Like most teenagers, how I spent my evening hours depended upon the mood of my parents.
"Is your room clean?"
"Have you practiced the piano?"
"Yes, you may go."
As a parent, how I spend my evening hours now depends on the mood of teenagers.
"Can you babysit?" No, I've got to work.
"Can you babysit?" No, I've got a birthday party.
"Can you babysit?" No, there's a dance.
Another girl won't return my call.
Does anyone else feel they are at the mercy of 12-16 year old girls? I hate finding babysitters.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Who's In Charge? Not Me.
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28 comments:
That's rough. It is reasons like this that make living by family that much more appealing- but oh how I yearn to move away!
It sounds like she isn't hard up for cash like I was when I was a teen. I hated to babysit but didn't have many options in the funds department. Good luck catching her or finding a new one!
I think a lot of the problem is that kids don't need the money... they get it handed to them (in most cases). I babysat because it was my livelihood.
Good luck to you. We don't use babysitters (at all) so I don't share in this pain.
We have used the same sitter for 4 years, she is now getting too busy for us, so I feel your pain.
Andrew thinks he is too old for a sitter, but he doesn't like being home alone at night, Rick and I can't go on dates at noon!
Our babysitter went to college and is married now. We used her all the time when she was in school (she appreciated the $) and were so sad to see her grow up. The kids loved her and we never had to worry or go over the routine (the best part). She just knew it. We miss her every single time I go on the hunt for a new one. Our dating life has been drastically reduced. We need a new Carolyn.
Good luck.
I prefer a mature 11-year old, because they are excited to start babysitting, and practically beg to watch my kids. I love it. And another bonus, is they actually play with my kids not just watch Hannah Montana (I have had issues with this in the past)
Oh, I'm so sorry. As the mother of 3 12-16 year old daughters, here is the other point of view. Kids are busier these days! I can barely get my girls to do their own jobs in the house because they are hardly ever here. It's an unfortunate fact of life. Two of the daughters are in dance, a year round activity. The other swims year round, in order to be "swim ready" the term they use when the swimmer is in condition for the swim season. Ugh. I hate it as much as you do. And you would think that I would be able to up and leave anytime with three olders to babysit the younger, but often I'm sitting at home too! Condolences!
It is difficult to find a sitter! I try to plan my dates 3-4 weeks in advance. No impromptu outings for us! Only a few more years until you can pay your own kid to babysit, right?
Carrie, I like eleven year olds too. I just don't know any here. They usually do a better job.
If I were a planner, I would get a sitter that much in advance. Sadly, even when I know I'm going out, I put it off because I take babysitter rejection so personally. Like they say no because they don't like my kids. I feel like I'm putting myself out there! It's so ridiculously irrational. So, all the "no"s really bring me down. What's wrong with my kids? I know...nothing. These kids are just busy and you're right...they don't need the money.
But I still need a night out! Thankfully, Jay's brother came to the rescue. I hate using family for "dates". I would so much rather just pay someone to watch my kids than feeling in service debt. It's an uncomfortable place to be in.
AMEN! I experienced this last night! We ended up putting the kids in the gym day care, working out, then getting some Cafe Rio to go! Better than nothing, I guess!
I'm glad those days are behind me! Plus if by some freak of circumstances my older two kids aren't available to watch my younger two kids, I'm YW president. I have connections.
We have so much family around that I haven't had to deal too much with the whole babysitting world. But I definitely know the pain of thwartation...why can't the world just know my plans and fall in line when & where I need it??!
Feeling your pain but you always manage to be way more witty when expressing it!
How is this: Could have had tickets to the Michael Buble concert in April, in the luxury suite no less, but our sitter has theatre rehearsal. Can we say BROKEN HEARTED CARLO??
I hope you find someone?!
Only a few more years and Seth will be your full time babysitter. Eli and JOnah are finally to the point where we can leave them to make dinner, put the kids in bed, etc.
