Im lucky to have my family help me out with my child care needs, but it doesnt always go smoothly. Whats wrong?
The number of families asking a family member to help out with child care is on the rise. It can be a wonderful situation, one in which you have great confidence in the caregiver and the quality of care they can provide. But, it can be just as difficult, if not more so, than when you hire a non-family member to provide care. Consider these issues to help you smooth out any bumps in the family caregiver road. Expectations When you hire a babysitter or nanny, you would likely review job expectations during the interview process. But, if you have a family member helping you, you probably skipped that step! Dont. Discuss job expectations, roles and responsibilities with your family the same way you would with someone youve hired to help. Core values Even though you share the same family, that doesnt mean your family member will have the same values you do. Be sure to point out whats important to you and that your family member understands “the rules” youve set for your kids and why theyre
