The thing about having four small children is that it’s hard to find a capable, willing babysitter. We really don’t go out all that often, but when we do, we attempt to talk our parents into coming down and watching the children.
We had a good sitter for about 18 months, but then she had to become completely selfish and leave us in the dust while she went away to college. I tried convincing her that she was learning so much more while keeping our kids – stuff they can’t possibly teach you in college – but she wasn’t buying it. Occasionally she will still come to town and is eager to make some money, but it’s never when I NEED a sitter.
So, we started using a girl from the neighborhood. She seemed nice enough and I know her mother, so I was about as trusting as I get with a teenager I do not REALLY know. I’m that woman who would love to have nanny cams all around the house to see what’s going on when I’m not there…even if my husband is the one watching the kids. Hee hee.
The babysitter worked for us about 5 times and each time gave good reports, seemed to have all of her limbs when we returned home and didn’t complain too much about the general chaos. I called her a sixth time and she had plans. Seventh? Busy. On the eighth attempt, she gave me the name of a friend who babysits. Hmmm, something’s fishy here.
I do not know exactly why she has put us on her no call list, but of course I always think the worst. I suppose it’s possible that she has just grown tired of babysitting, or maybe gotten a different job, but I’m convinced that it’s us. I feel like that unpopular girl from junior high again. Shunned by a 16 year old. How did she get the upper hand?
Ugh. Now back to square one and no more date nights for a while.
4 Comments
January 31, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Oh no she didn’t! Doesn’t it make you feel like you’re back in the times when you would write, “Are you mad at me? Circle one: Yes No” on a note and pass it in class? I hate that.
I’m sure it’s not you, though… I mean, 4 kids, I’m sure, can be a handful, but she knew that going in! But more than likely, she probably just wants to keep her weekends free for high school stuff. That’s what it sounds like to me, at least!
February 1, 2007 at 9:00 am
Bakc before we got our favorite babysitter (who now has gone to college) we tried using a friends daughter. She was never available. It turned out that she and many of her friends were more interested in keeping their weekends free than in earning some $$. I came to the conclusion it was at least partly because we live in a relatively affluent area. These kids didn’t need to work for pocket money and were being encouraged to be in every afterschool activity known to man.
Now we have a new highschooler who is usually available.We actually hire her and a friend thinking that that many kids so young is more than we want to load on a 15 year old. So far so good – except I miss our old babysitter. These girls do a good job with the kids but they don’t seem to truly enjoy spending time with them the way that K did.
Good luck in finding someone new and maybe consider hiring 2. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t regularly get one teenage girl.
February 1, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Kat is probably right. The girl probably just does not need the extra $. I hope you’re able to find a new sitter soon though!
February 1, 2007 at 1:52 pm
There is such a small window of opportunity for finding the right babysitter. They must be old enough to be responsible (13ish) but young enough to not have a huge social life. Once they start to drive, it is nice because they can drive themselves over, but then they are always gone when you need them. Pre-16 is also good because they likely can’t get “real” jobs and can be motivated to be good sitters. I did a ton of babysitting when I was a teen, but then I always needed the money bcs it was my only source of spending money. Good luck, it’s hard getting dumped by a teen. sniff.