Some people will tell you that as a parent the most significant moments in child rearing are the milestones like the first time your baby walks, says “Mamma”, or is old enough to wipe their own butt. I’m here to tell you that is crap. Sure, sure those are all important moments, epic moments. However, the most important moment of a parent’s life is stumbling across a great babysitter.
Not just any old babysitter but “the babysitter.” Your go-to-gal for date night. The one that your children (and you) leap into the air for joy upon her arrival. The one that probably takes better care of your kiddos than certain family members (uh-huh, you too?). The truth is “the babysitter” doesn’t just take care of your kids; they can save your life or at least your sanity.
I knew I had found “the one” when someone inquired about my babysitter and I got all Gollum on them and referred to her as “my precious”.
I spotted our Ashley on the playground while my son ran around like a wild man, my daughter was just a tiny newborn, and I was an exhausted and overwhelmed mess. On that day, the playground was full of the usual suspects:
- the nanny chatting away on her cell phone and aimlessly pushing the tiny babe on the swing while her other charge pushes your kid down in the mulch
- the intimidating gang of babysitters that huddle around the park bench—don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact
- the overzealous babysitter acting out Beauty and the Beast for her small gang of minions
And then it was like the fog lifted when I saw a little girl I knew from the mommy and me gym class scene playing with a very attentive babysitter who spoke sweetly to the tiny lady and smiled the entire time.
Strategically I scooted my daughter’s stroller up to this vision on the playground and started chatting her up. She was kind, well spoken, experienced, and in 30 seconds I had bribed her to become my new babysitter. When she agreed to watch my kids once a week Rihanna’s “We Found Love in a Hopeless Place” started playing in my head.
After two blissful years my babysitter decided to ruin my life and is going back to school to become a teacher. How dare she try to better herself and the lives of other children and not sit around to be at my beck and call on the rando days I have something to do? I kid, I kid (sorta).
Even with her packed schedule, she still squeezes us in so I can take Hubby out for his birthday and helps me out in a pinch. She’s even coming early so I can shower and get ready in peace. See, I told you this one was a gem!
So here is my advice: if you find an Ashley, “the babysitter”, move her into your house and never let her go. Be sure to feed her, but just keep her close so that she doesn’t wander too far.
And don’t you ask for her number, unless you want me to look like this:
OMG I can’t stop looking at those scary golems, lol.
Oh poor you now you’ll have to look for another nanny – I agree, how dare she leave you to better her career
Your images are frightening. But I get it. I really, really get it.
Ash, take online classes, hun. Make life easier for everyone.
Scary pics and I agree it is always difficult to choose a babysitter for my kids. Even more difficult to get one who will stay around.
Lol! I remember I was a babysitter and then went I school to become a teacher too! I’m sure your kids have great memories!
We’ve had horrible luck at finding babysitters who will stay! I’ve had a few wonderful graduate students that we all loved. But guess what? graduate students eventually graduate and leave. Right now we literally have no dependable sitter, and I am staying home from an event that our inlaws invited us to. (Okay, I am secretly relieved because it’s a historical society dinner.)
hahaha. when I was a kid I had at least 4 babysitters, most of them lasted over a year. it’s really hard to find someone to trust these days.
HAHA! I can’t stop laughing and smiling! You are so funny! I would hope to find a babysitter like that, so I could at least get a PT job…but noooo.
I’ve not found a babysitter for my kids yet either, we had a girl in our sub offering but she was too young I believe for my infant daughter and rambuncious toddler. Glad you found a good one!
Wow.. I am so glad I have never had to go on the hunt for a sitter. We have been lucky enough to have friends and family close by.
Oh my gosh, this made me laugh. We lost three of our babysitters last year because they all went off to college and now we are on the hunt again. It is definitely a difficult search to find a good one…then, you don’t want to share them at all.
this resonates with me as I just let a horrible sitter go– came home to find my 2 year old playing at the top of the stairs while she was on my computer!!!!!! It’s so hard to trust your children with other people alone— this is why!
This is so true and so funny at the same time! A great baby sitter is hard to find!
