Back East, we had a wonderful, reliable babysitter whose remarkably wholesome life allowed her to watch The Poo pretty much any time we needed her to.
Leaving Elizabeth was almost as hard as leaving my family. She started watching my girl when she was just three months old, and she was with us at least once a week until we moved when The Poo was 18 months old.
I struggled to find a decent sitter here last year, settling on a less-than-ideal situation with a 23-year-old woman looking for extra wedding cash. She had a full-time job, and was only available after 3 p.m.
You and I both know that by 3 p.m., the day is shot. Mostly, I used her so I could leave The Poo home when I went grocery shopping.
Determined to rectify the situation, I placed an ad on our local Craigslist in August. With nearly 20,000 co-eds in town, there has to be one girl who can babysit once a week from 9 to noon, right?
After a few false starts, we found Bethany. Beautiful, unemployed Bethany, who moved home after graduating from a well-known Chicago university.
Bethany, who is available all day. Every day, in fact, if I so desire.
Our weekend was full of the hinkey, as we say around here. The Poo’s unquenchable thirst for 100 percent of our attention was maddening. Every weekend task, from emptying the dishwasher to working on my holiday shopping, was left half-finished.
We went to bed exhausted, marveling at this person we made, this person who manages to use us, ball us up and throw us on the floor like old tissues.
When dawn broke this morning I woke with one ear tuned to the monitor, waiting for the inevitable “Mom! Mommy! Mama! It’s morningtime!”
As I lay there, shoulders tensed and a mental list of work left to do, I remembered what day it was.
Monday.
Last week, after I discovered the bald patch, I asked Bethany to add a day to our regular weekly schedule.
Mondays. We added Mondays.
*cue the angel choir*
If you need me, you’ll find me in a local cafe that’s chock full o’ collegiate alternative energy and angst, sitting among the youngsters whose skinny scarves are draped around their neck just so as they click-clack away on sleek laptops, ears plugged into their iTunes.
I’ll work there for awhile, writing and dreaming and perhaps even drafting the idea that feels like a novel.
Check for four hours of babysitting? $40.
Four hours all to myself? Priceless.
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While you are sitting there today, I hope you get this comment from me and know how happy I am for you.
YES! Three cheers for Bethany. And for all babysitters.
Groovy! Is she taking other child watching jobs? I could use a morning off!
Sounds sublime.
BRILLIANT. I’m so happy for you. It is divine, the time alone.
Babysitters- the good ones- are gifts from the Almighty for moms. Enjoy your respite….
Craigslist… hmmmmmmm. Great idea.
Good babysitters are truly a gift and a blessing. We have a friend’s 15 year old son who is an absolute blessing. I never want him to grow old and move away.. I’ll be devastated. Glad you found one and you are just too fun to read.
Good for you, mama. Good for you!
We should meet for coffee sometime. Is your local my local? Hmmm.
I am so happy for you!! Enjoy your time away cause you deserve it!!!!
We’ve never used a babysitter (other than relatives). I’m so terrified. But I need to find one.
I hate to impose on my parents because my mom babysits during the day for us.
That, my friend, is money well spent! Congrats!
I envy and admire you. I also am very glad for you. We send our love to daycare twice a week, and these days are *necessary* for human (my) and household functioning. But we have yet to find a sitter so that D and I could go somewhere and hold hands and have a conversation. Enjoy settling into yourself this morning!
Oh so jealous! We do live near our families which is great for babysitting but the problem comes because they are only available on weekends mainly. But I feel almost guilty if I look elsewhere for babysitting during the week because what if this Interloper, I mean babysitter spills over into weekend grandma time once when grandma was away and then it just snowballs from there? Then I’ll be in trouble with Grandma!
I am starting to send the little dude to a sitter one morning a week, too. I cannot fathom how much I can get done with a few hours all to myself. Possibly get back into my songwriting? YES! Let the alone-times roll!
You want I should knit you a skinny scarf to go with your new adventures?
I need to start writing more so I can again justify a similar arrangement. It really is good for the soul.
Yeah, that’s pretty much like waking up and realizing it’s Christmas morning. Enjoy!
Have a latte on me, sister.
i’m jealous…my monkeys require more than the average babysitter, and the only ones who understand how to deal with them, dole out their meds, handle mealtimes, etc., are family members…with jobs!
have a good few hours!
I have to show my other half this post. We are going to be in this situation up to our neck when the adoption goes through.
Amen! I hadn’t thought of Craigslist…thanks for the idea.
Awesome for you!!!! YA!
True that.
We’ve got an Elizabeth and she’s moving soon. Oh, woe is me.
Glad you enjoyed some time away, it IS priceless.
Oh, good for you! Does Bethany have any unemployed friends she left in Chicago? Because that’s where I live and I need a Bethany! (Don’t we all?)
Ah, there’s nothing better! That whole coffee shop scene sounded so familiar – that’s exactly where I work here in Chicago when Lyle’s at nursery school. Those are the hours when life is the most grand, I must say. Laptop, latte, iTunes. Sigh.
Just this Sunday, in our “Christian Parenting” class, Gruff started hitting up the associate pastor who leads the group for babysitting leads. He let us know who to talk to for a list of the youth-group members who do a little ’sitting… and then mentioned that he and the Mrs., they are hankerin’ for grandbabies and would LOVE to watch the Smooch for us some night. For the lovely price of FREE.
I think I might be getting an actual night out one of these days! Let’s hear it for babysitters!
Jealous. I am so jealous!
i heart Bethany.
Sounds wonderful. Hooray for Bethany!
And this….
“this person who manages to use us, ball us up and throw us on the floor like old tissues.”
Perfect and awesome.
Awesome. Congrats on finding your angel! Enjoy your Mondays….