Location: Somerville 02143 — near Lincoln Park | Argenziano School (4th & 7th grade)

I’m a solo dad (50% custody) looking for a reliable on-call helper for two girls (9 & 12).  My kids love dance (ballet and hip-hop), musical theater, cheerleading, graphic novels, making zines, and creating art. My oldest wants to be an architect when she grows up, and my youngest wants to be a ballet dancer and teacher. It’s tricky with only one parent in the house, especially when things happen like one kid gets sick, I need to travel for work, or both kids need to get to two different places at the same time. I am willing to pay a premium for a family assistant to help out when necessary, but only during the following times:

On-call availability windows (what you’re paid a monthly retainer to hold)

• Every Monday from 2:35pm (school dismissal) through every Wednesday at 2:35pm (school dismissal)
• Every other weekend block: every other Friday at 2:35 pm through the following Wednesday at 2:35 pm 

What “on-call” means here

• You add these windows to your calendar and can confirm within a couple hours when I reach out
• These are availability windows, not guaranteed shifts. Depending on our needs, I may call you once or several times a month
• The retainer (paid at the end of each month) compensates you for being reliably reachable and ready to step in during these windows

Responsibilities:

• Backup sick days when the kids need to stay home from school, as well as Monday school holidays and school vacation weeks
• Occasional overnights (1–2 nights/month max) when I am away on business trips
• Occasional grocery shopping or running errands
  

Pay & Retainer:

• $150 monthly retainer: paid at the end of each month regardless of hours worked, in exchange for guaranteed availability on our schedule
• $30–$35/hr for active hours (in addition to monthly retainer)
• $150/night for overnights (+ hourly for evening time)

Ideal Candidate:

• Nearby grad student, retiree, creative, or professional with a super flexible schedule that aligns with ours
• Reliable, warm, and able to step in on short notice
• Likes cooking and baking with kids (especially brownies!)
• Interested and capable in engaging in creative art-making with children (think improv theater, 3D printing of their creations, helping with dance choreography, costume creation, and more!)

Bonus if you speak Spanish or French and want to practice with us!

If interested, contact David at david.r.scherer@gmail.com