# of daytime hrs w/nanny while hsing

[jlpumkin]

So as a homeschooler if you were to have a very flexible part-time position, how many hours would you be comfortable with your children being in someone else's care & still being homeschooled? I'm thinking during day-time hours when my spouse isn't available. DC would be with dh after 4 so a non-issue. Except that a possible position requires **some** day-time hours so I'm trying to decide for us how many day hours would be acceptable. 8 hour day? couple of hours here and there?

Our schooling is finished in about 3 - 4 hours 4 days per week.. so a caregiver wouldn't be necessary for any of the schooling, more the social stuff (but I want some of that too!)

I guess we probably all have our own limit... but I don't know what mine is yet.. so does anyone want to share your own current limit or what you would consider yours to be?

[lach]

While I know that this is a matter of opinion, and that plenty of people don't share mine, but IMO the main reason to homeschool is to control curriculum and opportunities. So to that end, I think that if you found a nanny or several nannies who you felt comfortable teaching your child, there's no reason not to have them do it as much or as little as possible.

In your situation I'd maybe look for two or three different nannies, who might be able to teach different things. Someone fluent in a second language, someone with a knack for science or math or history or whatever, a music or art major from a local college who can come one day a week, etc.

I think this could be a great opportunity, if anything.

[jlpumkin]

I like your thoughts! And appreciate the point of hsing for the purpose of choice of curricula, opportunity etc. I hadn't thought much about that really...

And also just to clarify, my current thought is just one day per week so 3 nannies would mean a new one every couple of hours! But I like your thoughts and may consider how handing over some of the hsing wouldn't always be a negative. Well except we use SL and I wouldn't want to miss a chapter of a good book! LOL!

I love coming here for so many different points of view!!

[lach]

Sorry, I totally missed where you said 1 day a week! I was reading too fast. 1 day a week sounds perfect to think of it as an enrichment opportunity instead of just plain old nannying. If it were me, I'd totally look into finding someone who can teach a second language. But think about their interests, and maybe if you feel you have any weak spots.

[jlpumkin]

Don't sweat it! And finding someone to work on Spanish with them would be amazing! I hadn't even thought of that! That would be something that I wish I could afford now!

Does anyone else work during the day at least some hours? How does that work with your homeschooling?

[prairiebird]

I don't work, but I have my kids in some homeschooler day clubs at the library and at the YMCA in which the nanny takes the kids to some of the activities. And it's all ages too. I haven't talked to everyone to see what they were doing, but I know one lady sets out workboxes for the kids each day and the nanny just works through them with the kids. Another one just does stuff like math during the evening with the kids and then the nanny brings them to swimming, library etc.

And even though I don't work, if I had the money, I'd totally hire a nanny once or twice a week in order to take day-only offered classes at the community college for myself or go grocery shopping/do running around. I know some daily tasks can be learning experiences, but sometimes it's raining and yucky out and you have a headache and you just want to get the stuff done!