Childcare solutions! Help!

[sugarglo]

Help!
I know there will probs be lots of you on this site that have children and I could really do with some advice. My boy goes to nursery as from sept for 3 hrs a day, any other times in there, I have to pay for privately. Im hoping to start mobile business in a few weeks or so and wondered how to try and get appointments with clients in day care hours. Please tell me this isnt all night work, or Im pretty stuffed really as I cant get childcare for an evening :cry:. Has anyone got any ideas, or solutions please.
Thankyou

 

[pure]

At the moment I work around my childcare, even if it doesn't give me all the hours I need.

My youngest will be at pre-school for 3 hrs mon-fri mornings. I then pay extra for lunch club each day, and also for 2 afternoons a week. It all adds up financially but I still want to be at work and be there for my children. No different to most other mums I suppose!!

I am lucky that I can also work 2 evenings a week as my hubby is more than happy to help out too.

I have just resigned myself to the fact that I work when I can, and I will work more as the children get older.

 

[Princessstacie]

If you are on your own you can get help from tax credits for childcare. i think they pay around 80 percent, even if you are with a partner they may be able to help if your earnings a below a certain threshold. give them a ring to find out
hth x x

 

[sugarglo]

Im on my own so no help on a night :cry:. My only worry is someone ringing me and asking me to go round after 6pm (I can only get childcare up until then). Also when I put him into nursery, they ask what hours you are doing and what days he will be attending. How can you know what appointments youre going to have from week to week to do this??? Is the best thing to just say u need the child in a wed and fri (or wateva days) and then when clients ring say you can only do those days??? Not much flexibility for me really but I cant see any other way round it. Thanx for the tips tho guys!!
xxx

 

[sugarglo]

At the moment I work around my childcare, even if it doesn't give me all the hours I need.

My youngest will be at pre-school for 3 hrs mon-fri mornings. I then pay extra for lunch club each day, and also for 2 afternoons a week. It all adds up financially but I still want to be at work and be there for my children. No different to most other mums I suppose!!

I am lucky that I can also work 2 evenings a week as my hubby is more than happy to help out too.

I have just resigned myself to the fact that I work when I can, and I will work more as the children get older.

You are totally right and Ive always worked around him, I cant bear thought of not seeing him much through the day . I always had my hubbie there 2 help, no more tho. Just got to find a way around it, but I'll get there xx

 

[gillian w]

Can you have people come to you when he is in bed.

 

[sugarglo]

Can you have people come to you when he is in bed.

Yknow I neva thought of that. I know im meant to be mobile but I suppose if they REALLY DESPERATELY wanted it doing and they lived close enough they might be willing to do that. Thanks hun that is an option!!
xxx

 

[K's tanning]

Can you have people come to you when he is in bed.

It's what I do if my husband is away. I've got 4 kids aged 3yrs-13 yrs all going to different schools and work full time, plus self employed spray tanning. I fit clients in when I can. Evenings, either at their home (if I've got someone to have the kids) or they can come to me and I knock a couple of £'s off for their trouble. I know I have Mondays and alternate Thursdays/Sundays off so get as many bookings as I can on those days.
You'd be surprised how accomadating people can be. If you can arrange for your child to be in pre-school on the same mornings each week, it's easier to offer bookings to clients on set days, knowing your child will be looked after. I find Thursdays and Fridays tend to be quite popular for treatments as most occasions take place at the weekends.

Just make sure you leave enough time for you to complete whatever treatment you are doing + chatting/client time etc, and not have to rush your client out or clock watch because you've got to pick the kids up! Trust me, I've been there and it's no fun panicking because the client won't bog off and you know you're going to be late for the childcare!
Good luck, I'm sure you'll a balance that works for you.

