Babysitter survival

Apparently you are having trouble cutting the umbilical cord. Do it-it is not painful.

Er...

You're not insane! We've *gasp* never done it. Came close a few times, didn't work out for various reasons.

She's been to classes on her own, and has spent time with our neighbors on her own, and her grandparents. But we've so far (just started looking here) never had an official babysitter.

She's at the age now where she has no problem with the idea 'tall -- she loves talking to people, any person, especially a new interesting person with energy.

What does Mo think about it?

I would say just let go. Babysitters are the best. If it wasn't for babysitters, I would have no knowledge of teen sex, horror movies or Supertramp. I am just kidding. She sounds great! Give her a chance. Interesting story: When I was young, I had a babysitter transplanted to Canada from Oz. She was my favourite, and really a pro at the job, very serious and caring. MANY years later, after she moved back to Oz and got married, she called our house just to see how I was doing, and to ask about the folks. It was so touching. It sounds like you have a good one there.

Let's separate two things:

1.) Do you have a reason to worry?

NO!

2.) Does that matter?

NO! We're moms. We worry. Get used to it.

[hugs]

I don't think that's it, au.

Usually when Mr. B and I need to go somewhere, Mo goes to visit his mom or his aunt or we simply schedule our time to go out when he will be visiting his family. So its not really a separation thing.

Its a babysitter thing....

As long as they don't actually sit on the baby, I don't see a problem. Sozobe is right, moms worry, it's a natural instinct, but there is a point when you have to give a little.

Hi soz and cav.

Knowing that you've not done it yet makes me feel just a bit less insane, soz. And yes, we worry - always and forever.

Teen sex, horror movies and Supertramp! I think I used to babysit you, cav.

We have to give a little, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

I thought I recognized you boomerang.

Liking it and accepting it as life process are two very different things. One is never really expected to like it.

I don't trust my dog with my own parents, btw.

We can accept it and still be freaked.

Better?

:-)

(I don't think boomer is saying that she's about to cancel, just that it's nerve-wracking.)

When we ALMOST had a babysitter one time (something happened with her swim team or something, I forget), I was going through a litany of what if she brings a boyfriend, what if she sits there and watches TV that we don't let sozlet watch for a reason and then she'll have nightmares for a month, what if she doesn't pay attention and sozlet falls down the stairs/ sticks her fingers in an outlet/ turns on oven/ insert other action I'm always vaguely watching out for...

Well, I'll spare you, but you get the idea.

Sozs gets it!

I am comforted by the fact that she has 5 little brothers so she knows boys - and boy antics.

She did ask if it would be okay to take him to our neighbors house - she has a little boy about Mo's age that he likes to play with - and I said "sure".

That way I can talk to neighbor boy's mom and she can help keep an eye on things too!

Oh, even as a boy, I can relate, really. I never had the impression that boomerang was going to cancel. It IS nerve-wracking. Okay, I'm not a parent, but I do work from home with a very sensitive dog. Last year, when I had to go in hospital, the dog threw up every night I was away, even though my wife was there to take care of him. That is some scary stuff, and I'm anthropormorphising here, but he does seem like my kid, not a practice kid either. I hate it when folks think a pet is 'practice'. The emotions and feelings should really be the same.

Aw... :-) I can see why you fancy him.

Boomer, freakedness aside, it does sound like a good set-up. But feel free to freak here! I'll let you know how the first sozlet sitter works out when it happens.

Oh I completely agree. I would never leave my pets with anyone who did not pass a rigorous screening process.

I used to travel on business and my dog had "separation anxiety" - she would seem my suitcase and start to tremble. Poor, poor, Mr. B on vomit duty daily.

Mo seems pretty excited that "T." is coming over to play. In fact, the little mule won't get dressed so we can go run errands because "T" is coming.

<sigh>

Hee hee...

We really need to have the first (as far as I know) A2K kiddies gathering -- I'd love to get sozlet and Mo together...

(MY little mule won't sit still for having her hair brushed so we can go run errands...)

Many moms freak.
Many kids really like having someone different around.
Which makes moms freak more.

Some kids, like Mo, really really look forward to the babysitter being there.
Which makes some moms even freakier.

Usually kids and babysitters do really well.

To me, it often seems to work out like daycare - the kid behaves better with the babysitter (cuz they want the babysitter to come back) than the parents. I've definitely got some funny (not to the poor parents) stories about that.

You're probably right eBeth.

Mo does do well when other people are with him - saving up all his mulishness for me.

Still, I'm hoping we can get past nekkid day before T gets here!