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Parenting

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Original poster

Childcare and working

23 replies

millopat · 14/09/2018 18:05

I work 3 days and 2 of those days I do school pick up (DH does drop offs). The 3rd day my MIL picks up but this probably isn't a permanent solution as she doesn't live that close by.

I have made mum friends but no-one I really feel I could ask to pick DS up either because I don't know them well enough or they have their hands full with their own kids. MIL says she had great network of mums who all helped each other out so I feel I should have this - in an emergency I probably could but I feel someone having to ferry 3 or 4 kids is a mission, plus DS has allergies so cannot have tea at someone else's.

DS2 starts school next year too.

How do other working mums manage childcare? My own parents still work full time and I don't live where I grew up so my closest friends aren't local (and work full time).

Just venting really, not expecting a magical solution, but ideas welcomed 🤥.

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Whereismumhiding2 · 14/09/2018 18:08

After school club
and breakfast club.
Life savers for a cost.

FemaleDilbert · 14/09/2018 18:15

Childminder who does school pick ups?

SoThisisMe · 14/09/2018 18:15

This is going to come across as abrupt but honestly there's just the blindingly obvious...pay for it.

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Mumof1andacat · 14/09/2018 18:15

Breakfast and after school club. For us it's £5.25 inc breakfast, opens at 0730. After school is £9.50 inc snack til 6pm

AssassinatedBeauty · 14/09/2018 18:18

I think most people use breakfast/after school clubs and/or childminders. Or change working hours to spread 3 days part time across 4 days.

IAmWhoYouSayIAm · 14/09/2018 18:23

Childminder.
Between £3.60 and £4.50 per hour

suckonthatmaureen · 14/09/2018 18:25

After school and breakfast club.
I find it gives me piece of mind too. They're not going to get ill, cancel on me last minute or go on holiday for two weeks.

soupmaker · 14/09/2018 18:25

After school club. Cost is £14 for 3 hours including snacks.

Original poster

millopat · 14/09/2018 18:32

I'd love to pay for it... school doesn't offer after school club. Childminder may be an option - trust me I am not being tight, or trying to get something for nothing. Just limited options in our area.

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BackforGood · 14/09/2018 18:32

Agree with everyone else. Part of your wages, when parents, goes on childcare. You are lucky to be in a position to be able to pick them up most days and have your dh drop them off. Then to have a Grandparent to help out in emergencies.

Original poster

millopat · 14/09/2018 18:34

Ok so mum friends isn't a normal solution? Felt like I'd failed to not have that option! I do plan to split hours over 4 days when DS2 starts school.

OP posts:

PotteringAlong · 14/09/2018 18:35

How do other working mums manage childcare

I pay for it. A local nursery provides out of school wrap around care

AssassinatedBeauty · 14/09/2018 18:35

I don't think other parents helping out is typical. Plus I'd expect that to be reciprocal in some way if it did happen.

PinkAvocado · 14/09/2018 18:37

I find the hard too. The breakfast club doesn’t open early enough for me to get to the school I teach in (it opens at 7:45) and there are no childminders who’ll do 15 mins in the mornings. It’s really tough!

BackforGood · 14/09/2018 18:42

Er, no.... providing regular, free, unregulated childcare isn't usual.
Friends help you out when
~you have to go on a course and it's a one off on a normal collection day
~when you've just had an operation / diagnosed with something terrible and can't walk up to school
~you have to go to a funeral and won't be back in time
~if you have 2 dc and they need collecting from a different place, eg a sports fixture or school trip as a one off
~maybe if you are without a car for a day and that is crucial to your timings

and I'm sure various other 'one offs'

Whereismumhiding2 · 15/09/2018 05:35

What @BackforGood said!
Just pay for childcare like the rest of us. Childminder or breakfast/after school clubs. Nursery.

You won't keep your friends if you try to use them as unpaid childcare. Friends help out in emergencies.

Seniorschoolmum · 15/09/2018 05:57

The “mum friends” thing may have been true 30 years ago but not now, not where I live anyway. I have two mum friends who are as stretched as I am, and we do “emergencies” for each other.
But Afterschool club here for regular reliable care. I couldn’t work without it.

SCARYLITTLEFAIRY · 15/09/2018 06:25

I would expect if you asked the school they would tell you what services other parents use. There's likely a childminder who is known to do a school run or an after school club away from the school.
I live in a city and when looking at schools I asked about before and after school clubs.

Groovee · 15/09/2018 06:34

I used a childminder. She was a godesend and Ds was with her for 9 years and Dd 7. Couldn't have gone to work without her.

SnuggyBuggy · 15/09/2018 06:41

The mum friends may have been true in the olden days when fewer people moved from where they grew up and their mum friends were also their own childhood friends.

Pluckedpencil · 15/09/2018 06:46

I have a mum friend who picks up one, but I pay her to do it as it's a massive commitment I can't reciprocate so really she is just childminding.

1Wanda1 · 15/09/2018 06:48

Au pair

Figgygal · 15/09/2018 06:48

Yeah clubs or cm no one at ds school does pick ups for others.

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