Do you have a babysitter?
Am I completely behind the times for not having a regular babysitter yet?
My children are no longer babies and I still don’t have one. It’s not that I have not wanted a sitter, but I live far away from family and I just have not found the right person to watch my children on a regular basis. Fortunately, I have wonderful friends and every once and awhile we swamp evenings and my husband and I get an evening out. But most of the time, we are home on a Saturday time.
This will change.
By January, 2010, I am committed to finding a babysitter so my husband and I can go out at least once or twice a month without our adorable children.
I teamed up with Nannies4Hire, Care4Hire, and SitterCity but so far I have not found a sitter using these services. I interviewed many people from these services, but no one seemed to be the right fit.
I’m starting to wonder if I’m one of those moms who thinks no one is good enough for my boys (I wish my boys’ girlfriends lots of luck when my kids grow up).
The search continues…
Thankful Anyway Thursday
Today I’m attempting to write my first Thankful Anyway Thursday, where I will challenge myself to find thankfulness in the challenges of life. So, today I am thankful for all the challenges I have had during my babysitting search. It’s made me realize that I don’t want to settle for a “warm body” to watch my children. I want to meet the right person and invite that person into my family…and I’m willing to be patient until that person walks into our lives. I’m also thankful for the kind people behind Nannies4Hire, Care4Hire, and SitterCity who have helped me with my search.
Have you had luck finding a sitter for your children? What worked best for you?
No regular babysitter here either – and it’s starting to be so frustrating! I need to put more effort into looking so DH and I can enjoy more time alone occasionally. Plus DH works out of town and sometimes I need a couple hours in the evening off!
.-= Laurie´s last blog ..More Flu Fun =-.
Where are the other sitters failing you?
.-= Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..The Power of Negativity =-.
UGH! To find the perfect sitter would be wonderful! I use a few girls in the neighborhood to grab a quick bite to eat but otherwise we are in the same boat. Someone told me once to take your first impression and magnify it by 100 and that is what you will really have. I always try to follow my gut and the cues from the kids. We also pay more than most and that helps. I have had girls that I would never have back and then the ones I try to book weeks in advance. No one will ever be perfect, but fun and safe are often times good enough. Good luck in your search!
.-= Lisa Harper´s last blog ..Yes, It Is Me! =-.
Know what you are looking for when searching for a babysitter. When finding a babysitter, give yourself ample time to conduct your search. Settling for someone you’re not sure about can leave you uneasy about your child’s care in your absence.
1. Will you need a live-in or live-out. A live-in nanny is someone who lives inside your home. You will need to provide him/her with a private bedroom and either a shared or private bath. A live-in nanny does have their specified hours they work and will have down time. A live-out nanny is someone who comes to your home on the specified hours you have agreed upon; but does not live in the home.
2. What hours will you need someone? A babysitter can work full-time, part-time, temporary, summer, 24 hour duty, etc. A full-time nanny can work anywhere from 30+ hours per week. A part-time nanny can work anywhere from 5-30 hours per week. Some families who hire part-time nannies will need someone 2-3 full days per week; while the next family may need someone for before/after school care every day of the week. Summer nannies generally work 2-3 months during the summer and temporary nannies are hired for on-call situations from 1 day to a few weeks at a time. Many nannies will make a year commitment if that’s what the family wishes. Remember to specify the specific hours/days of the week you will need upfront.
Laurie – I here you. I’d also love a mother’s helpers for days when my husband works late. My husband has found us a baby sitter through his work – I’m starting to get excited and hope it all works out. I like the fact that my husband knows the sitter versus having to find a stranger. The sitter was supposed to come this weekend but my little got sick. Go figure.
Hayden – The women we interviewed just didn’t have the spark and the energy we were hoping for in a sitter.
Lisa – My husband found a high school student at his work – so hopefully my babysitting prayers have been answered! Perhaps the universe was reading this post.
Candi – Thanks for the tips.
We struggle with making the choice to use a babysitter. I think its a trust thing, but we just don’t feel right leaving the kids with someone we don’t know all that well. I hope we can get past that…we could use a night out!
.-= Jake | RYL´s last blog ..4 Healthy, Quick and Easy Breakfast Recipes =-.
Jake – I agree that it is about trust. Our kids are precious and I don’t want to leave them with just a “warm body”.
I am right along with you, only I am a single mother.
I have someone who looks after the kids before and after schoool the hours I work… but I still do not have anyone that I can call on to look after the kids in the evenings for a few hours if I need or want to go out. I have been given the advice of “ask at the high schools and see if they have lists of girls who are willing to babysit in evenings… I haven’t been sure about going this route because, well… I’m not sure about having a 16 or 17 year old girl in my home alone when I am not there, especially if I don’t KNOW them well before hand.
On top of that, because I only have my kids 50% of the time, there is a belief by some people that I already have enough time away from them (what with work and the fact that they live with their father 2 weeks out of every month)… and I see that too… but… I want to go out and expand MY horizons too sometimes, is that too selfish?
Most classes (dance, painting, cooking) and support groups (divorce, abuse issues, single parent issues) are held in the evenings on weekdays. If I can’t take my kids with me, I can’t attend things regularly. I can’t go out on dates if I have my kids, because I don’t have family or friends close by who are willing to stay with the kids a few hours.
.-= pam´s last blog ..Rising to Hope =-.
Finding the right babysitter is a difficult task. We want to have someone whom we can entrust our most loved children. However, we need to learn to let our guards down and trust someone. It is excellent if you can get a recommendation from a trusted friend or relatives. 🙂
I’m glad you know what you want and aren’t settling for anything less. I don’t blame you.
I’ve heard way too many horror stories, in real-life and on T.V. of baby-sitters gone bad.
Stick to your guns and trust your instincts.
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..Lessons Learned from Oprah Winfrey =-.
Pam – I have been trying to find someone to help me before and/or after school since August and I still can’t find anyone I like (*sigh*).
Walter – Great advice to get a recommendation from a friend or relative!
J.D. – No horror stories for me. I’d rather stay home every Saturday night.
Using help of professional baby sitter would be a problem for me. I am a father of two, and never used any help except friends and family. To go and use man or woman that is stranger to me I would have to change my whole attitude. I just can’t imagine someone who is alien with my children.
I am in exactly the same place as you… we are having a girl I have met and been recommended over on Sunday to meet the family. She seems really nice… fingers crossed!
.-= Nina´s last blog ..‘Doodle’ illustration exercise =-.
Mike – Your comment makes me want to rethink getting my friends together to create a schedule for us to all swap babysitter dates (to watch each others’ children)
Nina – I’m crossing my fingers for you. My husband recently found someone for us too (someone he knows from work) that may end up being a regular sitter for us.