Working Parents & Childcare

caregiver asked if she can bring her 6 yr old along on the days her school is shut

peach_fern_3617

she's been with us a year. comes at 12 when my son is back from preschool, stays till 7. her daughter's school has a few closure days coming up and there's nobody at home to watch the girl i don't mind the child being here, she's sweet. my worry is that the caregiver will be watching two kids and my son will spend the afternoon on the girl's mobile games. or that i'm being unfair even thinking that. how have others handled this

6 comments

  • saffron_quilt_8232

    How many days is 'a few'? Two days is a favour. Two weeks is a different arrangement and you'd want to discuss it as one.

  • willow_quilt_4750

    say yes, and set the screen rule for both kids on day one. she'll probably be relieved to have a rule she can point to with her own child too

  • pebble_bookmark_600

    At work, people bring children in on school closure days and nobody minds as long as it's flagged ahead. Same rule at home. Ask her for the dates now, so you can plan your client days around them if needed.

  • moss_paper_2041

    we use a daycare so no caregiver at home, but at 4 and 6 they'll mostly play together. ours are 2 and 7 and the big one keeps the small one busier than any toy

  • cedar_pebble_3508

    happened to us. fine for the first three days, then the two started fighting over the tv remote and our caregiver kept taking her daughter's side, which, fair, i would too. ended up giving her paid leave for the last two days and my partner worked from home. not ideal but everyone was calmer

    • peach_fern_3617

      paid leave is a good fallback, didn't think of that. how did you put it to her without it sounding like her kid was the problem

  • peach_lantern_1764

    any two kids in one flat for a full afternoon will negotiate screens. ours are boys a year apart and they still do. that part isn't about whose kid she is

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