And I don\u2019t mean the TV.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Over the past year, and now with four children, we have seen our family expenses ballooning but are more in need now than ever of an extra set of hands. We don\u2019t have the income now to cover the amount of daytime help that I need for sane summer months\u2026 unless the help costs only $3-4\/hour.<\/p>\n
So, at the Feast of the Ascension Mass a few weeks ago, I started recruiting 12 year olds in our parish. They\u2019re out of school for the summer, and idle; \u00a0too young to have jobs or to have friends who drive, but old enough to enjoy a small income; and fresh\u00a0enough to think babysitting is exciting. Our mother\u2019s helper Natalie lives close enough to walk. I suggest activities for her to do with the kids and get out the supplies, I handle discipline, and I don\u2019t expect her to keep the kids away from me. Instead, she is an extra set of hands and a great source of ideas and energy to help with\u00a0my older three. I\u2019m able to get a surprising amount done when she\u2019s around, and I also have the space to enjoy my new baby. And the kids love a break from their worn-out\u00a0mom. It makes a world of difference to have her two afternoons a week.<\/p>\n
So, if you\u2019re like me, finding your hands full and your head spinning but your piggy bank empty, may I recommend a mother\u2019s helper this summer?<\/p>\n
Happy summer days to you all!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
And I don\u2019t mean the TV. Over the past year, and now with four children, we have seen our family expenses ballooning but are more in need now than ever of an extra set of hands. We don\u2019t have the income now to cover the amount of daytime help that I need for sane summer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":731,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n