Positive Male Role Model - What do you think? Advice Please

steve

Hi All,

My name is Steve and I'm new to the forum.

I was hoping that you might be able to give me some advice.

I'm thinking about offering myself as a role model for children 5+. What do you think about this type of service?

My background is....

I am a 32 year old professional male.

Professionally trained and active in close protection (bodyguard). Licensed by the Government body - SIA (Security Industry Authority) Fully trained in first aid. Clean criminal background (Certificate available) . Martial arts instructor & fit and healthy. Extensively travelled with a full clean driving licence. I have owned businesses and I am currently working on bringing a new financial product to the market.

I see this service incorporating activities such as outings, homework, school runs, sports activities, after school clubs, holidays, meals etc

I am happy to help around the house as i think its important for children to see the household as an equal opportunity.

Ideally mum would also be included in some activities to enhance the experience for the child.

I do have experience in this field.

Don't have any children of my own but would like to in the future.

Well groomed, polite, well mannered, clearly spoken, good morals.

What do you think overall? Any input appreciated.

Thanks

Posted on: November 10, 2008 - 11:07am

Clarebear

Do you want to marry me? lol

All joking apart (kinda) can I ask why you want to offer this service? Would it be a paying service, as alot of single mums don't really have spare cash for a 'male role model' however attractive the package sounds. Also, offering to spend that much time with someones child is quite nerve wracking for a mother (or father) without knowing any background (apart from CV info).

Sounds wonderful in theory, just don't know how well it would work in practice.

Clare :P

Posted on: November 10, 2008 - 7:31pm

steve

Hi Clare,

Im flattered! :oops:

I thought about this kind of service as I think my skill set suits quite well. I have had to look after the safety of principals children in the past and also took on a 'role model' role once before.

It would be a paying service and I do understand about single mums having to find extra money, however I have a couple of ideas about offsetting costs for people with low incomes.

This isn't child care in the conventional sense of the word so my idea was to offer this for may be 1 or 2 days per week, minimum 3 hours, max 10 hours.

I'm always open to new ideas so feel free to pitch anything that might come to mind!

Steve

Posted on: November 11, 2008 - 11:21am

wiseowl

Hi there

I agree with Clare, she said everything i was going to say, many single parents don't have the money, if they did they would get a nanny/child minder/+ role model, holiday, car, new clothes, go to sainsburys rather then Lidl etc, etc, etc

The kind of thing you are talking about doing sounds like au pair work, but with more than one family?

You say that you are a martial arts instructor, that is a great way to involve kids and teach them self discipline and see positive male attributes from you. Hey, maybe you could make a video, doing martial arts, teaching positive attributes, talking about being a good role model for others?? :)

Posted on: November 11, 2008 - 11:39am

steve

Hi wiseowl,

Thanks for your input.

I think it would be hard work (not impossible but hard) trying to get kids to learn something serious from TV. The main reason being that TV is associated with entertainment and if its not interesting then attention levels start dropping very quickly.

I can see that there would be a very limited market of people who could afford a service like this.

What if I could help people out for a few hours at a time and it would only cost a tenner +-? This would be dependant on a few things my end but it was one of the things I was thinking about. I don't believe that just because people can't afford the service it means they should miss out.

Posted on: November 11, 2008 - 12:50pm

wiseowl

I agree with you one hundred per cent, people shouldn't miss out just because they don't have cash.

I wonder how you would go about it though? What would the mum tell the children about who you are? Why you are there, would you be "mums friend"? Which would be a bit strange, or would you be childminder or just a man that mummy thinks you could learn a few things from? Very complicated

Posted on: November 11, 2008 - 1:22pm

steve

I think you have to have a clear line when doing something like this so I would be the person that mum has to help her out with a few things. You don't want to over complicate things...i've seen kids switch off the minute the word 'learn' is mentioned.

Really its up to the child, thats how it worked out when I did this before. I would go round, talk to mum, talk to him, he would usually ask me loads of questions...usually about work stuff lol I really enjoyed it! Most of my CP work has involved celebs so kids sometime latch on to that.

Posted on: November 11, 2008 - 1:49pm

sparklinglime

Maybe you could become a volunteer for Gingerbread - it's a support group for lone parents. That way you would be involved with parents who are in need of help, and would know that you have been CRBd with a group they trust.

It is a good idea, but I certainly wouldn't be looking at employing someone to be a positive role model, I'm afraid.

There's always Scout groups who need adult volunteers too.

Best wishes with your venture.

Posted on: November 17, 2008 - 10:00pm

Clarebear

Have you ever thought of fostering? That would mean you would be an integral part in a childs upbringing, thus not only being a positive role model, but actually having a majority impact on his/her life.

Clare

Posted on: November 26, 2008 - 10:57pm

steve

Thanks for all the input.

I will have a look at established organisations and see if any would have use for someone like me.

As for fostering, thats something I haven't considered. I will take a look though as you never know....

Posted on: November 30, 2008 - 12:08am