Lucybee

About Me

ASAP START!!!!! We desperately need a Mother's Help/Girl(Boy) Friday for our busy family of 4 - B8, G6 - in central Bath. We're open to flexible hours, our priority is finding someone we can trust and make a bond with who can really make a difference to the quality of our family life. Sometimes you'll come in before the kids are home to help me, other times your focus will be on the kids.

You'll be confident and capable. You could be a student, or a parent/grandparent who understands what it's like, what's important is that you can walk into the house and know what needs doing without necessarily being told, whether it's looking after the kids or getting stuff done.

I need help with EVERYTHING! From general childcare, such as helping with pick-ups, keeping the kids' spaces tidy, entertaining them (although they don't need much) and feeding them, to support with the household. We have a cleaner so that's covered, but I'll need you to help me by picking up the things I don't have the capacity to do such as managing their laundry, making appointments and running family errands - kind of like my second brain! I won't always be working from home, so being able to get on with things independently is a must.

We both work long hours, mine are worked around the kids, and so need someone who's able to think ahead and sees what needs doing without explicit instructions every time.

A BIT ABOUT US:
We're a very busy family of 4. I (mum) am an author so am often on high-pressured deadlines and need to focus without distractions, as well as a remote Office Manager for a charity. At the moment I'm trying to do this around the kids and the house which I'm finding really hard. Dad is a structural engineer and works two days in Basingstoke and 3 days at home, but he's squirreled away when he's here so it's almost like he isn't!

A BIT ABOUT THE KIDS. Arlo (8) has high functioning ASD, ADHD (which is medicated) and learning difficulties. He goes to a specialist school about an hour away with local authority transport provided, and comes home between 4.30/5.45. It would be great if you have SEN experience but it's not essential as he's come on leaps and bounds and is able to regulate himself much better. He loves playing Roblox, kicking a ball around, junk modelling and baking. Matilda (6) is a properly independent sausage - she loves Roblox too and she and Arlo will often play together, as well as drawing and endless small world play.

It's important to know that they don't need much after school as we like to keep things lowkey for them so any after school hours will mainly be helping out around the house, hanging out with them and getting them fed and bathed.

WHAT WE NEED:
We're entirely flexible on your schedule, but we'll need someone who can come in and manage some tasks while the kids aren't here, as well as when they are.
CHILDCARE:
*School pick ups for Matilda - she goes to St Andrew's on Julian Road. She goes to after-school club if that helps with your hours.
*Facilitating play or going to the park or something fun but also letting them chill and unwind. They do need their screen time regulated which can be difficult, but with enticing fun they can be distracted!
*Dinner prep - Arlo is a selective eater, so meals are really simple.
* Baths/showers
*School holiday help, such as outings and supervision at home.
* Occasional babysitting, including overnight.

HOUSEHOLD:
* Keeping the kids' room tidy and clearing up after them around the house.
* Putting the kids' laundry away
* Dishwasher management (!)
* Making appointments for the children and taking them if possible (dentist, doctor etc)
* General errands on request such as returning online stuff (bane of my life!) and things like food shopping

ABOUT YOU:
* First and foremost you'll understand what kids need, be able to initiate play/activities as well as support downtime. You'll be loving and chilled, but we do need someone who can be firm when required and manage resistance with positivity.
* Loads of initiative and enthusiasm
* Confident to get on with things without supervision
* Capable and reliable
* Full driving license and, if possible, your own car (this isn't a deal-breaker but it's certainly an asset)
If you're studying at the moment, there will be time to do this while the kids are chilling out. I don't expect you to be with them all the time at all.

We're in Walcot just off the London Road right by a bus-stop into town and out to Chippenham/Corsham.