I survived Halloween and fall festivals at our son’s school. I’m also getting ready to hit the road to see our family for Christmas Day. Then I had an epiphany – I need a holiday helper. Really, she’s my go-to babysitter. But I have a few tasks in mind for her to do while she’s watching A.J. Having her here also “frees” me up while I’m attending holiday events, completing my Holiday Gift Guide and handling tasks for my social media clients. Keep reading and you’ll see why this is the perfect time to hire holiday helper to relieve your stress. Use the social sharing tools to Pin, Tweet and Facebook share this with your friends!
Where to find a holiday helper
A holiday helper can be a babysitter, family friend or neighbor you compensate to either watch your children or do some of the holiday tasks I’ll list below. I found my sitter online using a site where she’d completed a background check.
Find a sitter on Sittercity.com or use Atlanta-based SitterTree.com. Ask for recommendations from your neighbors or classmates. Teenagers, your child’s teacher or older siblings are also great options for a holiday helper gig.
GIFTS
Gift-wrapping
Gift shopping (online or in-store)
Design, address & label holiday cards
TRAVEL
Pack or unpack your family’s clothes.
Meal preparation.
Transporting children to/from school and activities.
Pet-sitting or elder care.
HOLIDAY PARTIES
Shopping
Meal preparation
Menu planning
Design, address & label invitations
How much to pay a holiday helper
You can pay your holiday helper an hourly fee or a per-project fee. It may be more feasible for you to pay them to do all of your holiday cards for a flat fee vs. hourly so your holiday help has the option to work remotely vs. at your home. The holidays may also be a great time to give your babysitter a raise or a holiday gift.
Safety & Security
A.J. has extensive food allergies that we have to let everyone know who watches him while we’re away including babysitters and parents on playdates. Mabel’s Labels Allergy Alerts offer a clear, effective way to label all of his containers and water bottles.
I recommend that you complete a criminal background check on anyone who works in your home and around your child. Ask for references and check them. Depending on how well you know the holiday helper, you may feel comfortable giving them a key to your home or security access code so they can come and go as needed.
Comment below: Does your babysitter have keys to your home? What’s another safe way to allow them to get inside?
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Yes! I am a proponent of delegating to help your balance and self care. And these are great tips in which to help someone find one. I’m in the midst of writing out my holiday to-do’s, which will be delegated where needed.
Great post! Some of these tasks could definitely be done by someone remote and I think that aspect is very appealing to most.
Very interesting, never thought about a holiday helper but I am such a control freak that I don’t know if I could let go of some tasks ha ha
What an excellent idea! I didn’t think people still did this. Thank you for sharing 🙂
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Even Santa has elves.
I’m so happy I don’t have to worry about this. Christmas seems like such a stressful holiday.
A holiday helper what a brilliant idea! Thanks for the tips!
A holiday helper is exactly what I need! I wish I could afford one.
Very interesting post. I had never thought about getting a holiday helper and I think it would be perfect for me this year.
Every party can use a holiday helper. I’m hosting the annual family holiday Thanksgiving dinner at my house for the 1st time this year and a helper besides my husband and son is a fab idea!!
A holiday helper would have been perfect for me when my kids were little. They are grown now, and I enjoy all of the holiday bustle.
this is a great idea. im always more stressed around the holidays.
Great advice, as usual, my dear! Anything designed to decrease stress is something I advocate. The holidays are supposed to be festive, right?!