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I paid my friend's 12-year-old to play with my little ones while I did housework. For months, it was a lifeline.

Paying my friend's tween son to play with my little kids for a few hours was cheaper than a babysitter, and the arrangement was a win-win for us all.

  • Author hired a 12-year-old friend's son to play with her children weekly.
  • The 12-year-old received $15 per week for the childcare arrangement.
  • The arrangement lasted about ten months, providing a lifeline for solo parenting.

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