My sister watched my kids for 4 years and then we went to using an in-home daycare. My 4 year old is there full-time and loves her! So do we. My problem is that my husband leaves about 430 every morning for work and I start a new job on Monday. I will not be able to get my 8 and 6 year old on and off of the bus anymore. I have been looking on sittercity and the local college page for babysitters to come only in the morning, but everyone wants full-time. So I think I need to start looking at that. But we love and trust our sitter now and I would hate to take my kids from her...they have been with her since day 1. So what would you do? Continue to struggle finding someone or start interviewing people for a full-time in my home spot? I am so conflicted, but know I ultimately need to do what is best for my family and kids. I do not want them to change schools again, and my current sitter does not offer before and after care anyways.
Edit - my sitter will not do before and after, and even if she did I'd have to change my kids schools. I will not do that to them because we had to do it last year and I hated it. I don't want that for them. Our school is one of the only ones in the county that does not have a before or after program. They did have an after program, but that is not really an option for me since my kids activities require us to leave almost as soon as the bus gets home some days. Thanks for the responses!!
We took my SD to "before care" which was right in her school's gym and run by the school. Some kids did before and after (like she did) and some only one or the other.
Does your school offer "latch key" or before/after care? Many schools offer that or have an agency that does. You could use them for you your older kids and leaver your four year old where she is. Otherwise, you should find a sitter or childcare facility that offers full time for the younger one and before/after for the older ones.
Our local Y and Community Centers all offer before school care that starts significantly earlier than the local school's early drop off time and the school busses all pick up from those locations (door to door). Do the hours at your Y or CC's not work with your work schedule?
I would ask your daycare provider if she knows someone.
Talk to your sitter about the issue. She may be able to help.
If you know another mom in your neighborhood that has kids that are picked up at the same bus stop, talk to them about watching the kids before school.
Or, as a neighbor if they could come over and see the kids unto the bus.
I would talk to your sitter. Maybe she would know something or maybe she would offer to help until you find something more permanent.
Best of Luck
a lot of places offer before and after school care, I know our daycare does. I would call around.
It might be possible to have the bus pick them up and drop them off at the sitter's house. This worked for my grandson.
how long are you talking about sach morning? if it's just a half hour or hour maybe a neighborhood mom with kids on the same bus as your kids will let them watch tv in their house while they wait for the bus and get themselves ready.
Call the school and ask them for suggestions. Many of the local school districts offer before and after care. Ours does not, but they did provide a list of those in our school district that do. The list had 2 daycare centers on it and about 10 in-home providers. I chose a daycare center, because I also have a 2 year old, but I would have no problem calling some of the in-home providers on the list to check them out.
Give the school a call.
My kids school has a before and after care program. I was able to drop him off at 7 am and he was with responsible day care. Very reasonably priced too. I would call the school too and see if they have any recommendations.
is there another family close by your house that your children could stay with for the short time in the morning?
