Working with children when you have children of your own???

Hi everyone. As alot of you know I've recently (in the last 6 months) become a single mother. I don't know how single mothers do it (financially0 to be honest! So far I haven't had any spare money at the end of the week!

I had a phone call tonight out of the blue from my ex-boss who I used to nanny for, I finished up with her in 2003 but did a bit more work when DD was a few months old in 2005. She said another teacher at her school has her maternity leave finishing after the school holidays & is having problems finding someone she feels comfortable leaving her daughter with. My ex-boss said she would call me & ask if I was interested as she highly recommended me.

So she called & asked.....

The thing is, DD is in Pre-school 2 days a week, in November she will also be doing 1 day a week transition into "big school" then in January starts primary school 5 days a week.
DS will be in daycare 2 days a week & possibly with his grandmother another day a week (or could go a 3rd day at daycare if needed).
I'll also be having a break from the kids every second weekend... they'll be staying at their dads place & 1 night a week they'll be having dinner & time with their Dad & grandparents.

So what I'm saying is I'll be getting a good break from the kids instead of being on my own with both kids all the time!

For those of you who work with other peoples kids for a job, how do you find it? I guess I can just wait & see, we'll have a trial period, but I was just curious what others think in their experiences.

TIA :)

No advice just a yay!!! for your ex-boss recommending you (even if you turn it down) - always nice to be wanted.

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No advice just a yay!!! for your ex-boss recommending you (even if you turn it down) - always nice to be wanted.

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Yes it is great knowing that she liked me looking after her kids so much she recommends me!! Makes me feel good about myself :)

And so you should Danielle! Hope you get more useful advice than what I can offer though :D

I look after a few of my friends kids as daycare and it is actually really difficult. I think i do a pretty good job but I have to admit that without the same connection to them that I have with my son I find myself feeling a bit annoyed when they start to fuss over stuff (I don't mean over real stuff like fear or injury, I mean over stupid things like "he took my toy"). It's pretty tiring playing referee all day. Changing diapers and cleaning up vomit/drool is a lot grosser too when it's not your kid. It's been good for me too though as it has taught me patience and it's nice for DS to have friends to play with. The best part though is it has allowed me to spend more time with my son. It's so nice that your boss recommended you so highly. If you think you can handle being around someone else's childall day then go for it.

I worked in child care and as a nanny before and after I had my DD.
Its definatley do-able, but i loved loved loved it before having DD, and after her I didn't like spending that time with other peoples kids anymore.
I'd take DD with me 2 days, and she was in day care 2 days, but it was pretty hard, compared to when i did if before having kids.
I felt like all i did 24/7 was deal with kids, cook, clean blah blah blah and it all got too much. I could have kept doing it, but in the end i chose to study and start a new career.

If for the financial side it would be beneficial, then maybe ask about a trial period for 3 months to see if it works for you and your family befire making a desicion

Good luck!

That is great! Why not give it a try? My good friend worked for 3 different families over a week and took her DD with her to one of them and used daycare for the others. It worked really well for her - she got paid cash too. I would think it depends on the kids you are going to look after too - why not go and meet with them and see what their expectation of you are and then see how you feel??
Good luck!!!

So would you be working in a centre or as a nanny? If it's in a centre it would be different from being a nanny, casue as a nanny you're 1:1, it's more relaxed, there's no policies or procedures you have to follow, there's no written work, no staff meetings or extra hours, blah, blah. I am a childcare worker, and to be honest, it's hard for me. It's not actually working with the kids that bother me so much as feeling like all I do all day is clean and think of others and pick up after other people. Which I do. I try to clean my house before I get the kids ready for childcare/mums and go to work, then at work (I start at 1130am, but have to be out of the house by 1030 to be on time for everything), I clean and pack away after the kids, then I come home and cook and clean after my kids. I finish at 3.00 so it's a little play with the kids, prepare and cook dinner, bath, book bed for the kids, clean up after dinner and tidy the toys. Then DH usually comes home :rolleyes: (not his fault just his work hours!). So although I only owrk 3 1/2hrs a day, I am going going going aaaallll day. I don't get a break at work cause I'm not there long enough and I don't get to rest at home when my kids sleep, cause I'm at work. So I don't get any time to rest for myslef til they are in bed at about 7/7.30, well after I clean up from dinner and tidy the toys. I'm usually in bed by 9ish cause they are up at 5am. I'm buggered. It's not the work I don't enjoy, ut sometimes I think it would be easier for me if I worked full time, casue at least then I would have the excuse of being at work ALL day and that's why my house is a pigsty and why I'm so buggered. As it is I feel I'm doing everyting half arsed :(
If you have any q's feel free to pm me :)

Ok, it's a nanny position & I think the little girl is around 6 months old. My job with my ex-boss was a nanny position with her 2 kids (aged 5 weeks & 14 months when I started) & I was with them for about 2 years. It was the best job I ever had. Also gave me HEAPS of practice for when I had my own kids ;)

As far as I could tell it's just for looking after the baby girl. My ex-boss said something along the lines of the mother dropping the baby off at my house on her way to work, so I'm assuming there's no house work involved, entirely entertaining & looking after the baby girl.

I will be meeting the Mother & baby when I get to Sydney in 2 weeks time.

I was more worried about what you said Dee about the all I'd be doing is looking after kids all day every day sort of thing.

If it's as relaxed as my ex-boss job was then I think it will be ok. But I think I'll still ask for a trial :)

Thanks everyone.

Oh & at this point in time it is pretty much just for fthe financial side of life. I want to lookinto doing midwifery as a career ASAP.

My job is a bit different as I am a teacher but TBH sometimes i am just desperate for some me time! I work FT though, sometimes I feel like there is ALWAYS a child asking me or telling me something or touching me. DOn't get me wrong I love my job and my class are fantastic but sometimes it would be nice to spend a couple of child free hours a week!!
At least if you are only PT and the kids are with the X sometimes you would get a break. i would take the job on trial just in case its not what you expected or the lady has crazy expectations!!

Breeze, if the little girl was dropped at your place it would be a whole different story!
Bein in your own house means you can still get things done, your own kids will be at home not someone else's house if they are there. Its always easier in your own home!

If you know you are getting time off at weekends or when the kids are in bed its probably a really good arrangement for you! You will also be also to think of the extra $$ if you're getting stressed out about the "kids everywhere all the time" thing.

Also, my nanny arrangement lasted 2 years before I got over the 24/7 kid thing, so sounds like its definatley something you should give a try at this point, if all goes well with the meeting of the child and parents and it all fits into your world well.