our duties will involve:

1. Being in sole charge of the two children from 18h30 to 03h00 Tuesday to Saturday included

This will involve:

supervising the eating of the evening meal prepared by the mother/father

supervising the bedtime routine: ensuring that they are showered or bathed, have gone to the lavatory, brushed their teeth and are safely supervised throughout this process, and are settled in to bed with a story and a hug by 20h30 at the latest

taking our son (a heavy sleeper) to the lavatory twice during the night; usually at 10pm and again at midnight. Changing his bedding and pyjamas if an accident occurs and putting on a wash of the soiled items

keeping the children and yourself quiet so as not to disturb the gite guests (no shouting, banging, noisy toys, loud music or TV, no loud phonecalls or conversations)

washing up the dinner dishes and wiping down dinner table, a quick tidy-up of toys before bed (you can involve the children in this)

remaining in the house with the children for the entire time the mother is absent…except for an emergency such as a gas leak/fire when you will need to evacuate the house

once they are asleep in bed, you can read, use the internet, study French/English, watch a movie, write a novel, call home, go to bed… during this time. No receiving visitors. No smoking in the house. Check on the children often.

disciplining the children when necessary and in an appropriate fashion; 5 mins in the naughty corner, or sending to bed 10 mins early, or confiscating a favourite toy.

2. Other tasks
possibly some help with giving them breakfast in the mornings (my wife works nights)

ensuring that they are safe if playing outside in the garden when on duty

keeping them away from all the usual household hazards such as the stove, any pans cooking or boiling water, electrical sockets, the pool, climbing on furniture, and stopping any other dangerous behaviour, no access to the road….

generally helping look after the children on a daily basis and on shopping trips

encouraging them to read, create art or play board games or play active games instead of sitting in front of the telly!