UGH! Babysitting frustrations

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
UGH! Babysitting frustrations
11
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 2:51pm

This is just so frustrating.

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Avatar for mhash
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 4:44pm

Have you asked Mr. Coffee for sitter recommendations?

Mark

Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 5:15pm
my suggestion would be to skip the movie and have a coffee or an appetizer with mr. coffee. That way, you see him, it doesn't get to late and DD doesn't have to spend the night. If you haven't met him in person yet, it just seems logical that you might want to have conversations verses a movie on the first date. If it goes well, then a movie can be done another time when you have all your babysitters in a basket.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 6:47pm
Thanks Mark, that would be a good idea, but he doesn't live in my town, he's probably about 20 minutes away at least.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 6:59pm
Thanks Cat, that's probably a good idea.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Fri, 07-13-2007 - 8:42pm

All I can offer is validation and sympathy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2007
Sun, 07-15-2007 - 8:02pm

I completely empathize with you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Mon, 07-16-2007 - 11:07am

I know exactly how you feel!!! I have always had great luck with people I met through church or neighbors. Neighbors who live close by and are trustworthy are great! I once had a teenager who was so grateful to be able to work after school and she and her mom were the best with my son.

I was wondering if you could get a little creative and maybe sit on the patio and talk to him when your DD goes to bed? Where there is a will, there is a way, right?

But this was all probably this past weekend - so hope you got to see him or talk to him?

For what it is worth, I was in this boat with the lifeguard for our second or third date - we had to wait more than a week because DS's dad was out of town. And we talked and text messaged each other every day and counted down the days so it made it much more suspenseful and fun. I could have gotten a babysitter but he had his son and he wanted it to be easy for me.

Let us know how you made out? Okay?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 9:00am

Besides church and neighbors a good suggestion would be calling the Red Cross. They have a babysitting course for young teens to take. That would be a great place to start looking. It is hard to find a good sitter. Another thing to keep in mind is the age of your child. I don't know how old he/she is but the older he is the easier it is to get a sitter and feel less worried. A 6 year old is going to tell you if they did anything they shouldn't, a two year old may not know.

I have three, so finding a good, inexpensive teenager is difficult. I have only hired adults up to now and that is rather expensive but I'm not sure if a teen could handle it.

HTH
Priscilla

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 9:16am
Also, if your daughter is a bit older and can be supervised by a teen, I'd call the local high school. Ours offers an elective in childcare, and they keep a list of the kids who have passed it. Yours may have a similar list of kids who are looking for summer work babysitting. Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006
Tue, 07-17-2007 - 1:45pm

Liz - I poach many of my babysitters from the daycare that my girls go to. They are ECE and CPR trained. They don't get paid very much money at their day jobs so they are usually quite hungry to make some more on the side. Plus my girls are already familiar and comfortable with them so the transition is a lot easier.
Just about all of the daycare workers at my daycare do babysitting on the side. I think you mentioned that your daughter goes to the Y - ask one of her favourite teachers.

Good luck!!!!

Rose

Rosecolouredspecs

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