How do you single moms find night shift care?

tiroka03, LPN · Sep 11, 2004

When I first started working nights, I had two children ages 8 and 16. We lived in an apartment building. The next door neighbor whose our living room wall connected to were available to help if needed. I would get the kids to bed and sleep before I left, and if they had problems they could go right next door, or knock on the wall, or call them. I had a pretty good network at that time.

Since then I moved to another city, and my network of friends is rather small. But, my 8 year old is now 14, and my 16 y.o. is 25 and going to school for a bachlors in computer. The college is two blocks from our house, so he opted to stay in the basement. We fixed it up like an apartment. So he continues to watch his sister. Actually, he rather enjoyes being in charge.

It's been a long haul, and not always easy. There have been a few times I have needed to run home on a lunch break to help calm an upset stomach, or a nightmare. My kids know they can call me anytime, and can stop by if really needed. My dtr has seizures, and once had a pretty bad one, she called me screaming, and I had to drop everything and run home. But, that could happen working days too. Fortunately I only live 7 mins drive from work if I speed only a little bit.

I am lucky, I've gotten to see my kids off to school, and welcome them home. The evening is pretty normal, because I sleep during the day.

The really difficult thing is summer vacation. Plan a long way ahead for that, because kids don't always understand you need more than 3 hours sleep. They want to ask a question, or get a little attention. I make up lunch in a bag for lunch. I'ts harder having them roming the house during daylight hours, then sleeping at night. There is no end of mischief they can find during the day. If you can find daycare for them great. But, daycares pretty much end when they get around 12. But, for a price you may find a program or something you can use. My problem was finding a way to get a child to a program that starts at 10am, when I am sleeping at 8am.

Thank goodness for school.

tiroka03, LPN · Sep 11, 2004

One more thing, for when your kids are a bit older. We now live in an area that you can't see into our garage from the street. So, I have rigged up my garage as a gym and my sunroom as a living room. Then they can play outside, in the garage if they get really hyper. I also have a work room, I have turned into a craft room, and a closet which is now a music room. You do what you need to do.