Need a Mothers Helper?
Having a babysitter can go beyond the traditional care for while you’re away. Sometimes, a mother needs a bit of extra help in order to balance everything within the home. If the father is otherwise unavailable for help and/or friends and family have their own lives to maintain, where is a mother to turn? A mothers helper can be found that can act much like a babysitter while you’re home. How can you find the right candidate though?
How to Find a Mothers Helper
1. Co-workers and Friends – Some of your colleagues may have teenage children of their own who could use a few extra dollars. Of course, the help of a teenager may be difficult during the week as they may have school responsibilities. However, you may find that an afternoon mothers helper could be a great blessing to your situation. Make sure you meet with the teenager prior to hiring, however. Although these are your friend and co-worker’s children, keep in mind that parents will most likely put their children on a pedestal when describing their abilities.
2. The Classifieds – It’s quite common to see advertisements in the newspaper for parents looking for babysitters or part-time help. Most of these jobs are snatched up by teenagers looking to make a few extra dollars for summer, a car, or perhaps college. The ad usually doesn’t cost much to run for a week or two, and you could be pleased with the results. In an ideal situation, you could get so many applicants that you can meet each one and properly gauge who would fit your situation the best.
3. Facebook – Did you know that you can pay for an advertisement on Facebook that can be shown to people in your city and surrounding locations? You have complete control over the actual budget of this advertisement and it works off of a pay-per-impression dynamic. This means that the ad will show each day until the budget runs out – at which point the advertisement stops automatically. Since you can tailor this ad to show to specific demographics, you can create a “teens only” campaign for your location that will show to any teen using Facebook in your area.
4. High School – Depending on the area you live in, some high schools are aware of students looking for jobs and will help connect them with potential clients. In fact, some schools will go so far as to allow a “work release” if your needs are based during the day hours. It works much the same way as if the student was to work at the local fast food restaurant.
5. Flyers – Never underestimate the power of a flyer pinned to a grocery store cork-board or taped to a telephone pole. Some schools will have a board you can use after getting permission from the administrators. Flyers can work exceptionally well for getting the attention of an ideal candidate.
6. Online – Unlike the newspaper you do not have to pay for an ad online. There are many sites, like Babysitting.net or NannyPro.com that allow you to post your job for a mothers helper on their site and be connected with hundreds of possible candidates. Then you can pick and choose which one best suits your needs!
Since most of the care of your child is going to be conducted while you are on the premises, you are able to relax on intensive requirements for hiring a mothers helper. Essentially, you are looking for someone who can keep your little one occupied while you perform your regular routine unhindered by the child. Although you may have to leave the home once in a while, you can grow to trust your helper’s abilities to care for your child while you’re away.
Rachel is an ex-babysitting pro as well as a professional writer and blogger. She is a graduate from Iowa State University and currently writes for www.babysitting.net. She welcomes questions/comments which can be sent to rachelthomas.author @ gmail.com.
I’ve been thinking about finding a mothers helper lately. Someone who could come in and entertain the kids, do some laundry, and maybe cook dinner once a week while I get some work done here, at B-Inspired Mama. But the task of finding someone I trust and am comfortable with intimidates me, so I’ve been putting it off. Rachel’s tips might help get me going!
Do you have a mothers helper? I’d love to hear about your experiences with it, and especially how you found them, in the comments!
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Leah says
I, literally, was wondering the other day, “Do they still have mother’s helpers?” I think I need one, too! I am finding it difficult to get all the things I want done on a regular basis. I find some things fall through the cracks for a few days, then get picked up, only to have other things fall through.
I am so glad you shared these tips! This may be the motivation I need to seek someone out. I was thinking about checking with the local homeschool co-op to see if there is a young lady who would like to help out.
Any idea on what the going rate is?
Amy says
I have a pretty young mother’s helper on Friday afternoons. She loves playing with my daughter, and I love a little break after a long week. Often, I let the two of them play at the park while I lounge with a good book nearby!