 

[donna'sdelights]

Im on my own so no help on a night :cry:. My only worry is someone ringing me and asking me to go round after 6pm (I can only get childcare up until then). Also when I put him into nursery, they ask what hours you are doing and what days he will be attending. How can you know what appointments youre going to have from week to week to do this??? Is the best thing to just say u need the child in a wed and fri (or wateva days) and then when clients ring say you can only do those days??? Not much flexibility for me really but I cant see any other way round it. Thanx for the tips tho guys!!
xxx

I have to say I am more lucky that my daughter is at school so i have more day hours. Also she goes to her dads all day sunday and part of saturday she usually spends with her grand parents. One thing I was taught to do which might help you with your limited time is when a client rings and asks for an appointment say " well i have space on wednesday or friday next week which is best for you?" so they have a choice but your in control of the days then when they say a day you could follow up with " which is better for you morning or afternoon?" you'd then eliminate the evening issue but they still feel like there are getting a choice.

hope that comes in handy for you hun I will be using it as i want to avoid evening apps due to child care too

 

['chelle]

To be honest hun, I know this might not be welcome advice but, are you really sure that being a self employed nail tech is for you right now? As you have said, many people want mobile appointments on evenings and weekends, and if you have to tell your childcare provider in advance what hours he will be there, you may not have any scope for attending to last minute appointments.

Is it feasible for you to work from home? You would need a room to work from that allows you to set up safely (ie not in your kitchen right next to the cooker!) Your son would need to be old enough to be able to stay in the next room unsupervised, watching telly or something.

I just think you might be setting yourself up for a fall. If you saw a job in the paper that was for some evening work, some short notice work, and some irregular working patterns, if your childcare support wasnt there, you wouldnt dream of applying for it, so I think it might be unwise to put yourself in that position as a self employed person, because it could turn out to be really stressful for you and your son.

Maybe you could apply for a job in a salon with regular pay and regular working hours until your son is old enough for you to be able to be a bit more flexible as a self employed person?

 

[Alibarr]

When you both settle in with nursery you will probably meet other mums with a similar predicament, I know I did. Im still friends with many school gate mums from nurseryand my boys are now 15 and 17!

We have helped each other out many times over the years with childcare etc and even a shoulder to cry on when needed!! The best thing about it is that they also have a child the same age as yours and this makes helping each other out convenient for you and fun or the kids!!

 

[hippy-chick]

I've got a 9 year old and I have always worked around him, I used to do appointments when he was a baby and get my in-laws to babysit.

When he went to nursery, I would then be available for thsoe hours.

When he started school, I was then available for those hours.

My in-laws pick him up from school one day a week, the rest of the time is with me working within that time frame.
I go back out to work on a Thursday when hub comes in from work.

One thing though, whatever your availablity it, someone WILL ALWAYS WANT a time that you can't do.
This still happens now and I am available 9.30 - 3pm 6 days a week, with 2 late evenings, its STILL not good enough.

so, be prepared for the fact that you can't please everyone all of the time, and stick to your guns. You're clients will try to manipulate you to work hours that suit them, you will accomodate them, and sometimes you'll get no shows or cancellations at the last minute. If you read some of the threads, you'll see that even people who are available 24/7 you still can get messed around.

 

[sugarglo]

Aw thankyou sooo much guys!!! I was sitting last night with the worst feeling in the world that I'd maybes made the wrong decision and I should just not go ahead with it at all! But yet again you're words of encouragement and advise have made me decide full on that I will make it work. You're all completely right, u work around you're kids and just do what u can do. Where theres a will theres a way eh? After all we do do it for us and the kids' future. Everything I do, I do for him and I will find ways to work around him, so I can still spend quality time with him but still earn aswell. Ur right, clients will always want dif times n stuff n will fit in to the time slots I have if they want it done. Also when he starts school I'll be able to be more flexible. I can do most weekends as he is with his dad, so thats better, it was just the nights I was worried about. And like you say even if you're available 24/7 u can be let down. Hey I can but try and if all else fails, back to the office job :Scared:.
Thanks again tho, you're all shining stars!!!!!!!!
xxxx:hug:

 

[sugarglo]

To be honest hun, I know this might not be welcome advice but, are you really sure that being a self employed nail tech is for you right now?
Sorry I should of said, I'm not a nail tech hun. Just trainined as a spray tan tech xx

