single parents and 12 hour shifts.

Sugarcoma, RN · May 11, 2007

ahh the joys of parenthood! I am in the same situation you are in with no family around. I agree that you need to get creative. Do your kids have friends with parents you respect? Perhaps you could approach one of them for help. Also look around your neighborhood for older women or stay at home moms who might want to pick up some extra money. I would put an ad in your local church paper. Also many day care providers are looking to earn extra money. Perhaps you could ask one of the providers at your facility whom you trust if they may be interested. Also try your schools latchkey providers. I was able to find quality care for my kids by asking one of the women at latchkey if she would be interested and the arrangement lasted for 2 years until my oldest turned 16 and could watch my youngest himself. Check into your local rec centers after school programs. Mine has a drop in program 3 nights a week staffed by adults and for 3$ an hour the kids could play sports, make crafts, watch movies etc. Arranging childcare can be so difficult especially when you have no family nearby. The most important thing is to find a caregiver whom you trust and your kids feel comfortable with. Good luck!

NJNursing, ASN, RN · May 11, 2007

One of the girls my daughter plays with has a 13 year old older sister. On occassion, i let her watch my daughter after school or on weekends until we go out. She only charges $2 an hour, but I pay her $4 typically. I charged $2.50 an hour when I was 13 and that was....well lets say a while ago.

justme1972 · May 11, 2007

I like the idea about an ad in the college paper. I work nights and my husband just started working days. I would like to get some sleep during the day (haha) but is impossible with 2 kids. An ad in the college paper for someone to watch the kids while I sleep would be great! Thanks for the idea ;-)

I have twins, and thank God by the time I finish with nursing school they will be in elementary school. I plan on working the night shift, because as nutty as it sounds, I think that is going to work best for me, so I can be fresh and ready when they come home in the afternoons while I sleep during the day, and they'll be in school.

My husband is gone M-F for work, almost every week. We are planning to get a college student to pick the kids up from school, bring them home, I'll have dinner fixed for everyone, and have her spend the night here while I'm at work...I should be home early enough so the student can easily make an early class and I can drop the kids off at school. If I can find a job working 12 hour shifts, this might be a great arrangement.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · May 11, 2007

I have twins, and thank God by the time I finish with nursing school they will be in elementary school. I plan on working the night shift, because as nutty as it sounds, I think that is going to work best for me, so I can be fresh and ready when they come home in the afternoons while I sleep during the day, and they'll be in school.
My husband is gone M-F for work, almost every week. We are planning to get a college student to pick the kids up from school, bring them home, I'll have dinner fixed for everyone, and have her spend the night here while I'm at work...I should be home early enough so the student can easily make an early class and I can drop the kids off at school. If I can find a job working 12 hour shifts, this might be a great arrangement.

This is another great idea! If I sell if right, it could work.

Work for 3-4 hours, get paid to sleep! I could pick my kids up since school here gets out at 3:15. That means I get about six hours of sleep. Then they come in around 6:30 and just feed them and put them to sleep. I could do homework and all that. I can only afford like 100 a week though. This is for three nights. Do you think that's fair?

justme1972 · May 11, 2007

This is another great idea! If I sell if right, it could work.
Work for 3-4 hours, get paid to sleep! I could pick my kids up since school here gets out at 3:15. That means I get about six hours of sleep. Then they come in around 6:30 and just feed them and put them to sleep. I could do homework and all that. I can only afford like 100 a week though. This is for three nights. Do you think that's fair?

I ran it by a few college students where I am going, and they would totally go for the idea. I was going to fix up an extra bedroom and keep little extras like office supplies, etc...so she wouldn't have to bring anything more than her books, let the sitter use the computer, etc.

When I was younger, I would have killed for a homecooked meal and a place to study and get paid for it.

eneed1566 · Feb 2, 2008

Not sure if you've found a soln. or not yet--- do you kids currently go to any type of daycare? If so, how about asking some of the parents there for 1 night a week to take your kids home, feed them, etc. It'd prob work best if their kids were your kids' ages. You could ask 1 or 2 parents and if they agree, they could swap- one keep them 2 nights one week and 1 night the next week and vice versa. Or perhaps if you've found something else, could a parent there be your back-up? I've been fortunate to have family and friends around to help me with the same situation you're in and don't know what I would've done without them. Now, I'm considering travel nursing but think I'm going to be held back cause I'm not sure I can find proper care for our children. My husband works out of state too and we'll be travelling with him so we'll be both be working. Good luck to you and hope school is going great!!

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Feb 7, 2008

Hi. I did find a solution. There is a in home daycare in the neighborhood that is open til 8:00, but even that is flexible. I have someone come to the house if I have to work weekends from this sitter service that finds sitters for you.

I graduated this December and things are going great!

jjjoy, LPN · Feb 7, 2008

It's always nice to hear how things have turned out (so far!). Thanks for the update and glad to hear things are going well!!