Thursday Poll:

Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thursday Poll:
8
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 2:32pm

How often do you go out the week?

When you do go out, do you have a babysitter or do the kids stay at home alone?

If they stay at home alone, when do you make sure you are back from your date or going out with friends?

If you have older children: Do you allow the oldest to babysit the siblings?

Have you ever rented a babysitter for the night, so you can have some "alone" time(Family doesn't count)?

Avatar for mom2maggie
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 3:38pm

I go out once or twice a week.

I only go out when my kiddos are with their dad.

My oldest is nine and she is not ready to babysit her younger brother who is 3.

I have enough opportunities for alone time when my kids are with their dad. If I want alone time then I just let my SO know that I need a night by myself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 3:49pm

I go out whenever my children are with their father. That is normally two times each week, sometimes only one.

Whenever I have had a babysitter, I try to be home by 1AM or 1:30 AM at the latest. My girls are 5 and 3 so it will be a while yet before I can leave them on their own.

I haven't had a babysitter just so that I can go out and have some "me". I just feel too guilty but I know that day will come in the near future....

Rose

Rosecolouredspecs
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 4:04pm

How often do you go out the week? I go out maybe 2-3 times every other week with E.

When you do go out, do you have a babysitter or do the kids stay at home alone? I go out when my kiddo is with his dad.

If you have older children: Do you allow the oldest to babysit the siblings? I only have my son.

Have you ever rented a babysitter for the night, so you can have some "alone" time(Family doesn't count)? I normally have alone time when my son is with his dad.

Jennifer

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2002
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 4:08pm

How often do you go out the week?
depends on how much babysitting i can afford... it ranges between 2x a week to once every 2 weeks.

When you do go out, do you have a babysitter or do the kids stay at home alone?
my children are too young so I always get a sitter.

If they stay at home alone, when do you make sure you are back from your date or going out with friends?
n/a

If you have older children: Do you allow the oldest to babysit the siblings? not for long periods... like i've gone to the store to pick up a forgotten ingredient...but nothing that would take longer than 20 minutes.

Have you ever rented a babysitter for the night, so you can have some "alone" time(Family doesn't count)? since i hire a babysitter for three children, it gets very expensive, so i use my time wisely. Too bad family doesn't count because sometimes I feel like I need a sitter just to use the phone.... or even to sleep....lol

Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 4:13pm

I have two dd's. Ages 13 going on 14 in a month and a 6 year old going on 7 in six weeks.
My oldest babysits the youngest. I go to school one day a week, so that is school night and then maybe once on a Friday or Saturday night, but not every weekend. I too feel guilty if I don't have enough time with them on the weekend. They love being with mom, so I want my oldest to still love just being with me; It'll be over soon and it's already very hard for me to accept.

I have both my DD's fulltime 24/7 from mid*August - mid*June, then I have summer vacation and don't have to worry about it.

I have had a long term boyfriend stay with me, once in a blue moon, in the last 7 years. But only if it was long distance OR if we had something planned early the next day together. However, they never knew I was with them. The kids would be asleep if I snuck into my room, but I would set my clock; so by the time they got up, I was on the couch in the living room. To them it was just mommy's friend visiting, but never anything else. But I really try to refrain from that. When Alex was little, she once saw me sleeping with my X Fiance and that just tripped her out. She wasn't used to seeing me with anyone else other then her step Dad. So I have had people over, but I just feel so yuk afterwards. Like I shouldn't, but reality is, I would NEVER be able to leave them all night either. So I have to have a fine line.

Anyway that would be the closest to having a chance to ever have a spend the night.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 6:13pm

I haven't gone out without my children in.... a couple of weeks, at least. It's typically several weeks between each "date night", and I absolutely do NOT feel guilty in the slightest.

I have my daughter 24/7 and my son goes to his father's every other weekend, so I try to schedule a sitter for those weekends if I'm going to. Really, I just don't like bars much anymore- one or two drinks and I'm ready to bail lately.

This weekend I have a wedding, as well as next weekend, so I'll be getting a sitter for those days. Typically I have three or four teens that I know are reliable and the kids love them. When I get a sitter, it's known that they come over at about bedtime and I'll be home in the wee hours of the morning.

I haven't ever gotten a sitter to do nothing, although I would love to sometimes. I think I'd feel too guilty since I work so much and I don't really do anything that my kids can't tag along for- in fact most of the things I do are kid oriented.

Moody, thinking she ought to get a life!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Thu, 08-02-2007 - 9:16pm

Right now with my training schedule I am not going out. Just too tired. I do see my lifeguard on the nights DS goes to his dad's house. His schedule is flexible and he has been very accommodating.

I have a few babysitters I can use if there is a need. And yes I have had them spend the night - but usually this was because I had a race very early the next day. And sometimes DS has gone to family - but again that is usually when I am away at a race. I am not a big "bar" type of person - although I have enjoyed girls nights out on occasion.

It is just a big mix of what to do. He is old enough to stay at home during the day while I train - and that is because I have good neighbors who are home and able to help him if he needs it. I don't leave him alone at night right now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Fri, 08-03-2007 - 8:53am

I don't really often go out during the week at all. All my out time is when the kids are with their dad (every other weekend), for the most part. Although now that I have a little more spending money, I may get a sitter now and again. Dates are rare so most of my out time is with girlfriends. Gosh, come to think of it, I haven't had a date in over 4 months. I haven't really been looking for one either so that may be why.

My kids are way too young to be home alone (oldest is 7). I guess once they hit about 12ish I may feel comfortable going to dinner or something but not out late. I will have to see when the time comes. Right now I would think they might kill each other but they are getting better as they get older.

I have never had a sitter over night. No need for that that I can think of. Can't imagine how much that would cost.

Priscilla




Edited 8/3/2007 9:02 am ET by gal_startingover