6 years of parenting and I have never left my kids with a sitter who was not either family or practically family.
This is mind blowing to many Moms I know– especially my work-at-home Mom-friends. And understandably so.
I don’t know how I’ve done it this long. It’s a tough spot to be in when you are running a business and occasionally need to take meetings outside the home. Sometimes family is just not available. They have jobs, commitments of their own. So whenever I have to go somewhere it is stressful– not to mention frustrating because my husband never has to worry about this when he has to do something for business. As a work-at-home Mother, getting coverage during the week or hiring help is primarily on my plate.
But it’s not just business. It’s date nights too! Sometimes we’d love to just go out for dinner and a movie– or just dinner! And while we have family we can easily ask on the weekends, we end up playing the “When was the last time we asked them to sit?” game because we don’t want to become “those” parents who are constantly asking grandparents and family members to babysit.
“I forgot I just started personal training at the Gym (yes, another job) on Wednesdays 11-1”
*le sigh*
Where is the Babysitters club when you need them?
Those kids picked the children up from school, fed them, played with them EVERYTHING. They were the epitomy of an ideal babysitter- and there was a whole club of them! Yes, yes, ” It was just a book series, Corine” I get that. But in reality- it was so much more because tweens reading the series were inspired and creating their own clubs in their neighborhood.
Sadly, it seems the entrepreneurial spirit of tweens these days are just not being inspired through the book series anymore. It’s a shame.
So, my husband and I started talking about possibly interviewing to finally find a great local sitter. We even found a few prospects on www.sittercity.com– but very honestly the whole thought frightens me. Especially when I read stories like this one. Maybe its me. Maybe I watch too much Dateline. I know people interview and hire sitters all time!
Do you have any experience with hiring a non-family/friend babysitter? How did it go?
We are discussing in the Launching Mom Forum today. Would love for you to chime in!
