Would you do it?

[ledzepplon]

Would you take a part-time job that you could bring your dc with you to?

I'm a SAHM of a one-year-old girl, and I've been presented with an opportunity to babysit part time for a family I know very well. They have four kids, but I'd only be watching two at a time. The job would be Mon-Thurs, from 1 to 6 p.m. The kids I'd be watching are 12, 10, and 4, and they're homeschooled, so I'd be supervising some school work and then playing.

They have a huge wooden play structure outside with a slide and swings, a gigantic yard and an organic vegetable garden with a playhouse, a pool, and plenty of toys in the house, too, so it's not like my dd would be cooped up somewhere. It would pay about $10/hr., which isn't much, but it's more than I'm making now!! But I'm nervous about dividing my time away from her and not having the same freedom we've had before, timewise.

On the other hand, I'm not a very structured person, and this might help us get on a better schedule at our own house, as far as housework and getting out regularly. I don't know very many other moms of young kids, so we are a bit isolated sometimes, and while the kids I'd be watching are much older than dd, I'm sure she'd love some other people to interact with.

So what do you think? Does anyone have any thoughts on how this might impact my daughter positively/negatively? Is there anything I should consider that I haven't mentioned? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[sparkprincess]

I don't really have any thoughts about how it might impact your daughter because I think that totally depends on her and you - your personalities, etc.

I personally would go for it! It sounds like it would be a nice way to make a bit of money and the fact that you can take dc along is great! You would be hard pressed to find another job like that.

Maybe you can do a trial? Commit to 3 months or something and if it just doesn't work out you can stop at that time.

Also, make sure you get all expectations out in the open/planned for in advance, like if you need the day off how hard is it going to be do get off? If one of the kids are sick and you don't want to expose dc what would you do, etc, etc.

Good luck!

[hjohnson]

I took a part-time job before DS #2 was born. I started when I was newly pregnant and finished about a month before he was due. I helped to provide childcare at church during the women's Bible study and the choir practice, and they paid me $10 an hour plus they let me bring DS #1 along. It wasn't very many hours but it did provide enough to buy airplane tickets for DS and I so we could visit my folks for a week.

[AmandaBL]

It's a great opportunity if you need the money & think you guys could work it out. I personally would give it a try, but that's a big decision. Good luck!

[ledzepplon]

Thanks for all the replies!

Well, since it took a while for this thread to post, I came up with a compromise. I'm doing Mon-Wed. 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. I think this is much more doable, and I'm less stressed and more excited about the job. I start to day, so we'll see how it goes!!

[Sylith]

I (sort of) do this. 2 year old DS and I go to my SIL's house every Wednesday afternoon and I watch her 3 kids, ages 8, 3, and 8 months, for a couple hours. For this service I am paid the princely sum of $20. If I could do it two more days a week, I would.

It works out fine. DS pretty much thinks we're there so he can play. It does add some structure to our week, which I find helpful.

I find that really little ones actually play much better with kids old enough to understand that they're babies, rather than age mates. That might work out really well for you.

You might want to bring a sling or other carrier, so your babe can be close to you if she needs you while you're tending to the other kids. Again, it might be nice that they're a bit older since they may be a lot less "hands-on."

To me, it sounds like a good situation on the face of it. I hope it's working out for you

[AngelBee]

Good luck! It sounds like a good situation.

[frannyfresh]

I would totally do it.

[RedWine]

I would go with your compromose. Initially, the hours seemed a bit much. Your new plan would be more doable for me, if the shoes were on my feet. Good luck, and have fun!

[phathui5]

It sounds like a good deal. I would totally take your new hours.