I hate calling a babysitter. Where are the twins when you need them?
What in the world? Problem's finding a babysitter in Utah? Ridiculous!! Sad. I feel for you! Like others the generations are just now becoming not so dependent on babysitting. Quite sad really. Taylor has been begging to babysit. I just don't have the guts to allow her to until she has the CPR training. For now I am being totally selfish and living up on the free stuff. That is until she realizes people hang out with friends.
You made dinner for us last Friday night, so we've been in your debt all week. Now we're even! Have a great night at Desert Star, it's a great show this time.
I never thought about what Amie saud. That makes sense. I thought it was just because they were busier these days with extra stuff. But that is probably because they have money.
Lucy: Child care is one of my difficulties, too. We have lived here for a year and a half now and I still haven't found a sitter. The one teen name I secured, turned me down every time with "Busy, sorry." I actually contemplated making a flier and distributing it at a nearby golf course complex where many retired people live (probably not even allowed - hubby said no, anyway). What I'm looking for is an older woman who wouldn't mind coming here during their afternoon naps and every other weekend for an evening. Of course, she would have to have the stamina to keep up with my boy brood. For now, we just keep tag-teamin' it and dating at home in the after-hours.
When we lived in IL, my best friend (they have 5) was in a babysitting co-op. She always raved about it. They rotated the responsibility for all the kids (usually showing a movie and serving pizza, but sometimes just playing outside) so that each couple had one duty and three dates.
Yes yes I do. You are not alone in this. It does make living by family more appealing, though that can be tricky as well when you don't want them to feel obligated, but they do and when they can't it's a big issue yada yada yada. Getting babysitters if just plain hard. Personally I'm waiting for the day Bella can start being mine.
I remember those years VERY well. The day our oldest turned 12 changed our lives FOREVER! By the time our kids got older though and we had lots of babysitters for the younger kids, we found we had to change our date time. Our teens were busy on the weekend evenings, so we started going out Sat morning, early afternoon. That way they got to do their stuff and we got our time together. Homeschooled teens seemed to be a good way to go, no school activities, and you can often get them during the week for a few hours. They saved my sanity!
I love babysitting, and if i knew you, and if you lived in TN (i don't know where you live, you might have it somewhere, but i just have't looked yet) I would love to Babysit for you!! don't worry, i don't have work, i might have a b-day party (but i have canceled going to some before to Babysit), I wont have dances for a while longer, and I try to always return phone calls!
Very painful! It's much less stress to be a homebody.
Glad you got to go after all.
Would you believe I have never ever hired a babysitter before? Just a perk of living by family, I guess. I'm afraid we are indebted to them for life, however.
I feel your pain...went through five babysitters today, looking for someone for next week. I was trying to plan ahead! I was about to call the one I swore I'd never call again. Good thing I remembered one other girl!
Aahh...so true! But liberation day will come. I remember ours so well. It was a crisp autumn evening...the sky was full of stars...and our darling daughter was finally given the opportunity to be our ever-available, oh-so-affordable, built-in babysitter...the thrill, the joy, the elation. Your day will come my friend...soon...and it is SWEET!!
Here's my pain: I was up till 12:45 am waiting for Jaclyn to come home for babysitting, and then I had an early Saturday. Ouch!
The greatest thing ever is the day that your own kids can take over the babysitting duties! I really hated calling people, because it seemed that we were always trying to work something out last minute. It got to the point where I would pay $1.50/hour more than my friends were paying, just so we would be the family they would want to come and babysit for. It was a small price to pay. . .
Sometimes I can babysit (and I do weeknights). Yes, I know I'm busy, but I'm an "acts of service" type, so you can always try me. And I believe in Karma, so I'm free. Ha ha ha. (It makes up for rarely being available).
Send me an e-mail ... I will give you a super-secret phone number for my newlywed sister whose husband works a lot. They live in SW Murray. I think that is not too too far from you.
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