The other day I was talking with a girlfriend of mine about my various home-based businesses and how hard it was finding time to catch up. Last year, I hired a high-school student to watch my children two days per week while I went to a coffee shop to catch up on e-mails and write. She was wonderful, but frankly when I factored in the cost of the drive, my coffee and her services I am not sure if I was able to make enough money to make up the difference.
“Why don’t you hire my daughter to watch your kids”, she suggested. “Um…are you kidding me?” (Her daughter is eight years old). As a former social worker, I was fairly certain that allowing an eight year old to care for two preschoolers could be considered child endangerment. She laughed. “No, just work in your home and let her entertain your kids for you”.
“Brilliant!” I thought. She is responsible, sweet and well-mannered. Whenever we have a neighborhood barbecue, she spends hours playing with my children. She dresses them up. She plays catch with them and she watches movies with them. She loves my kids, and my kids love her.
“So, how would this work?” I asked. My friend told me that her daughter is currently taking babysitting classes and would love the practice. “Just pay her a few dollars and she would be thrilled”. Me too, I thought.
As soon as school is out, I am going to formerly “hire” her for two days per week (three hours at a time). My office faces our fenced in backyard so I am hopeful that she will simply play with them in the backyard or basement while I get my work done.
My friend is thrilled that her daughter will have a job to keep her busy this summer and I am excited to have a few quiet moments in my home knowing that I won’t have to jump up every few moments to throw a ball, push a swing or settle a fight.
Have you ever hired a “baby-entertainer”? How did it work out for you? Tell us about it in the comments section.
Related Reading:
Two Tips for Frugal Babysitting
Is Your Babysitter Doing a Good Job?