Helping Hands

Let’s face it, family life can be frenzied when both parents work. When Mom is working from home, it can be even more so (read: conference calls with dogs barking and kids fighting in the background). It’s time you learned about Budding Children’s Garden & Daycare.

It’s a place where your three to five year-old can enjoy playing and learning (just like at preschool) but with a flexible schedule to suit your needs. That’s the ‘occasional care’ concept behind Budding Children’s Garden & Daycare.

Savvy owners Talia and Lawrence Erickson know first-hand the challenges of being self-employed with an active preschooler (two-and-a-half year-old Hunter is their inspiration), so they try to make it simple. You sign up for a block of between 20 to 40 hours a month, then book your time using their on-line calendar (even the day before is okay). We love the convenient location (on Broadway, between Oak and Cambie) and hours (10 am–7 pm).
Good to know:The centre isn’t open yet but you can submit an application form on-line and attend the Open House on September 21.

Your little one gets to play and explore in the 2000 square-foot facility where subdued natural colors, wooden play materials, water and sand tables, and even a tree fort help stimulate their love of nature. You can relax and get some work done, knowing they’re being cared for by qualified ECE teachers.

If ‘drop-off’ isn’t on your list of needs but you’re still having a tough time getting through your ‘to-do’ list, perhaps a domestic assistant (a.k.a. angel) from Modern Life Management can help.

Owner Ashley Dempsey helps busy families on the North Shore and in Vancouver with shopping, program registration, birthday parties and trip planning. You name it, after four years in business, she’s likely done it!

And while Ashley doesn’t formally cook, clean or nanny, she’s built up an impressive list of contacts that do. She can supervise them to ensure your satisfaction. Her goal is to free up your time so you can maximize quality time with your kids. She offers two pricing options: $40 an hour or $650 per month for 6 hours a week of her services.

We can’t guarantee domestic bliss but we do know a less harried mom equals a happy home. Tested by Carolyn W., Vancouver