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How to Get a Break Away from Home - Free Babysitters Included
Copyright 2001 by Michelle Jones

Are you ready to take a break? Ready to escape from home, if even just for an hour or two? If you've chosen to read this article by it's title, you are probably one of many who find it very difficult to leave home, whether it's because you don't have a sitter, or you just can't pull yourself away.

During the last 11 years of being a stay-at-home parent, and having moved to many different states during this time, I have found myself more often than not without a baby sitter. And now that I have 4 children, it has become even more challenging to find anyone who can handle the crew. But I have also been in that group of new moms who just cannot, or won't, leave their children even for an hour.

I am not going to try and talk you into leaving home if you're not comfortable doing so, we all have our moments when our nest is priority #1, and we cannot leave. But if you find yourself wanting to take that first step of going out on your own for a little break, or if you've been trying for months or years to get out with no success… here's some things that have worked for me and other stay-at-home parents I've known over the years.

#1 Family Sitters

Of course this is your best bet, but because we live so far away from family this has not been an option for us. However, we have worked with both of our moms over the years, a pretty nice arrangement. Whenever they come to visit us, which is usually about once a year, or when we go to visit them, they take over for a few hours so my husband and I can have a night out together, alone!

We usually do this so it will not be too much work for our moms, by making it a late night out, when the children are almost ready for bed anyway. We feed them all dinner, get the kids ready for bed, and then we escape for the rest of the evening. We love seeing our mom's and spending time with them, but boy do we look forward to some grandmother time for our kids too, and you know they look forward to spending time with each other as well. The only problem with this plan… your kids may be spoiled rotten by the next day! ;o)

#2 Spouse Sitters

This is probably the best bet yet, though the downside is that you can't both leave the house at the same time. But, it's free and your spouse knows the job pretty well, though they may not handle things as well as you do because you're the main caregiver, the children will not die or suffer malnutrition while you're on your small break. They may have cake for breakfast or get a few bruises from jumping off the couch, but they will most likely still be in tact when you return to your nest.

Babies... as far as babies go, if necessary, time your break away from home during their naps. This has always been a necessity for me because I have nursed all four of my children for the first year and they would not take a bottle of anything. I would nurse the baby, put him/her down for a nap, and then practically run out the door knowing I had to be back within two hours! Having a watch with you really helps. And, be courteous to your spouse, if you are going to be longer than expected give them a phone call so they know to find another way to comfort your hungry baby when he/she wakes up.

This is a great way to take a break though, and you and your spouse can take turns watching the children while the other one ventures out for a few hours. You can even take turns going out to the movies, or having a nice dinner out by yourself. Although we have never done this, we prefer to save up the money or wait until we can go out together, it sounds like a fine idea.

#3 Neighbors or Friends - Sitter Swap

You may have heard of people doing this, but aren't sure how to get one started. All you have to do is find some other parents in your neighborhood, office, church, or any other group you belong to, and trade sitting time. The way it usually works, if you have two children and they have one, then they will earn more time for watching your children. So teaming up with someone who has the same amount of children as you would be helpful. Although personally, I know that caring for one child can be a lot more work than caring for two because they don't have each other to play with and require more personal attention.

#4 Check for Helpers in the Church Nursery

In every state we've ever lived, and in every church we've ever been a part of, there has always been a few teenagers working in the nursery because they enjoy children. And these are usually the best babysitters to be found! If you have a large family as we do, the teenagers that are part of a large family are often the best match. For some reason, it's also the ones that are home schooled that find a place in our heart. They just seem to be so good with children. The age of 14-16 is the best, before that may be too young for emergencies, and older than that they are often too involved with their friends and busy schedules.

#5 Friend's and Neighbor's Children

If your friends or neighbors have children of babysitting age, this is also a great option, as long as you know them and know that they enjoy children.

#6 A Mother's Helper

This idea goes with any of the suggestions above, but instead of you leaving the house, you can work outside in the yard or in another part of the house. You can even just sit outside under a tree and read a book, which you probably haven't had time to do in years. The pay rate for this type of sitting could be the same or less, and the age of the teenager is definitely more flexible because you are still at home to offer assistance. This is really great for younger and inexperienced sitters, age 10-13.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SITTERS

All of these requirements cannot be known at first, but if you come to find any of them are not present along the way, change sitters.

LAST REQUIREMENT

I hope you enjoyed this article, and that it has encouraged you to take that well needed and deserved break soon!  If you don't have children at home please pass this on to someone who does! 

Blessings to you,
Michelle

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