Babysitters

Avatar for comountainsprite
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Babysitters
6
Thu, 07-15-2004 - 12:42pm
I know I've asked in the past but we may have some newbies here with some good suggestions. Where do you go to find a new babysitter? I don't attend a church regularly and just don't have friends who a. have children babysitting age or b. hire sitters themselves because all the people I know with children either have family in town or share a 50/50 custody split with an ex so can plan activities around when their children are with the other parent. My ex is unreliable at best and can't really count on him to be in the picture--right now he's stable but . . . that's always been in short increments with him before he goes off and starts using again or gets evicted or whatever. Next problem is that I need a little bit older babysitter because I need a reliable sitter that will allow me to go when MG has gigs and that means very late nights. It seems silly or at very least low priority as worries go but right now it's creating some definite problems as MG is almost ready to get back into a new band but I don't want to be left at home to watch dd every time he has a gig while he gets to go out and play and although, yes, it is work he's still out there having fun while I'm stuck at home not having fun and lonely. (And BTW, we don't believe in going out without the other person so it wouldn't be a good solution to suggest that I go out and have fun and have him watch dd on a night he isn't playing.) So we have a quandry and need to fix it. When we had a reliable sitter the music wasn't a problem because I went out one night of every gig so it was "our" thing, not just "his" thing. And now he's saying that he's gonna call the guys that really want him and let them know that he won't be joining the band until we work this out because he doesn't want to have a situation where I feel lonely and abandoned (his phrasing). I don't want that either of course but also don't want him to resent me because of not playing. I mean he doesn't want to go off and be a rock star, he's way past that stage of his life, but he would like to go back to playing once a month or so in local bars. And it's nice side income too. I'm ready to place an ad and interview people except of course that I don't even know where to advertise which is kind of ridiculous in itself since I just got promoted to Marketing and Advertising Associate in my work. Kind of ironic huh. Anyway, long story but if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them. It's not that I don't love dd and don't want to take care of her, just want to balance everything.
Avatar for cl_tcranky1
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 07-16-2004 - 4:20pm

Bump!

Avatar for cl_beckty
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 07-16-2004 - 4:50pm

Andrea. I am sorry. I read this too. And the ONLY thing I could have posted to your thread was "ME TOO, Me TOO!!! Can ANYONE help us???"


I am right there with you.


The problem is, these days, kids old enough to bsit (like 16 or so) are "above babysitting" and are now working real jobs. I babysat at that age, as did most of my girlfriends. It's SO hard now to find a kid over 13 who's not too busy!!!

Becky

Becky

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2002
Fri, 07-16-2004 - 4:53pm

My advice - try one of the ivillage parenting boards thats for your state/area- see if there are other moms near you.


For me- I go to a particular coffee shop EVERY morning - and I was able to get a few referenences there- I have a 16 year old who is able to do late nights if I need her.


local paper is another option


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Fri, 07-16-2004 - 5:34pm
You can try your local YMCA branch. The local YMCA here teaches courses on babysitting to kids age 13 and up, they get trained in CPR and safety, and just the fact that they’ve taken the course speaks to their ambition and accountability. My nephew did it…and he is excellent, too bad I can’t send him your way…

Also your neighborhood high school is a good source. They should have offices open in the summer that support students who are either in internship programs or summer school. Check to see if there is a career counselor type who can offer you some leads. You can even get references from their teachers.

Also, local college campuses always have a job board where you can post a job for free. A college freshman may be looking for this type of work to pad their wallets and still be able to get some studying done.

Hope this helps! If you are going to advertise to the younger crowd, it helps to say you will include pizza with their pay. :)

Avatar for comountainsprite
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-16-2004 - 5:43pm
At least I'm not alone. I feel like a complete mom moron that I can't find someone right off hand. MG and I were talking about it and he of course doesn't have any suggestions at all since he doesn't know anyone with kids that I don't and have already asked for input. But, geez, I know other people that have kids go out sometimes at least so there must be sitters out there somewhere. It seems so petty but it's a real stressor if you feel like you can't ever go out as adults. We've had some chances when dd is with her dad but we certainly can't count on him as history has shown.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 07-16-2004 - 6:02pm
So frustrating for you.

I count my lucky stars everyday that not only do we have my parents, we have Jojo's dad who will watch them both whenever he is able (which is quite often), we kid swap with our best friends (their kids spend the night with us one Saturday, our boys spend the night with them the next) and I have three single girlfriends that are ALWAYS offering to babysit who we rarely need to use!

Honestly - if I didn't have a sitter - I would contact the child development/home ec. teacher at the high school closest to me and let him/her know I was looking for a sitter. I got a great babysitting job for a couple like that when I was in high school.

HUGS! I hope you figure something out so MG can go play and you can go watch him!