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OT Babysitter doing "family" things with your kids

SMLIFESUCKS's picture

Submitted by SMLIFESUCKS on Mon, 12/15/2014 - 3:10pm

Let me explain by saying, my babysitter is a friend of 20+ years. I'm glad I have someone that I can trust. I am not sure if it's just because I know how quickly your kids grow up or I'm wanting so badly to not have to put the baby DD15mo in daycare/babysitter at all.

The babysitter will generally send me pictures of things that DD15mo and her 2 girls do, such as reading to her, playing in the living room etc. When I dropped DD off this morning the babysitter said that they were taking a day off. Her husband which I have known longer than her, was staying home and they were planning to do a little holiday shopping.

I was like OK. I brought a light jacket and her hat but not the thick one. So anyways she didn't elaborate on where they were going and I figured just local. So around almost 2 today, 2 hours ago, the babysitter sent me a text of her oldest (girl 12) holding DD and she was asleep on her shoulder. The text got me a little weird feeling "Well all shopped out. We are in xyz (45minutes from her home) so she saw santa too. Wasn't impressed. She liked the puppet show".

I felt like I was the NCP of my DD when she sent that. I think step life has gotten me nuts.

Would anyone else feel weird about the friend/babysitter, taking your child that far away and doing "family" things with her? I mean no one would know she wasn't their child because they almost all have red hair like my DD does.

I took her to see Santa already but I guess I'm feeling like I'm missing out. It sucks to be a working MOM.

Comments

godess-clueless's picture

Submitted by godess-clueless on Mon, 12/15/2014 - 3:25pm

You are lucky to have someone that makes your child part of her own family's routine when she babysits. Should you ever encounter a sitter that does nothing but sit, watch tv, talk on the phone, and ignore the child, then you will understand just how lucky you are.

msg1986's picture

Submitted by msg1986 on Mon, 12/15/2014 - 5:37pm

This would probably bother me too. Dd 12mo's is babysat by a cousin and it makes me uneasy when they have to go out to do stuff. However it makes me happy that Dd is so well cared for. I know my cousin loves her and it isn't just about money for her. You're blessed to have someone so close that loves your Dd. Smile

Stepintime0111's picture

Submitted by Stepintime0111 on Mon, 12/15/2014 - 6:17pm

This wouldn't bother me. I would be happy that the sitter loves my child and wants her to have good experiences.

Ineedadoover's picture

Submitted by Ineedadoover on Mon, 12/15/2014 - 6:37pm

This wouldn't bother me at all. My boys were always in daycare or babysat by a family member as I have always worked since they were about 4 months old. There was even a short time that they lived with my relatives while I finished my degree out of state. Also, I have let them go on out-of-state trips with my family members, and family members have asked me to babysit them practically every weekend since they were babies. I was always happy that they felt loved and included. I was a little sad when I missed things like firsts, but I didn't dwell on it. When they were with me, the first time I saw it was the "first" anything to me. And no doubt, they always knew who their mama was and wanted me the most. Your little girl will be the same. She is out having fun and seeing new things. But, you better bet that as small as she is, she won't remember. And even if she did, nothing will compare, in her heart, to time spent with you.

StepLady's picture

Submitted by StepLady on Wed, 12/17/2014 - 3:02am

I understand it sucks to be working while someone is out having fun with your dd. That stinks. But if you laid down the law to your friend that she was just the hired help and she is stay home with her own kids when your dd is there, would she still want to sit for you? I would not want to to be honest. Her husband had the day off and she wanted to be with him and her kids, instead of telling you to find other help that day, they chose to include her. That was awfully nice of them. I think your friend feels like its no big deal since you guys have known each other for so long. It stings when moms and dads miss out though, I understand.