 

[sam28]

Hi, just a thought, cant you ask the Dad to sit-in a couple of evenings perhaps or even one night and then you can offer a late evening (Thurs would prob be best for spray tanning )? Suppose it depends on your relationship with him, but you are trying to build a future for you and your child. I think it'll all work itself out, things have a way of doing that hun. I run a business and have a 3 year old and a 9 year old, like hippy chick says there's always someone who you cant please. Best of luck xxx

 

[*JOANNE*]

To be honest hun, I know this might not be welcome advice but, are you really sure that being a self employed nail tech is for you right now?
Sorry I should of said, I'm not a nail tech hun. Just trainined as a spray tan tech xx

I was wondering what service it was that you offered.....so that you could fit clients in , in those 3 hours...and if its spray tanning then....i think you have a good service too offer in the times that you can.
most of us have started out this way having to fit clients in and around our kids when they where small, with no help or babysitters on tap.....

when someone rings up...never get them to give you a day or time...offer all days and times you can first....and then let them pick one that suits......if you are straight from the onset and stick to the tmes you can offer.....then you will be ok, and wont run the risk of clients rail roading you into times they want, and you getting stressed that you cant.
have a diary and each week mark out the times and days you can do.....so you are armed with them the minute a clients books.

lots of us have been there.
just becasue you can only offer specific times and days...doesnt mean to say your any less serious then any one else.............just do it professionally :hug:

 

[Blue Rose]

Is the pre-school he's going to flexible with the hours?

By that I mean, the one where Isabella (3) goes to lets you make up your 5 funded sessions as you want.

A lot of the mums do mornings or afternoons only but I put Isabella in on a Wed am, all day Thurs & all day Fri, and just pay for 2 lunches. That way I have 2 school hours days to myself which is sooo much easier for working, or geeking or shopping

Isabella also loves staying all day so it's a win win

 

[sugarglo]

Hi, just a thought, cant you ask the Dad to sit-in a couple of evenings perhaps or even one night and then you can offer a late evening (Thurs would prob be best for spray tanning )? Suppose it depends on your relationship with him, but you are trying to build a future for you and your child. I think it'll all work itself out, things have a way of doing that hun. I run a business and have a 3 year old and a 9 year old, like hippy chick says there's always someone who you cant please. Best of luck xxx

Yeah our relationship is gud, but he works full time and i dont really like to ask but i might if i really get stuck, my mum and dad are there too but i just hate asking :irked:. Im too independant for my own gud sometimes i think. Everyone has words of encouragement on here and its helped soooo much, it really has . Im more determined to make this work for me and my son than anything else. Thanks everyone
:hug: :hug: :hug: BIG HUGS ALL ROUND!!! xxxxxx

 

[sugarglo]

Is the pre-school he's going to flexible with the hours?

By that I mean, the one where Isabella (3) goes to lets you make up your 5 funded sessions as you want.

A lot of the mums do mornings or afternoons only but I put Isabella in on a Wed am, all day Thurs & all day Fri, and just pay for 2 lunches. That way I have 2 school hours days to myself which is sooo much easier for working, or geeking or shopping

Isabella also loves staying all day so it's a win win

Yes I think i can . iknow when he goes back in sept its changed to 3 hrs a day so maybe i can do that. Wat happens in holidays tho, does it work out expensive when you have to put her in privately cos the funded sessions are only term time arnt they?
xxx

 

[K's tanning]

Yes holidays will be more expensive. I've resigned myself to the fact, that until the kids are alot older, I won't be making any money in the holidays as it all goes on childcare. But it keeps my business ticking over and I make up for it when they're at school. Sometimes in the hols, if I can't get childcare I'll have friends/relatives or my babysitter come round for a couple of hours to watch the kids or take them to the park so I can get a couple of clients in. The other thing I will occasionally do through the holidays is let the clients come to me (usually my regulars, locals & friends) but warn them I've got the kids home so might get interrupted.
Stick with, as most of us have said, you will find a way that suits you and your son.
K