Working Parents & Childcare

Daycare shuts for ten days in May and our usual backup is away at a wedding

teal_pigeon_2328

Both kids go to the same daycare. They've just put up the summer break dates, ten working days in the middle of May. Normally my in-laws cover closures, but that exact week they're travelling for a family wedding that was fixed months ago. My partner and I can each take maybe three days of leave without trouble. That still leaves four days with a 4 year old, a 2 year old and two full-time jobs. What have people done for gaps like this? Short-term babysitter, a camp that takes small kids, something else?

4 comments

  • slate_meadow_4336

    I am at home with my daughter so no daycare for us. But in my building some mothers keep each other's kids for few hours when there is need. Maybe ask in your society group, some ladies who are at home may help for those days.

  • mellow_balcony_2053

    my partner teaches so the holidays always matched our son's. only time we got stuck was one year when the in-laws were away like this. we split it, they did mornings, i did evenings and worked late nights. fine for a week, not more

  • apricot_diary_9270

    no family in the city here. we block leave for these weeks in january before anything else gets planned. agency babysitter came home for the odd days. she was fine. the planning was the hard part

  • moss_pool_8254

    A few summer camps near us take four year olds for half days, but almost none take a two year old. When mine was small we used a babysitter a neighbour had used before, mornings only, and I worked from the dining table while she was there. I got through about half a day's work each time, but it covered the gap.

    • cinnamon_sketch_159

      How did the first morning go with someone the children hadn't met? Our younger one would not have let a stranger take him out of the room at two. Did she come for a day or two while you were still around?

    • teal_pigeon_2328

      Replying to @cinnamon_sketch_159

      That's the part that worries me. The 2 year old takes days to warm up to anyone new. Thinking of getting someone in for a couple of trial afternoons in early May while daycare is still running, so she isn't a stranger by the time the break starts 🤷

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