I saw just on the news this week about a 22 year old who was charged with abuse, endangerment, etc. She was the babysitter. The DOG started growling at her, putting up a mohawk on his back, etc so they left an iPhone on record under the couch. She was slapping the 6 month old baby, telling it to shut the f…up, well you get the point. They had no idea how long this had gone on for (they hired her at 2 months). IF it hadn’t been for the dog, they wouldn’t have known about it.
We don’t have a sitter. We have a Grandma who comes twice a year (she lives 10 hours away) and an Auntie who lives an hour away. We don’t do many dates, but the ones we do include Auntie or Grandma doing kid duty. My 4 year old has never been away from either me or my husband (one or the other obviously at a time) and he is just now getting old enough to understand that we are leaving but will return.
Who ever decided that babysitters would grow up and move on? They certainly didn’t check with me!
Two things- I love your logo. Hilarious! I find food in my hair all the time and my husband gets shoes and washclothes placed in his briefcase. Kids are weird. 2nd thing- we’re lucky to have an awesome babysitter in my mother in law, but I do feel bad that I can pay her and leave her pizza money. Seems unfair.
Even finding “the petsitter” is a night mare!
I can only imagine how difficult it is to find a good babysitter! I know that when I babysat in high school, one of the moms I worked for actually cried when I left for college. I guess now I can understand where she was coming from after reading your post.
LOL
People are VERY protective of their babysitters too – even the ones I find and like I can’t get a reference to call me back. I know it’s b/c they don’t want me stealing theirs away! Great post. I am meeting a new one this week so everybody cross fingers she is my diamond in the rough.
LOL!! I was going to ask for more details, but never mind!! Hope you find another one!
You are so lucky to have found a good babysitter! We only ever use our out of state parents. It would be so nice to have someone local that we completely trust and could depend on.
We’ve been lucky to have had two great babysitters and currently two other ones for our kids. Once you find them – treat them right, pay them well and respect them and how they care for your kids!
I can honestly say that I have been lucky with baby sitters… but you also have to treat them right… great post, sure makes you think… thanks for sharing
Always appreciate a great babysitter and a great teacher…two very big influences in your kid’s lives!
You are absolutely hysterical.. love this!!!! You know, sadly I never found my Ashley and it’s a terrible terrible thing not to have a reliable go-to babysitter! I am so thrilled you found one!
I have such a hard time finding a babysitter, that we just dont do anything without the kids
But when we do we will be locking them up and never letting them go j/k
Not the precious!~lol. It’s very difficult to find someone you feel comfortable leaving your children with and who will take good care of them. I am not that parent who will leave their children with strangers often. I am, however, often that parent who will watch the children who play with my kids. Lots of times my house ends up being the place kids come to be safe and get watched while their parents go out to dinner. *sigh*
Oh my gosh, it’s so true that you don’t want to give away your best babysitter! It’s like gold!
Good babysitters are extremely hard to find, that is for sure! We’ve had a couple of neighbors watch our kids over the years, but no one really rates like Grandma does. Too bad she lives two hours away!
Oh gosh, it is definitely hard to find an Ashley. I mostly had duds for babysitters. Good luck with the next one.
My precious, ahhhhhhhhh!
Sounds like you got lucky with a really good babysitter! It’s hard for me to trust random people to baby-sit my kids. I only trust family members and don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have family members close by. There are just too many scary stories about terrible baby-sitters.
What a B… lol next baby sitter chain her in the basement so she can’t leave lol. I am just kidding but you are right it is so hard to find the right person that will love and care for our children almost as much as we do.. I hope you find another gem soon.. I would hate to lose an amazing baby sitter myself..
Great
I’ve yet to leave my little guy with a babysitter and am nervous about this very thing, finding one that I trust. Found you via the Beltway Bloggers list, love finding other DC area bloggers! http://talenttoplay.blogspot.com
Welcome!!! Thanks for stopping by
Yes, leaving your little ones is really hard. I never left my son, but as soon as my daughter arrived, I needed OUT!!