Kids and Work.....ideas wanted

[aerochyck]

I'm looking for any and all suggestions.....

I have two kids, DD is almost 3 and DS is 5. They have separate babysitters during the day since our original babysitter wasn't close enough to DS's school for pick up and drop offs. Our hours right now are 7:45 am until 5:15 pm.

I have to travel from work occasionally and my X works almost 12 hour shifts.

Any thoughts on how I could bridge the gap between babysitters and their dad being able to get them? My parents are often around to help but I don't want to always rely on them and X's mom won't help if it benefits me in any way.

[stephbfan]

Can you just drop the first babysitter and just keep the one that is close to your DS?

Im just confused by the situation.

[aerochyck]

I have to keep the two babysitters until my DD starts school in September.

My issue is that my X can't accomodate the babysitter's hours with his work schedule. He needs to be at work for 7 am and they don't get dropped off until 7:45 - 8 am. He finishes at 6 pm and they need to be picked up by 5:15 pm.

[stephbfan]

If its his day of pick up drop off the kids, isn't he responsible for paying the babysitter?

[turtle1120]

I would say your options are:

1) Find babysitters with longer hours

2) Ask your parents to help out on the occassions when you have to travel

3) Find a job with more flexible hours/no travel for yourself (although you didn't say what your hours are when you're not traveling)

I don't know what else you could possibly do.

[aerochyck]

Thank you for the suggestions.

It has nothing to do with paying the babysitter. Based on our current CO his time with the kids is limited to some weekends and his week off work. I also can't change babysitters until next September based on a contract that was signed.

This is a situation that would only happen once a year so it is the exception rather than the norm.

[turtle1120]

Oct 26, 2012 11:59:39 GMT -5 aerochyck said:

Thank you for the suggestions.

It has nothing to do with paying the babysitter. Based on our current CO his time with the kids is limited to some weekends and his week off work. I also can't change babysitters until next September based on a contract that was signed.

This is a situation that would only happen once a year so it is the exception rather than the norm.

Ok, well based on that, I'd use your parents as the back-up. I get not wanting to burden them, but it's not very often and if they're willing to help out then I'd take them up on it. Especially since you can't get out of the contract with your current DCP.

[aerochyck]

They aren't always around or available.

If it were that easy then I wouldn't have asked the question.

[turtle1120]

Oct 26, 2012 12:39:39 GMT -5 aerochyck said:

They aren't always around or available.

If it were that easy then I wouldn't have asked the question.

Well, you didn't say that and I'm TRYING to be helpful with very limited information, so forgive me.

Worry about it if/when it happens. Or check out something like care.com to try to find someone to help you out. This shouldn't have to fall all on you. Your ExH can try to come up with solutions too.

I'm guessing if it happens, and you leave your ExH with the kids and he's forced to find a solution, his mom will help out if need be.

[stephbfan]

Oct 26, 2012 12:45:31 GMT -5 turtle1120 said:

Oct 26, 2012 12:39:39 GMT -5 aerochyck said:

They aren't always around or available.

If it were that easy then I wouldn't have asked the question.

Well, you didn't say that and I'm TRYING to be helpful with very limited information, so forgive me.

Worry about it if/when it happens. Or check out something like care.com to try to find someone to help you out. This shouldn't have to fall all on you. Your ExH can try to come up with solutions too.

I'm guessing if it happens, and you leave your ExH with the kids and he's forced to find a solution, his mom will help out if need be.

:Y:
All of this, You didnt give us much information to actually give you some suggestions.

Well. Still, if its his time and not your's, shouldn't he be the one trying to figure out what to do with the kids?

[aerochyck]

Oct 26, 2012 12:45:31 GMT -5 turtle1120 said:

Oct 26, 2012 12:39:39 GMT -5 aerochyck said:

They aren't always around or available.

If it were that easy then I wouldn't have asked the question.

Well, you didn't say that and I'm TRYING to be helpful with very limited information, so forgive me.

Worry about it if/when it happens. Or check out something like care.com to try to find someone to help you out. This shouldn't have to fall all on you. Your ExH can try to come up with solutions too.

I'm guessing if it happens, and you leave your ExH with the kids and he's forced to find a solution, his mom will help out if need be.

My intent was not to sound snarky.

I asked as I just had to tell my boss that I could not attend three days of training that he sprung on me next week.

I tried Care.com and all of the respondents indicated that it wouldn't be worth their time since it's only a few hours.

My X is unreliable and the last time this happened he refused to take the kids at the last minute and I had to cancel the trip.

[aerochyck]

Oct 26, 2012 13:00:58 GMT -5 stephbfan said:

All of this, You didnt give us much information to actually give you some suggestions.

Well. Still, if its his time and not your's, shouldn't he be the one trying to figure out what to do with the kids?

It's' not his time with the kids.

[formerlyak]

Don't you have a neighbor or friend with kids your kids ages who can help out for a few hours? That's what I'd do in a pinch.

[aerochyck]

I don't actually. At least not any that will have anything to do with my ex.

I think I need a nanny when then contract with the babysitter runs out...

[lindyanne]

Can you just ask the babysitter if they would be willing to be flexible for a few days whenever this comes up for more money?

[aerochyck]

Oct 28, 2012 13:51:04 GMT -5 lindyanne said:

Can you just ask the babysitter if they would be willing to be flexible for a few days whenever this comes up for more money?

This is what I tried to do....they both told me that for me they would but since it meant accommodating my X that the answer was no. I guess they really don't like him.

On the bright side, this might be a way of me getting out of the contract with the one of them.