Spend time with my daughter, help out with daily family life and explore Montreal, Canada

Details

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  Description

  ***Note: I am looking for someone for November 2024 - January 2025 ***
  
  Hi, I am a single mom (42 years old) and I live with my daughter who was born in 2020 (4 years old). I’m looking for a person (prefer a woman, no couples, no pets) who can help me with things like cooking dinner during weekdays, cleaning, daycare pickup, babysitting and minor house stuff.
  
  Some experience with childcare would be a plus, as well as first aid and child safety knowledge. I’m looking for someone who is also open to communicating needs and expectations and talking through any issues that might come up together.
  
  I’d prefer longer stays if possible (1 month+).
  
  I work as a researcher. I work 4 days a week usually at home in the living room and am usually busy in meetings and writing from 9-5 on those days. I have the option to go to an office Thursdays.
  
  I’m a pretty social person who likes to spend time with friends, do yoga, and watch artsy movies. I hang out a lot in the neighbourhood cafes, and in the warmer months, enjoy riding my bike and walking up the mountain.
  
  I think a lot about how to build community and am working on a co-housing initiative with some friends. I was formerly an anthropologist – I’ve lived and worked in India for several years and have also spent time in Namibia, Scotland, and Northern Quebec doing research.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Montreal is a French-speaking city (with many speakers of English and other languages as well) in Quebec, Canada – so if you want to be immersed in Quebecois culture while experiencing all winter has to offer in Canada, here is your chance. 
  
  I live in a lovely neighbourhood. There are many great restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, boutiques, zero waste/organic shops, galleries, a library that used to be a church, a YMCA across the street – everything you’d need in a 5 to 15-minute walk from home. The Mont Royal is a 15-minute walk, an urban mountain where many people go on nature walks or cross-country skiing.
  
  You’ll find no shortage of opportunities to take language, art, or yoga/fitness classes nearby. A bus can take you downtown in 10 minutes where you can explore the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene.
  
  My daughter and I speak French and English, and are happy to converse in either language. I am Indian-Italian and speak broken Hindi and Italian as well, but happy to practice! I like learning new things and am happy to share what I know or am learning about (global or local social/economic issues, drawing, painting, empathetic communication, co-housing models, parenting). I'm pretty decent at cooking both Indian and Italian food - happy to share recipes.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  I am separated so my child spends 3-4 days a week with her father.
  
  My days with her are Monday nights, Tuesdays, every other Wednesday, and Saturdays. I’d like someone who can help with daycare pickup / childcare, and cooking dinner on those weekdays in particular, as well as cooking ahead for Saturday. The other days could be minor things like cleaning or doing other tasks to help out, or dinner if we are both home. I am looking for someone who can help out 3-5 hours per day, with 2 days off (Saturdays and Sundays, but could also be Thursdays/Fridays).
  
  If we take a short weekend trip, you could come along and we could discuss expense sharing.
  
  Food would be included. if you could help with meal planning and keeping food costs low that would be a bonus. My daughter is a fairly picky eater so we’d need to discuss how to approach cooking in a way that works for everyone.
  
  My daughter is an early, early riser. Very rarely 4:30am, but usually 5:30-6:30am. She is not quiet in the mornings and our space is small. She sleeps at 8:30pm. I’d be looking for someone who is also an early riser, or who is ok wearing earplugs so she doesn’t wake you up.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  If you speak Kannada I would like my daughter to learn. Also happy to exchange in French/English. My daughter also speaks French/English.
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  Accommodation

  I live in a two-bedroom apartment that is about 785 sq ft with a private balcony.
  
  You would have your own room, with your own controlled heating. I’d need to access the closet occasionally, which has kid stuff in it. My daughter shares my room. There is one bathroom with a bathtub, shower, and washer/dryer. I have a microwave and an espresso maker, fridge, toaster, stove. The apartment is bright, quiet, and inviting, looking on to a quiet alley. The apartment is in a sought-after urban location with no shortage of things to do and places to see.
  
  My daughter wakes up very early and she can be loud when she wakes up (anywhere from 4:30am - 6:30am, but usually 5:30am). This has been my main hesitancy in inviting anyone to stay with me. It doesn’t look like she can change her internal clock, so you’d either need to be an early sleeper and riser, be comfortable wearing earplugs to bed, or just not someone who is easily woken up by others.

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  What else ...

  In winter I am pretty quiet and go to bed early. Since the space is small and there's a child here, I'd expect others who live here to prioritize the needs of the child for safety, rest, and a regular schedule.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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