Those of you who live away from your families, or any family for that matter, know what I am talking about when I say I HATE finding babysitters. Because of the amount of dinners and firm functions Lance and I have been invited to this summer we have had to find numerous babysitters for Beth and Izzy. I've never like leaving my kids with "strangers", especially in a strange city with no backups. When Beth was born I left her with our parents and our good friends the Culters...and that was IT! As she got a little older and we moved to Austin I had to find more friends who I trusted and knew REALLY well. Now that I am comfortable leaving her (and Izzy now) with a few people in Austin we had to pick up and move to Dallas.
Luckily we we found a couple of sisters in our ward here (possibly the only good thing about our ward here) that are 13 and 14 years of age who love to babysit and who are clean and responsible. I am lucky to get them, as they are always busy with camps, EFY, vacations, etc. It's hard paying two babysitters but at least I know my girls are getting attention and the care they need.
Last night these girls were not available so we called another gal who was recommended to me by a friend. We have gotten her before and things went ok... Beth peed her bed because this gal didn't make her go before she went to bed. I was bugged... but understood I should have made it a bigger deal when I left. Last night after Lance took her home I did the dishes (don't you remember when WE used to babysit and actually DID the dishes in the home??) and then went and checked on my girls. Izzy was sleeping well. Beth was NOT. She was laying in a puddle of pee and and pooped her pants. The babysitter HAD NOT put on her diaper, liked I had asked and Beth was just lying in her own filth. I felt so bad for her. I have to wonder if she was crying or telling the babysitter she was wet and messy but the gal didn't get up and do anything about it....knowing it would be a mess. I have to wonder... don't you always check on the kids after you put them down for the night just in case they need something? I walked into Beth's room, which was open, and smelled the mess right away. Apparently the babysitter didn't go up there and check on her at all... or just chose to ignore it. I also found out from Beth that they watched numerous movies after I had told them 1 movie and then toys. Now I might be overreacting a bit but I was ticked! Needless to say if we were going to be here longer I wouldn't call her again. And I even paid her well!!
When we get back to Dallas I want to find some babysitters who know my girls well, know how I like things done, know where everything is, and are capable of following instructions.
I can't WAIT to be home again and have our parents watch the girls when we need (or want) to go somewhere. At least I know they love them and will put them to bed right :)
Luckily we we found a couple of sisters in our ward here (possibly the only good thing about our ward here) that are 13 and 14 years of age who love to babysit and who are clean and responsible. I am lucky to get them, as they are always busy with camps, EFY, vacations, etc. It's hard paying two babysitters but at least I know my girls are getting attention and the care they need.
Last night these girls were not available so we called another gal who was recommended to me by a friend. We have gotten her before and things went ok... Beth peed her bed because this gal didn't make her go before she went to bed. I was bugged... but understood I should have made it a bigger deal when I left. Last night after Lance took her home I did the dishes (don't you remember when WE used to babysit and actually DID the dishes in the home??) and then went and checked on my girls. Izzy was sleeping well. Beth was NOT. She was laying in a puddle of pee and and pooped her pants. The babysitter HAD NOT put on her diaper, liked I had asked and Beth was just lying in her own filth. I felt so bad for her. I have to wonder if she was crying or telling the babysitter she was wet and messy but the gal didn't get up and do anything about it....knowing it would be a mess. I have to wonder... don't you always check on the kids after you put them down for the night just in case they need something? I walked into Beth's room, which was open, and smelled the mess right away. Apparently the babysitter didn't go up there and check on her at all... or just chose to ignore it. I also found out from Beth that they watched numerous movies after I had told them 1 movie and then toys. Now I might be overreacting a bit but I was ticked! Needless to say if we were going to be here longer I wouldn't call her again. And I even paid her well!!
When we get back to Dallas I want to find some babysitters who know my girls well, know how I like things done, know where everything is, and are capable of following instructions.
I can't WAIT to be home again and have our parents watch the girls when we need (or want) to go somewhere. At least I know they love them and will put them to bed right :)
3 comments:
Yes! I remember well the days when I would babysit, BRING things to do with the kids, and then after the kids went to bed, clean things up so that they were better than I'd found them. It doesn't sound like babysitters these days do half that much, but you have to pay them twice as much as we got paid. I am so sorry to hear about your experience! Was the event you and Lance went to a good one that you enjoyed?
Oh Rach!!! I cannot believe that babysitter. I want to smack her upside the head. Poor Beth. She is so sweet, it almost made me cry. I do remember when I would babysit how I would check on the kids like fifty times after they went to sleep because I was so worried, and then I would try to do the dishes and straighten up the house. I totally hear you on how hard it is to find a babysitter, we have the same problem and I only trust about three people here.
So sorry about your bad experience!
We haven't ever paid a babysitter yet! We just don't go out much unfortunately... Luckily when we go home soon we'll have plenty of free time and free babysitting.
Poor poopy Beth. That's terrible, and seriously, girls these days need to pick up book or two the Babysitters Club!!! :)
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