an online lockdown tutor work? I am sure I read about them somewhere (but it might have been the NY Times).

There must be plenty of under-employed graduates around. Foreign language teachers (EFL schools) and outward bound/ PGL holiday staff won't be busy either.

Finally, there might be some furloughed nursery/££ school staff around who might appreciate a bit of work.

Whilst it is easy enough to combine a few early morning/later night hours with a couple in the daytime it is tiring and not something I would feel confident doing for 6 months/after Easter.
In your situation, I would throw some money at the problem.

We are in a similar privileged position and use live in au pairs or workaway volunteers (cultural exchange type placement) to help entertain the children while we are working. We have staggered our working hours to cover the school zoom calls and they entertain the children in between. Works out perfectly for us, as we like to have a busy household, it gives us people to socialise with!

Nannies (and cleaners) are still allowed to work in your home. If you can afford it, do it!

If you can afford it why not