https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:00:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time/page/2#post-2544212 Mon, 09 May 2016 08:45:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2544212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hands down after school till dinner time! More answering for DH haha. I'm mostly the only one that needs to run out the door at a certain time right now, so DH can more than handle DD himself and do drop off. But I know he would like the help so he can cook in peace haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time/page/2#post-2543697 Sat, 07 May 2016 16:52:41 +0000 LemonJack 2543697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it might be a personal thing. I am NOT a morning person, but need to be at work early (teacher), so morning help is vital! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542332 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:45:55 +0000 jedeve 2542332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would start off in the mornings and when you get a routine down, switch her to afternoons evenings if you think that would help. Give yourself permission to do nothing but crockpot dinners, PBJs, chicken nuggets/fish sticks and other super easy meals for the first 3-6 mo to keep dinner time easy and lose some screen time guilt. When baby starts sleeping a bit better and you've gotten things a little more under control, switch to help in the evenings cause that's when kids are a little more chaotic and you are wore out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542329 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:42:36 +0000 winniebee 2542329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bluebonnet: my kids are horrible newborn sleepers, but maybe this baby is *the one!* I'm sure she would be flexible. She's amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542319 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:36:38 +0000 Bluebonnet 2542319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I'm a little split - I think it depends on the new baby - what time baby wakes up (in relation to your other kids), how well they sleep, and how much sleep you are getting.</p> <p>Personally, I'd probably get help in the mornings. If I start out on the right foot, the rest of the day usually follows. On the days where everything goes wrong by 9am and I don't seem to ever recover my day.</p> <p>Could you do mornings for a week then afternoons for a week, then decide what works best for you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542303 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:15:18 +0000 Andrea 2542303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pick evenings for myself, but if your DH will be home, then I might pick mornings for you. But I've never found the morning to be that hard so I'm still leaning towards the evening since everyone is tired/could be cranky. I'd try both with the nanny and see which is more helpful for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542295 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:09:03 +0000 kodybear 2542295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Evening for sure. I do dropoff and pickup and pickup is always way harder. The kids are tired and so pick up can get draining. Mornings are usually okay since I just do a quick dropoff </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542290 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:03:55 +0000 winniebee 2542290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So interesting so see how the votes are split! If it matters, we live 5 mins from school! But, I can't leave the baby in the car for drop offs or pick ups / have to bring the boys in to school. I'm sure it will be a sh*t show at some point during the day, but I'm glad I'll at least have some help :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542271 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:50:32 +0000 looch 2542271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the morning, hands down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542268 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:48:49 +0000 Kemma 2542268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote or afternoon / evening help! I'm a SAHM but my husband is home at 1600 each day and it's a huge help having him home to kid wrangle at the end of the day when everybody's getting cranky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542261 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:45:25 +0000 KayKay 2542261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In theory, I would prefer the help later in the day. I find it really hard to prep/cook dinner with cacophony around me, which is pretty much our life from 4-6p :) Plus, on the days when you have had a chance to prep earlier, or it's a leftovers/takeout/easy dinner type of day...and assuming you aren't working...you could always do something with one of the older LOs (a class, etc) and not have to worry about bringing the younger one(s). So you get some built in flextime.</p> <p>However, the logistics of drop-off get a little crazy with 3 kids on 3 different school/nap/etc schedules. So I think in your case, for now, I'd probably pick to have the help in the morning. Once the youngest one is on a 2-nap schedule, you might find that mornings aren't too bad anymore and the help later would be better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542221 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:26:39 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2542221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In your situation I would want morning help and for the nanny to do the preschool drop off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542195 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:08:54 +0000 HazelEyes 2542195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: ohhh, I just saw that you said hubby should be home to help with bath and bed. That makes a big difference! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542194 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:07:48 +0000 HazelEyes 2542194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely evening! Having help with entertaining while you get dinner going, and then through those last few fussy hours before bed? Not a question. The morning can be hectic, but I feel like at least everyone is rested and ready to start the day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542189 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:59:51 +0000 catgirl 2542189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One semester in college I was a nanny with split shifts. My good friend was their full time nanny but she was doing a semester abroad. I went over at 6:30am made breakfast while the mom got ready, then woke the kids, fed them breakfast, got them ready, and dropped them at preschool at 9. I then picked them up at 3 and watched them until 7. Depending on the day I would strictly be on kid duty while the mom prepped dinner and organized things for the next day or we would switch and she would have time with the kids while I did the dinner and prep.