? for 24/7 parents

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2007
? for 24/7 parents
11
Thu, 10-11-2007 - 2:36pm

I have not been dating for about 4 months now and I am once again feeling that urge to get out and meet some people.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 10-11-2007 - 2:56pm

I have children 24/7 except for Saturday afternoons for five hours, lol.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2002
Thu, 10-11-2007 - 7:32pm

I used to have my children 24/7 too... their dad does not take them overnight EVER.. but now that family has moved into the area, i have more flexible babysitters..

When they weren't in the area... i found MANY babysitters... so that if one couldn't, another could... I have this really great babysitter that babysits til 2 am for my late nights, even if i call her last minute.. My daytime sitter will do an evening every now and then... From church i got some numbers and found a weekend day sitter for my softball games... If you find one babysitter you like, ask her for other names. Babysitters usually know many other babysitters like themselves.

The one thing is it got expensive.. But i know the importance of getting out so i've put babysitting-for-going-out in my budget...

I personally don't like taking turns with other parents... because i like going out every weekend... but it's a good idea if you want to save money.. there must be other single moms who need a night out in your area... Or if that's your thing, start your own Babysitting Network... i met a woman who ran one in my area, where you earned point when you watched other's children and then used those points when they watched yours... And you don't have to limit yourself to single moms... Married couples need a night out, too.

good luck. Welcome to the board.

Loonybunny

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Thu, 10-11-2007 - 10:20pm

I have always been lucky.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Fri, 10-12-2007 - 11:37am

Depending on the age of your kids (you didn't say) your options may be different. Some places to check for sitters: neighborhood kids (teens), call the Red Cross and ask for a list of kids having completed the babysitter training, your church youth pastor should have a list of teens to sit, you can advertise in the local college newspaper for college students, call the local Y and they usually have programs for children and some offer parent's night out for nominal fees (you would have to join but the Y isn't expensive), once you are comfortable you might ask people that work as sitters at the Y if they might want to work for you on the side. I have lots of other ideas but those are great places to start.

Good luck
Priscilla

Avatar for silverflower2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 10-17-2007 - 6:57pm

Hey, this post was linked from the Nov Expecting Club.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Wed, 10-17-2007 - 7:13pm
Welcome and congrats on your remarriage and pregnancy - how fun that you are having another - do you know if it is a boy or girl? You will have to keep us posted!! Is your husband the one who created such fun home dates?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2004
Thu, 10-18-2007 - 7:16pm
I'm a single mother I actually wasn't even sure how to go about going out again because my daughter is so young she will be 3 next week but at the time she was just barely 2 and I wasn't sure. I started by chatting with people and met some people when I got a chance to go out after work... I would call her father and tell him I was going to be late picking her up or I would ask her grandmother to watch her while I worked and would stay out a little later, which I worked 14 hour days at the time so finding the time was really hard, but if you want to get out there your going to wind up having to sacrifice time from different things to do it. I wound up sacrificing my first actual weekend off in a long time, but I can't even call it a sacrifice. I missed more time with my precious little girl but I met someone who is a very wonderful and giving person who cares deeply for me and my daughter, granted he still has a lot to learn seeing as he's 20 and I'm 25. I wound up packing up shortly after I met him and moved away to another state with my daughter, I now have no babysitter and not much time to go out either but I was able to meet someone. It just takes juggling of some time, find good friends or even peers you work with see if they can watch your kids if they are young or even ask the babysitter if she/he would mind watching the kids for a few extra hours while you go out after work... you may come home and your angels are asleep but at the same time its a great time for you to get out and try to meet someone else that can possibly enrich your lives for the rest of your time here.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Fri, 10-19-2007 - 12:58am


I was a solo mum from day one. And although it was hard in the early days, I really tried hard to find some time to myself. Mum and Dad helped out (as long as I still studied for my Master's) so I had one night a week to attend uni and whatever I did after that was up to me. Of course, I was way too tired to do anything!

Eventually I relaxed and got into the at-home dates. Madeleine would be asleep before my date arrived and we would have dinner, watch movies, all sorts of things you can do, and intimacy doesn't have to factor into that!

I am not seeing a great guy who has two little girls and we alternate between houses - my parents have decided that they want my little one to stay with them one night a week - so we will see what happens now.

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Fri, 10-19-2007 - 8:41am

Sometimes it isnt easy to find sitter - but how about contacting local colleges? I had an INCREDIBLE response when i did that. Also, i have found GREAT sitters on Craigs List as well. Just like any sitter, screen WELL ...


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2005
Tue, 10-23-2007 - 1:11pm
My daughter's dad never takes her at all.

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