Sep 3 2008
Help I couldn't do without
When I can't trade babysitting with a friend, I use one of the local moms who provide licensed daycare in their homes. They charge $40 per day per child and will take the kids last minute if they have an opening. My friend Julie, who isn't licensed, charges $40 per day for both the kids. (I've told her this is way too cheap, but she doesn't care.) Except for her two boys, and a neighbor's child, she doesn't have a regular bunch of kids she watches, so she usually has room to take my kids.
So who do I prefer? Well, it's the friend who isn't licensed. Cost isn't a factor, but it's because I like her parenting style the best. She's sweet, down to earth, and has an incredible amount of patience. I see how well behaved and smart her sons are, and know that her home is safe and kid-friendly. She's "good people" so I have confidence that my kids are well taken care of and having fun when they're with her. Plus, Nathan and Lucie both love playing with her boys and are always much better behaved with her than they are with us. (That's true for all their babysitters.)
Evenings are another matter. If I'm going to something where I'll be home by 10 p.m., and Paul's unavailable, I have Mae babysit. Mae's our 13-year-old babysitter, who Nathan is madly in love with. I've known Mae's mom, Lynda, for a few years now. She was on the founding board of Nathan's school and now works there as a first grade teacher.
According to the principal, Mae is one of the smartest kids in Nathan's school. She's also adored by many of her mother's students and their moms. In fact, if there's an event at school and I need her to babysit, I make sure to book Mae before anyone else does. And boy do I hear it from my friends when I've scooped her services. They jokingly accuse me of using my influence as president of the board. Nope, I just know how popular she is and book her months in advance.
But for those late, late nights when we go downtown, we have Conida, a college student. Her dad works with Paul and Paul knows her when they both played on the company sponsored co-ed softball team before he had third knee surgery and had to quit playing. We've been having her come to the house since she was a senior in high school. The first time she sat for us was during Paul's company's holiday party. We booked a room upstairs at the Omni and Conida watched the kids while we partied downstairs. It was a great way to "test drive" her.
She's pre-med in college now, very responsible, and still a little on the nerdy side like her dad. The kids adore her and she's very inexpensive, too, about $5 per hour for both kids. We always end up giving her a couple of hours more since she drives a long way to come out. But she's usually available and even brings her own food, since she works part-time at Quizno's and picks up a sandwich on her way over.
Then there are the college nannies who we use when we can't get Conida. Recommended by friends, they get $10 per hour for both kids. While they are very trustworthy and the kids love them, an evening out becomes extremely expensive.
But when Nana's here? We can go to meetings, run errands, have adult time, and stay out overnight without having to worry about making childcare arrangements. It's break time for me and Paul, and she encourages us to take advantage of her being here. Still we don't push it. After all, she's in her late '70s and the kids have a tendency to tire her out. (Heck, they tire ME out after just a half an hour.)
Even with all these choices, it's not perfect. Occasionally, the daycare moms are booked up or out of town or it's too cold to fly Nana out. Wondering how other parents manage sometimes, I thank my lucky stars, knock on wood, and say a little prayer. I'm very fortunate to work at home and have such a flexible schedule -- and have good friends to count on in a pinch.
