child care for overnights

[beachbum3]

For those of you who have kids and work nights- 12 hr shifts. (and even those who don't that have ideas) What do you do about child care?

I have 3 kids ages 10, 8 and 6. Normally my SO (who has lived with us for 3 years) keeps them while I work, but he is most likely taking a job that would have him traveling for 16 days at a time every 3 weeks and I will need to figure out what to do with my kids while I work. Its important to me that they sleep in their own beds at night, but for the meantime my exMIL (kids grandma) is going to keep them when I work. I'd like to get a nanny, but have many reservations about letting someone I don't know into my home overnight like that with my kids. Also, a live in is not an option, we don't have the space. For now their grandma will do it, but she is also a 35 min drive out of town, so I'd have to drive an hour or so before each shift and after. Really, I'd like to have someone who would come and stay the nights that I work and help out with the kids- picking them up from school, making dinner, handling the night stuff, and then staying until they go to school in the morning on the mornings I get home from work.

A second option would be to go to a weekend program on days, as there is an opening, and have the kids stay the weekend at grandmas, but I'd prefer to stay on nights, not on the weekend program (3 nights a week)

Thoughts or suggestions?

[GingerSue]

Is there anyone who you work with who might be able to

recommend?

Is there an agency in your area - one who checks references,

and hopefully does Criminal Record checks?

[mondkmondk]

There are some resources out there....a website I used to frequent was babysitters.com You have to join to view their contact info, but browsing through their available sitters are free. Since you live near a big city you should be able to find many.

Hope this helps!

Blessings, Michelle

[nursinghereicome]

Have you checked out www.sittercity.com ? While I haven't used it personally, I have friends who have had great luck finding child care help using this service. Best of luck!

[ladytraviler]

Do you have a college near you? Post there for help. I did this type of work when I was in College and it helped a lot. Your sitter will have study time after the kids are in bed but still be making a little money. You might be helping two people at once. yourself and a student who has no money and who might not pass working a traditional job with little study time.