Who watches your kids during summer hours?

lizzyberry · Jul 3, 2007

Had to post reply because I accidently unsubscribed to this thread. Didnt know what the check mark was...

happybunny1970 · Jul 3, 2007

I don't recall that the cost was actually that bad for school-aged kids (like $30-40 more a week per child than during the school year). The PROBLEM was finding a place with an opening. If the kids didn't attend year-round, you had to find a place that opens up additional slots in the summers. My girlfriend is director at one of the local places, so she always squeezed my kids in, but I know of many who were not so lucky. Lucky for me, my daughter turned 12 this year, so I qualified her as my 'babysitter' for my 9-year-old. And we have a BIG DOG in the house for safety.

lizzyberry · Jul 3, 2007

Yes my friend is a teacher and she says 12 is the legal age to stay at home. But I guess Ill try the Y. THanks

linzz · Jul 3, 2007

Yes, this can be a nightmare, this child care thing. I have family to help a bit but only to maybe transport them to a camp during the day and pick up. When my older one turns twelve, I may still send the younger child to camp or a sitter as they fight so much. If only nursing was only 9 -3, wouldn't that be a dream.

linzz · Jul 3, 2007

Sorry, should have mentioned this in my previous post but I know of people that take care of each other's kids, if their kids are friends. My kids are lucky to have friends on their street so we all try to help each other out if needed for odd times, however this takes a bit of juggling. Good luck to you.

MuddaMia · Jul 3, 2007

I just graduated in May. I recieved my first weeks pay and it was for $622.....I had to pay the babysitter $595 LOL. My pay was for one week and sitter was for 1.5 weeks...but STILL, sigh!

kstec, LPN · Jul 3, 2007

Because of the previous comment in regards to only bringing home a small amount of money after daycare, I only work prn. I work on the days that my husband is off. He works four 10's and is off 3 days a week. I pick up 2-3 of his days off. I don't do it all the time when he is off, but quite often. If I had my boys in daycare, I too would only bring home a small amount of money, not worth it to me. During the school year I still work prn, but am able to work when my husband is at work. I just take the kids to before and aftercare at the school, sponsored by the YMCA. I figure since my boys are 8 and 10, I only have a few more years of doing it this way until I have to work full-time because they will be old enough to watch themselves for short amounts of time.

rnmomtobe2010 · Jul 4, 2007

I am the babysitter. Had to drop because of babysitting issues. No family to help me out.

RNDude · Jul 4, 2007

There is a project for creating a parents' guide for scheduling childcare help with each other in a coop arrangement. It seems to me that in a large shiftworker facility like a hospital, there are likely to be enough parents living close to each other that a couple parents could spend the day hanging out watching not only their own kids, but also some of their coworkers kids. Those coworkers would in turn watch their kids on one of their own days off.

The project stub is at OurProject.org here: http://ourproject.org/projects/childshare/. If anyone is interested in expanding on this idea or sharing how you may have informally done something similar, it would help flesh out the project. That website is for people to connect in discussing public-domain projects in a forum-like environment, kind of like AllNurses.com.

Regarding the expense of childcare vs. income, my hospital has its own childcare facility for employees, charging a fee approximating one hour's RN wages per day. It's a nice option to have, and perhaps more hospitals should consider it.

abundantjoy07, RN · Jul 4, 2007

I don't have any kiddies...but...

The YMCA is a good idea. They have summer camps for kids where you drop your child off in the morning and pick them up in the evening. During the "camp" day they go on field trips and participate in group activities like sports and games. There's lots of arts and crafts and learning activities as well. When your child gets older they can apply as counselors in training to the younger kids. It's just nice to have the kids interacting with other kids and being in a productive environment during that time.

Otherwise, I'd say family or a trustworthy friend that your child is comfortable being around and that your child respects.

As far as the home alone thing, I'd base that off of your childs maturity and responsibility level. As well as your comfort and the hours that your child will be alone.

I suppose the next option would be to consider school nursing if you are really really in a tight bind. The advantage? When you're at work the kids are in school. You get out at relatively the same time give or take 30 minutes to an hour. And during the summer, you have the same time off as your kids...with pay!

Good luck with your decision.

abundantjoy07, RN · Jul 4, 2007

Wait...don't some employers offer childcare services while you are working? Or maybe that's just a figment of my imagination...also there are after hours day care services as well!

If you are a member at a church, you can also ask in the youth groups there to see if any high school kids are babysitters. And ask the youth minister if he/she recommends any of the kids to serve as a babysitter.