The Hidden Help Next Door


The wonder of a mother�s helper
By Nicole Unice

It was early spring and I was deep in the throes of motherhood. Potty training a preschooler and nursing my six-month old left little time for hobbies, friends or chores. Even showering seemed like a difficult daily task! That morning, I ventured out to the mailbox and found a folded sheet of computer paper. Scrawled across the paper in purple magic marker was this message:

Mother�s Helper Available
$2 hour. Sorry, no Sundays!
--Hannah

There was no other information, but I knew that Hannah lived down the street and was about eleven years old. I rejoiced at my good fortune, and my love affair with mothers� helpers began.

Four years and another baby later, I still love inviting pre-teens into my home for some in-house babysitting. A great helper is usually eager to earn money and not distracted by a cell phone and social life. These babysitters-in-training still straddle the line between kid and teenager, making them great playmates!

Here�s some guidelines to see if a mother�s helper would benefit your family:

You might like a helper if:
Tips:
Be willing to invest some time and patience in training. For most, this will be their first moneymaking venture, and you will set the tone for that experience.

Start small. I�ve invited a helper over for about an hour, and then work up from there.

Take it Easy. Get one child to engage, even if the younger ones stay with you. Invite your helper over to play with the preschooler while the baby naps. Have her take the kids for a walk around the block while you start dinner or answer email.

Make no assumptions. For most helpers, this is their first real babysitting job. Show them how to do things, and then encourage their good work: �little Johnny takes a cup of juice after his nap, and then I change his diaper. Why don�t you come over here and I�ll show you how I usually do it.�

Train them well. Teach them to be a great sitter. Encourage them to help the children put toys away after they play, wipe counters after snack, and play games or do projects with the kids.

Pay them accordingly. Hannah was a steal for me at $2 an hour and eleven years old. I increased her pay over time and as she was able to work independently with the children. It may be helpful to talk with the pre-teen�s parent about appropriate pay. Most of my helpers have ranged from $4-6/hour.

That magic-marker note started a relationship that endures today. Hannah is now our regular babysitter. The children adore her and I trust her completely�after all, I�ve seen her �in-training!� I�ve got a new mother�s helper who pops over for playtime so I can clean the house, catch up on paperwork or grab that coveted shower. Keep on the lookout for a potential helper�you�ll be glad you did!

Childcare: Whether it's daycare during work hours or an evening sitter - a most popular and gut-wrenching topic for Richmondmoms. Here's the down and dirty:

No matter who you interview, you'll need a GREAT list of questions. Voila:

Click HERE for a list of possible questions for your daycare search!

Option #1: Licensed Day Care Centers


  • SWEET: Highly reliable, typically very strong education & activity focus, exposure to a variety of kids and experiences. They are on the line to ensure ratios are met, so there is always coverage. Some day cares even offer instructor-led swimming lessons, dance & music classes!
    NOT: Pricey, often $200+ weekly & higher for infants, increased exposure to germs. You pay often even when you're on vacation, there is an exposed risk to certain illnesses - but you'll also have that in most situations.

Cool Richmond site to check out with a bunch of listings: City Search Listing

Option #2: Nannies


  • GROOVY: Mary Poppins coming to your door? What could be finer? Personal attention and NO bags, bottles, diapers for you to pack. One-on-one attention for your little darlings.
    NOT: When they don't show or are late, you're outta luck. Putting "all your eggs in one basket".

www.craigslist.com & www.richmond.com "classified"= free advertising options
Search postings for sitters, nannies, and occasional help. OR post your own ad. No fees! You do all the recruiting work, and can do much via email.

Option #3: In-Their-Home Babysitters:


  • HIP: When you find the right one, it can be a magical thing. Usually very reliable, so you need back-up care. Interaction with other kids, exposure to some structure, loving care in someone else's home.
    NOT: Like nannies, these folks have lives too - and you may be at their mercy for their family issues, illness, etc. Ask about back-up care & how they may be able to help.

"Occasional" Sitters: Richmondmoms NEED adult time!

River City Sitters: Pay an annual fee plus a "finders fee" for each sitter. This Richmondmom has used this service a few times with great success - they seem to find awesome college students with educational backgrounds! They do background checks, require experience, and send professionals.

University of Richmond students may be a great source for babysitters! Contact Student Activities at 289-8505

www.craigslist.com & www.richmond.com are good sources for all of these searches. New site with this option: www.richmond.kijiji.com. Not as well-viewed, but free, so worth a shot.

Ready to hire someone to help you with any of these services?

 

Coming soon. . .PRESCHOOL Info!



Have a great child care resource for Richmondmoms? Email kate@richmondmom.com with your resource.

Note: Richmondmom.com bears no responsibility for the actions of any child care resources found using these services. Always do a thorough search, including a background check, driving record check, and credit check, with plenty of reference checks, before trusting anyone with your precious ones!