</p> <p>I would not want to do that schedule indefinitely but it was fine for a set period of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542176 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:49:57 +0000 lamariniere 2542176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely the evening! It is so hard to get the motivation to cook dinner when at least one kid is always having a meltdown at the end of the day. If someone could watch my kids while I cook, it would be life changing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542172 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:47:39 +0000 winniebee 2542172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: that's kind of what I'm thinking....both boys would be content to watch tv for a bit while dinner is going and my husband *should* be home at dinnertime to help with baths and bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542161 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:41:00 +0000 ValentineMommy 2542161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Morning rush, definitely.</p> <p>I'm not a morning person and typically very slow going in the am.</p> <p>Also, my boys are usually winding down when I'm getting dinner ready. I can typically turn on the tv for 20 min while getting dinner ready and they can entertain themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542130 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:15:04 +0000 MamaCate 2542130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally want more evening help! I have done mornings on my own for so long that it is fine (long but fine) and evenings are definitely harder with bathing everyone and trying to stick to bedtime routines and schedules. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542121 Thu, 05 May 2016 12:02:54 +0000 gingerbebe 2542121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Well what if you sweeten the pot - make her work 6 hours a day, 4 days a week, for the same pay, but being open to stay a little later on days your husband gets home late, etc. So maybe like 730am-1030am, then 230-6pm, give or take 30 minutes. She gets a "raise" and you get the coverage you really need. You can tell her it's temporary for like 12 weeks if it helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542115 Thu, 05 May 2016 11:59:15 +0000 coopsmama 2542115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I could have help at the end of the day now, I totally would. So that gets my vote. With a little planning ahead, it's easy enough to get out the door with young kids but by the end of the day both of mine totally seem to crumble emotionally so any extra help during that stressful time would be amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542077 Thu, 05 May 2016 11:24:40 +0000 hellobeeboston 2542077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the end of the day for sure! I have both kids now in the morning and while it's a little crazy and I'm always late to work - I like my time with them in the morning and it's pretty organized.... At the end of the day, after work, I'm usually tired and over it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542043 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:58:30 +0000 winniebee 2542043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I've thought of this, but feel like it would be a lot to ask of her! She lives about 10 minutes from us and doesn't currently have another job. Maybe if it was for that brief time (6 weeks or so) that would be ok for her? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542033 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:51:03 +0000 Maysprout 2542033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The other reason for evenings for us is bc of DH. He usually gets home around 630, though some plenty later and likes to play with the kids. I was so tired during the first trimester he was taking on a lot more work than he usually does to get dinner and kids ready for bed. And the whole process just took longer. We're getting back on track but it definitely affected how tired he was and how much play time he got with the kids, which kinda stunk bc he works long hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542030 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:46:40 +0000 Silva 2542030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Afternoons. I'm so tired, she wants to play, I have to cook dinner, Ifeel overwhelmed coming home with a long list of stuff to do and put away......<br /> mornings can be crazy, but I feel way less.... Defeated. By the end of my work days I feel like I'm just going to have to start crawling on my hands and knees if one little thing goes wrong (dramatic much?). The days my husband makes it home a little early are so much easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542029 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:46:34 +0000 LBee 2542029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: This is brilliant and if she would do it, would be awesome. </p> <p>I would prefer someone in the evening. The morning rush is stressful, but I think another person would potentially slow me down. We've found a good groove for it. The evenings are what's tough for me - having someone even to stir dinner while I nursed would be amazing.</p> <p>I also think she could do more "life prep" in the evenings -- making dinner, preparing lunches for the next day, washing bottles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542024 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:44:34 +0000 chopsuey 2542024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>probably after school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542022 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:44:06 +0000 mediagirl 2542022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd much prefer help in the afternoons. I would have the nanny pick the kids up from daycare so I could get home sooner and get dinner on the table. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542021 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:42:47 +0000 MamaG 2542021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Evenings would be my preference as well. I find that we are all a little exhausted at the end of the day and generally more grumpy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-rather-have-help-getting-the-kids-off-to-school-or-after-school-at-dinner-time#post-2542017 Thu, 05 May 2016 10:40:55 +0000 gingerbebe 2542017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would she do split shifts? If she lived close enough would she be willing to do like 730-1030am, then 230-630pm? I feel like for the kids mornings are most important but you could have a witching hour situation with the NB and have it be really stressful in the evenings. </p>