Older children going to clubs

[Gorja]

Hi,

Hope somebody can give me a light bulb moment.
I have four kids aged 9,8,5,3.

I work full time, shift work, DH works all day Saturday and two evenings a week. I work my shifts around his so we don't need child care, however it is rare for us to have an evening off together.

My DD1, 9 years is desperate to join guides when she turns 10 in a couple of months. Have been asking around and found a group ten min walk away. Runs 7.30-9pm one evening.

What is making my head spin is how do I get her home? Little ones won't stay awake that late, and it is highly unlikely both my DH and I are at home that evening every week.
Am I missing something that you all know? How do I split myself in two and be at home with little ones whilst being ten mins up the road collecting oldest?
Have thought about it all night and still no nearer an answer.

If anybody has a magic solution could you please tell me?

Thanks

Pair up with another Guides parents, you take they collect.

I did think that but I don't know any of the other parents and need to tell the lady running it whether we want the place very soon. Really don't want to commit and get DD excited on the hope of somebody else bringing her home.

Yes we relied on other parents, we took and they collected. Not sure how we would have managed otherwise either. Maybe explain your predicament to the guide leader and see what she suggests??

Get yourself into a pick up/drop off rota with other parents.

I am in one for Guides. There are 4 of us in our rota, which means I do one early run and one late run every 4 weeks (I think ).

I am also in one for cubs.

If your kids will be asleep/well behaved can a neighbour pop in for 10 mins while you go and fetch her. Maybe just until you have had chance to establish a rota with someone. You could offer a glass of wine in exchange

Could she not just walk home? lots of kids do it! Really it would be preparing her for coming hone when she is older like 12-13 walking home at night!

if it's only a ten minute walk can't she just walk home?

I agree with whoever said speak to the guide leader and see what she suggests. There might be someone who can drop your dd off.
If not, would it be a huge problem to take the other 3 with you while picking her up? It would only be one night a week and maybe not for long. After a while you might get to know the other parents and be able to arrange something with them.

I'm not convinced it would be ideal for a 10 year old to be walking home by herself at 9pm. By the time guides goes back in September, it will probably be dark by that time. Speak to the guide leader, she might know of someone who lives near by who is able to drop your dd off for you.

I'd let your dd go to Guides. I'd just put the younger ones in the car with their pjs on. It will be a bit of a pain but I think it would be worth it if your dd really wants to go. Plus if your younger ones want to go when they are older would you not feel guilty not letting your older dd go?

Try and break it down by saying it's only four times a month you'll have this inconvenience. It might make it less daunting.

Hopefully you will later be able to arrange a car share.

As a guide leader I would say that we don't tend to get involved with organising lifts home; it's something we expect the parents to sort out themselves.
I also wouldn't be comfortable with letting a 10 yo walk home on their own. The girls are our responsibility until we hand them over to an adult. We wouldn't know if she had got home safely.

I use a local taxi company quite frequently to get older children home from activities which disrupt naps or sleep time for younger siblings. It doesn't cost much, and it's hugely preferable to the alternatives (no activities or grumpy mum/siblings).

Taxi with bubblegum booster if necessary.

Another parent although i find asking hard!

Next spring/summer she could walk?