Thinking about advertising myself as a mother's help or similar, would appreciate advice on...

[TooTicky]

...what to say/not say and how to word it.
I basically just want a way to earn money without leaving my dd2 (nearly 2).
So, we could help look after children, walk dogs, do light gardening...what else?

I think that you need to consider carefully what things you could (and specifically what you couldn't do) and seek work for each of those individually rather than lumping then altogether, So for dogwalking then see if you can advertise at local vets etc.

You need to be careful not to overpromise what you can do if you are bringing a 2yo as well. Eg light gardening is questionable I would expect (for example my garden has direct access onto the road as well as a pond, so you would either be surpervising your chld or doing some gardening, but not both).

How about ironing? That's something that you can take home and do during naps and evenings and during a CBeebies moment. And as it is effectively piecework no-one will mind if your dd is with you or not?

The Mother's Help with own child would actually bother me more than a nanny with own child to be honest - partly because the expectation is that you don't have sole charge of the children, so there is a risk in my mind that if you are helping me (eg by doing the laundry) then I am responsible for entertaining your dd.

I think you'd have to be very careful, if you are thinking of looking after children. The law states that you cannot look after children, for reward, for more than 2 hours. Reward could be anything, bottle of wine, flowers or obviously money. Ironing sounds like the perfect solution to me.

I don't think that you are looking after children if you are a mother's help though. The mother is still at home.

Hmm. Thanks for your thoughts.
Really, looking after another child of similar age would be ideal but you can't do that these days without qualifications and complications (being a mum of 4 should be adequate fgs!).
I dunno. Just need to find some way of bringing in a bit of money.

Oh god. Ironing, really?

Oh I think I know what you're talking about - I don't think the legislation that you mean would actually apply to looking after children in their own home in any case (otherwise from what you've said any "babysitting" would be illegal!)

Could you train as a childminder?

If you're efficient I reckon you could get £8-£10 per hour - possibly more. How many shirts can you iron in an hour?

Not sure about childminding - small, cluttered, rented house which also houses dp's business. And how long would it take to train? I need money NOW dammit!
And ironing - well, I don't do ironing. As nobody wears proper shirts in this house, I am iron free until dd1 starts secondary school. So, although I CAN iron, I haven't practised for a while.

I'll take you ....... where do you live ?

So hang on. You have 4 children under secondary school age, but presumably only 1 under school age. So you actually want to be a mother's help during school hours and termtime only? I think most people would be looking at after school TBH.

Correct me here if I am wrong.

tick if i had money and you were in cardiff i'd be a seeeeeriously interested in about a year or two (wjen dvb is older)

this is due to the home edding thing. i'd really like say 2 days a week to work in or something. the fact you were bringing your own kid and are hardcore lentilly would be a plus, really.

and would be wanting specifically school hours

as dp is around after school hours anyway

term time might be a problem

The thing about Mother's Help positions is that often the mothers want to spend more time with their children and less trying to do 2 things at once - so you would be more likely to be doign housework rather than minding children I'm afraid.

I'm in Wiltshire Hideehi...

What about mothers who work from home with pre-schoolers? They must need help sometimes.

You might have to accept that working in any meaningful way,( ie; that will actually earn some money...), will involve your 2 year old going to some form of childcare...

Really don't want to do that. Besides, I doubt I'd earn enough to make it financially worthwhile anyway.

The problem you have is that it bringing your child with you makes it look as if you're not serious about work. So you might be better with someone in your own home so people can't see that you have your kid with you.

But if I was looking after children, surely being attached to my own is a plus? I do see what you're saying though.

Not really TT because mothers want you to be attached to theirs. If they're going to pay you money that is.

But their dc would have the added bonus of a little friend...

Possibly. But they'd get the same effect with a nanny share. And your child would obviously be the favourite.

I wouldn't be thinking in terms of favourites though.

If this is a short term need cash now need how about advertsiing a "pets at home" type service for those going on holiday, where you go and feed pets, check mail, move currtains etc whilst people are on holiday (just looking on the village shop noticebaord for inspiration).

I hear what you're syaing about wanting to look after someone else's kids, but if you have other children can you really commit? I've used mother's helps at time whilst I work at home, but I need someone who can fit into my hours, not someone who is dashing off to do the school run.

Ah, that's an idea. Affluent village and I am known as a trustworthy person due to voluntary stuff I do. May put a notice up in the PO tomorrow