A mother hired a friend's son to help with childcare During the pandemic

Cara Howlett hired her friend's 12-year-old son to entertain her children while she managed household chores in Canada.

Howlett faced a difficult period of solo parenting when her province closed schools in March 2020. Because her husband worked for a new business and the family could not afford a professional babysitter, Howlett sought a creative way to manage her 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. She reached out to a friend whose 12-year-old son had free time because he was homeschooled.

The arrangement allowed the boy to visit their home a few times a week to play with trains and read books to the younger children. While the boy provided entertainment, Howlett remained responsible for primary parenting tasks like feeding the children and managing tantrums. This setup gave Howlett the time to clean the house, perform administrative tasks, and rest. Howlett paid the boy approximately $15 per visit, which equated to about $5 per hour.

The arrangement lasted for about 10 months until life returned to normal. Howlett noted that the plan benefited everyone by giving the children a new friend, the boy extra money, and the mother a necessary reprieve from constant childcare.