Currently I have an assistant that can stay here with the kids by herself as a back up if I need a couple of hours for doctor's appointments, etc. Before that I had a on call back up and only paid her for the hours she stayed with the kids when I could not be here (I had to adjust my appointments a bit to her schedule, of course and tell her well in advance). She was out of the workforce for 8 years. Before that she worked for 10 years at a daycare center and as a nanny on and off. She also worked with me a few weeks (when I had multiple transitions at a time). I would do something like that for when my son goes to school, either permanent assistant or on call back up.