Childcare
Anonymous User
Coordinating childcare with partner using Google Calendar
Looking for any and all ideas! Is anyone aware of a good way in Google Calendar for my partner and I to indicate to each other that one of us is busy and that the other person needs to care for our child during that time (e.g., during our doctor appointments)?
We're hoping for some solution that doesn't involve "inviting" the other person to the calendar invite every time, because doing so makes it unclear whether the other person is invited to the event or if they need to be available for child care during that time.
Thank you!
Anonymous
•
This is less of a technology solution, but I think the biggest thing is developing a division of labor where every hour of care doesn’t need to be negotiated or communicated. For example, I’m responsible for our toddler at 6 pm every day when the nanny goes home. That’s just something that we agreed to and it doesn’t need to be put on a calendar. What does need to be put on the calendar is if there is an exception, like I have a work dinner or something. When you start creating blocks of time when one person is responsible it makes the day-to-day negotiation and communication less of a thing. But it also means that you need to respect the commitment and not constantly change plans when something comes up because that defeats the purpose. The result is that you end up saying no to lots of things you’d like do do but the upside is that you have a better relationship with your partner and get dedicated time with the child.
Anonymous
•
We use a shared calendar and just put events on there like “Randy doc appointment,” then I know he’s not around at that time. So there’s no inviting — we just add it to that specific calendar.
Anonymous
•
We have a shared calendar but since it certainly isn’t fool proof I find myself texting my husband to confirm his availability when I definitely can’t be available. Like “hey, I’m still in my meeting. Are you able to pick up the kids from school today?”