Ciska: Mom on the move

[Ciska]

Hi

I've been visiting the site for the last couple of weeks and WOW it has just been good advice from beginning to end.

I'm a 35 year old mom of two daughters age 11 and 8 hoping to start our new lives in Sydney. I'm really scared and can hardly sleep but if the time is right why not.

I'm almost trough the process of securing a position in Sydney. This all happened so fast I was not prepared at all. I will be going on a 457 visa and are really nervous the process will take too long as the company would like me to start within 6 weeks!

I would really like to chat so some single mom’s as I cannot find any support structure in Australia other that a nanny to look after the kids after school and during holiday’s. How do both working parents coupe with this?

Regards

Ciska

[kellyporsha]

Hi ciska,

will keep the fingers crossed for you that the application comes trough soon. Sydney is a great choice. I' m a single mom too and will arrive in Syd in Nov. this year. In which place will you settle in? My daughter is 18 y. and always looked after my bosses child when they went out. I guess there are a lot of reliable students who would love to "babysit" , like my daughter used to do.

Good luck!

[Ebreyten]

Hi Ciska,

I'm not a single mom or anything but we are living in Rhodes which is 35 minutes out of the CBD and there is a type of child day care service on your way to the train station. I'm not 100% sure what the name of the place is but I will have a look when I pass it again.

Hope this will help. Like I said will pass later today and let you know what the name of the place is.

[sa2auz]

Hi there

Good Luck with the move its all really exciting and Sydney is a great place for kids and there is tons to do. Firstly I would look at independant schools as you would then not have to pay the $4500 per child for a public school. Also schools usually have a kids club. Our school has a kids club (before and after school care). You could also arrange something with a student to say help out with early mornings or late afternoons and alot of jobs are flexible you should speak to your employer. If you got someone to help with the kids in the morning and you started early then perhaps you could work from say 3 - 5 at home? You will find that is also tons of stuff for the holidays and the ymca and local council have holiday care as well as tennis clubs, netball, craft etc. The holidays are usually 2 weeks and a tennis camp is about $150 for the week which is cheaper than a babysitter. Also working moms rely on each other alot so I have my friends kids when they work in the hols and they often invite my boys on weekend or at other times for a play.

Good Luck, things will work out.

S

[AllisonW]

Good luck with the move. We are leaving in 2010 and have two small boys under 5. Even though we dont really have family support here i know that it will be tough! But moms are so tough and we always make a plan - baby sitters, au pairs, friends, fellow forumites!

Good luck

Al

[Ciska]

Hi ciska,

will keep the fingers crossed for you that the application comes trough soon. Sydney is a great choice. I' m a single mom too and will arrive in Syd in Nov. this year. In which place will you settle in? My daughter is 18 y. and always looked after my bosses child when they went out. I guess there are a lot of reliable students who would love to "babysit" , like my daughter used to do.

Good luck!

I'm still not sure where we would be settleing in Sydney.

The company is willing to sponsor me for 4 weeks acom in a hotel near Pagewood ( close to office) .

I've tried to find a map of Sydney with this location but no luck.

I've never used a babysitter before , first time for everything !!!