Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I just had this revelation yesterday and of course I'm freaking!

If both parents work, what do you do with your kids when they go to school?

Really though, I am already freaking and DS isn't even a year old yet!!!!!!

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Oh please I think about this all the time also and my DD is not even a year old yet either....I dont know what I am gonna do!!

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

before and after school care...I am hoping grandma retires by then though, and can help out!

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I think a lot of districts have before & after care. Or the other alternative is a PT sitter who comes before and after.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Bring kids to the bus stop in the morning, they go to after care after school.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I think about this ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the time. Literally. It consumes me.

Glad to hear I'm not the only nut

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

We'll have to work it out so one of us goes in later and drops the kids off at school in the morning. My ILs are retired so either we'll ask them to come out after school (they live 40 mins away), do after care, or hopefully my mom will retire by then and she lives 10 mins away. We have time so I'm not really worried about it. I'm sure we'll figure something out.

ETA: Some daycares also offer an after care type thing where a bus comes and picks them up from school and brings them to the daycare.

Message edited 10/31/2008 12:15:31 PM.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

We both have flexible jobs... I go in at 6:30am so I can be home by 3pm

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Thats why I'm making the big bucks now so that I can work part-time when DS goes to school and needs me after school.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I just an idea, when I was in college I used to take care of a little girl that her parents went to work at 6:30 but her bus pass by at 9... we used to do activities and sometimes her HW and I made her breakfeast... You can always check for a neighbor that go to college and will like to make some extra cash

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I thought about this a lot--and DS is 17 months!!

I think I would need to hire someone to do the 3ish - 5:30 ish stint. Perhaps a college student or nanny person that I trust driving

I already told your brother that if he is home first Homework must be done before tv--yeah, we are talking about that already too

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I go in @ 6:30 and plan to be home to get DS off the bus each day.

Im hoping DH will be able to switch his hours to 9-6 so he can put DS on the bus, if not Im hoping my parents or IL's will be able to help us out.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

My husband runs an afterschool program for 5 schools. They are there until 6:10 -- if the parent is later then 6:10 there is usually a fee. They have counselors and teachers - and they do homework, play, and have snacks.

My nephews go to Plainedge and I know there is a before care - and an after care program. The before care gives them breakfast. The aftercare gives a snack.

I don't know if all school districts do this - but another alternative is to become friends with a SAHM in your sons classes - and work out an arrangement with her - where she takes your DS back to her home and you pay her. I know my aunt does this.

There are lots of alternatives - you'll find something that works for you at the time!

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I am a SAHM, and I take my sons friend home from school with us every day and he stays here until his mom gets home from work. Maybe you could find something like that?

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I hoping to be part-time at a community college by then and have my therapy practice on the side so I can set my own hours.

BUT if not, I would hope my parents will be living her by then and could help out. Plus our schools have an after school program they could attend as well.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Last year I would put one on the bus, drive the other to pre-school then go to work. I told my boss I had to be late every school day and he was okay with that. My older son when to after care and my little guy would be picked up by my best friend and she would take him to her house after school. My husband picked them both up by 5 - unless he had school (Tuesdays and Thursdays). When he had school I would leave work by 5:30 so I could get them by 6.

I divvied out vaca and personal/sick time to coincide with their various and sundry days off and they go to Summer Day Camp in the summer. They still wind up with an extra 2-3 weeks of time that I don't have - but between Rob, Me and our babysitter we somehow made it work.

This year Rob is a SAHD... so it works out a little more easily.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Most, if not all, have before/aftercare programs. Kindercare, Tutor Time, etc. also do aftercare. DS was in aftercare from K to 3rd grade. They typically help them with homework, give them a snack and some play time. Our program was $8 a day (for aftercare only) in K, went up to $12 a day by 3rd.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

dh and i will stagger our hours (e.g. i work 7:00-3:00, he works 9-5) so that one of us will be around before and after school.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

I often worry about this as well, esp. since DH & I both work 30 minutes from home and therefore obviously not in DD's school district.

I also worry how DH will make it to any sporting games DD is involved with since he coaches 2 sports at his own High School. Again, I'm worry way to far in advance

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

i work in a school and we have a before and after care program. not sure what times it runs, but its good that its offered. i think most districts have something like this.
also, a lot of daycare centers near scholls have before and after school care where the district school bus picks the kids up at the daycare in the morning, then takes them from school to the daycare center after school. in the last district i worked in, there was a church right next door to the school that had a daycare center and before/after care... there was pretty much one whole bus just for those kids. so i think theres a lot of options! good luck!!

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

It's not so bad for us b/c DH works nights, so he will be able to put him on the bus/pick him up from the bus and sleep in between!

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

my mom and dad are moving to PA so they can take the kids. But if not then the lady that does daycare for my son offers before and aftershcool care.

Re: Ummm, Ummm, Ummmmm!!!!!! How do you working parents do it?

It's not really before care or after care that causes the most panic - it's when they are sick - or the skeenty million days off thta they get during the year and the 8 weeks they get in the summer.. THAT's where you wind up going broke! And most summer programs seem to run a week or 2 short of the actual vacation they are given. And camp programs are big bucks. I spent about 6500 for my sons the summer before last!