Help Needed but How?

Trouble is, that’s the sort of job that doesn’t pay very well because it’s few hours in total. But it disrupts the day for anything else.

Probably only a stay-at-home mum who needs some extra income would consider it.

There are breakfast and after school clubs after school to help for working parents. As you say they have " high flying careers " then they can afford to pay for a cleaner. There are school holiday activities which although invoke a cost are good for parents and children.
Please be careful with your own health. It is not essential that you plug all the gaps,parents need to organise themselves and take the responsibility for their children.

It sounds as if a nanny is what's needed.
Qq

Now where did those extra letters come from?

The phantomfinger MissA ?

Do they have room for an au-pair? Depending on where they live, they might find someone from abroad who could live in and maybe attend language classes during the day.

Do they both need to be working? Shorten hours perhaps? It’s for them to sort out. They made these choices.

Don’t over do it yourself. You’ve had your time.

Here is a link to the trade association for au pairs.
bapaa.org.uk/.

If your daughter and SiL have such high powered, high flying careers, how come they are unable to find out for themselves how to get suitable domestic staff?

They could pay for a cleaner and the children could attend breakfast and after school clubs.

If they want help in-house, your daughter could go through an agency that supplies vetted staff.

Have the parents considered independent/public schools?
The school day is usually longer, includes extra curricular activities, supervised prep and an evening meal.

Thanks all of you. Shorten hours…. No not an option DiscoDancer1975 - thanks for your kind words though and I absolutely know I can’t overdo it, I know my limits. Some sort of Au Pair Grandma KT - yes possibly, I guess there must be reputable agencies for help of this kind. MissAdventure - yes a sort of Nanny but difficult hours to fill and I feel this would have been easier when they were younger but of course they couldn’t have afforded it then .

Lathyrus

Trouble is, that’s the sort of job that doesn’t pay very well because it’s few hours in total. But it disrupts the day for anything else.

Probably only a stay-at-home mum who needs some extra income would consider it.

They would be wise to consider the person is insured, DBS checked and has some first aid training. Our local Facebook seems to have some people, rather like childminders, but with older children.

Sorry Lathyrus accidentally referenced your post!

My daughter and her husband are in a similar situation. They both work long hours both from home and the office. They have a 3rd floor with an en-suite bathroom. They have had an au pair arrangement for a few years. There were a few teething problems at the start but their latest au pair has been with them for several years and is a big part of the family. she takes the children to school, they plan meals together and she cooks tea for the children and dinner for my daughter. She does the laundry and tidies up. There is also a weekly cleaner and supermarket deliveries. She has the Weekends off and she goes back to Italy to see her family when convenient. My daughter pays well as she totally appreciates the input by the au pair and she pays for her flights as well as her pension contributions. She is included in all family events if she wants to join in. I know that this is not for everyone but for our high flying career children this has been the best solution.

My daughter looks after her friends children after school and in the holidays. The friend is in a high flyer job and pays well. All the children get social inter action, little time on screens like you dislike. The friends kids go to a breakfast club early in the morning. There is lots out there.

In the US, there is the concept of mother's helper.

Also, I would find out what the school offers, before and after.

Some gyms also offer after school programs.

Thanks for the link Monica - they are both more than capable but have only just started thinking about it as they have a lot going on right now so I’m just trying to help.

Miss Chateline - that sounds a very good example for her x thank you

Sago

Have the parents considered independent/public schools?
The school day is usually longer, includes extra curricular activities, supervised prep and an evening meal.

Or weekly boarding school?
Before anyone says "Too young" it would be no worse than having an au pair or an exhausted granny to look after them.
They'd be supervised, have prep time, activities, friends and could come home at weekends.

Thanks again everyone - I appreciate all your words of help.

One of DD's friends went as a weekly boarder because his parents ran a business and he loved it. In fact, he asked to go but he had been a day pupil at the school for a while before that.

And perhaps they could get a cleaner too and you could just spend some fun time with the children sometimes.

Definitely after school clubs. Often they run til about 6pm and breakfast day club from 8am.

I find that high flying jobs often have more flexibility available. I have a director who goes and does the school run for an hour from 3-4pm, and who finishes for the day at 3pm one day a week. His wife does similar but on different days to cover it. Another only work four days a week. Would that be an option? People don’t always want the drop in salary. I work compressed hours so I get a weekday off but my child is below school age. During school years I’ll probably do five short days.

Definitely after school clubs. Often they run til about 6pm and breakfast day club from 8am.

It's a long day, though, for an 8 year old, off to breakfast club at 8 am, school then after school club until 8 pm .