Mother's Helper to the Rescue
Cheaper Than a Sitter, Sometimes a Little Help is All You Need
Jun 18, 2008
Busy stay-at-home parents and work-at-home parents know that it’s not easy to get things done with children in the house. A mother’s helper can help with childcare and other household duties while you’re still nearby.
Diane Coy had twin infants and a 2-year-old when she hired a mother’s helper to watch them while she worked as a CPA from her Charlotte, N.C., home.
“It gave me peace of mind to know that the girls were in good hands while I worked from home part-time,” Coy said in June 2008 telephone interview. Her mother’s helper took care of the babies and toddler and helped to keep the house picked up.
The term “mother’s helper” has been used by professional childcare companies to mean any babysitter hired to come to your home. The difference, however, is that a mother’s helper traditionally is a younger teen who is hired to take care of children while a parent is at home. Mothers’ helpers take some of the burden off of a stay-at-home parent so she can get some housework done, do work from home, or just relax and take some time off.
By definition, a mother’s helper also may be asked to do some light housework, errands and other little jobs around the house to help out the family.
Many teens will look for mother’s helper jobs for the years before they’re old enough to baby-sit on their own. Because a parent is nearby, a mother’s helper isn’t expected to take over full responsibility in emergencies.
Parents like mothers’ helpers because they often charge less per hour than babysitters. Younger teens looking to build babysitting experience are often a fun visitor for children and they can keep little ones occupied and happy while Mom has some free time.
With a growing number of parents working from home, telecommuting or running in-home businesses, many working parents have joined the ranks of those hiring mothers’ helpers.
Advantages of Hiring a Mother’s Helper
If you’re a stay-at-home parent and your children are unaccustomed to having a stranger in charge of them, a mother’s helper gives them some limited exposure to a babysitter and eases them into the experience of having a relationship with a person other than a family member.
A mother’s helper playing a game with the children is better than putting them in front of the TV while you get something done.
As difficult as it is to find an older teen to baby-sit, it’s easy to find an 11-year-old with some spare time, who loves little children and is eager to get childcare experience and make some extra money.
As long as you make the job duties clear from the outset, you can ask your mother’s helper to help fold laundry, pick up toys, or even fix some simple meals or snacks. What are the areas you need the most help with? Some parents hire mother’s helpers for only an hour or two at a time, during the “witching hour” – that time in the evening when babies get fussy and toddlers get cranky and wild.
Tips For Hiring a Mother’s Helper
- Show your mother’s helper the same respect you would a babysitter. Let her know what is expected of her before she agrees to take the job. Present some possible scenarios - like the baby is crying, the 2-year-old needs a diaper change, the soup is boiling over and Mom is on the phone and can’t be disturbed – so she’ll know what to expect.
- Agree on an hourly rate that you’re both comfortable with. It’s not a bad idea to consult with the mother’s helper’s parent, too.
- Don’t expect your mother’s helper to handle big responsibilities. You can ask your mother’s helper to put your child on the potty a couple times a day, but don’t ask her to potty train a child on her own.
- Be sure your mother’s helper knows the location of the first aid kit, fire extinguisher and emergency numbers. Even though you plan to be nearby, a good mother’s helper wants to be informed and prepared for an emergency.
If you've decided you could use some help, look to neighbors, your friends' children, or ask at your local middle school for a responsible mother's helper for your children. Try her out by hiring her for a short period of time and see how it works for both of you.
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