As a teenager (or even younger for most of us - now people wouldn't even consider letting a 12 year old watch their children!), I had my turn at babysitting. I was never an every-weekend type, but here and there a coworker of my mom's or a neighbor would ask me to watch their kid(s). I was pretty shy, particularly when it came to being in someone else's home. By myself. #awkward.
If you're at the stage in your life where you are hiring babysitters, here are five ways to be sure you're being a good babysitter's boss (I use "boss" for lack of a better word, since you're the person paying for the service).
1. Feed your babysitter something specific.
Don't tell them "help yourself." While it's very generous and genuine of you to say so, many people in your home don't feel comfortable rummaging through your pantry and refrigerator for food. Instead, make them a specific meal if they're staying during mealtime. Having them make a frozen pizza is fine - just let them know what you intend for them to eat. If you want to welcome them to snacks, leave a basket of snacks to choose from out on the counter. That way it is all in clear sight, and they don't have to go looking through your cabinets and other things.
2. Leave written instructions for anything that might be confusing.
Sure, you'll walk them around and give them instructions before you leave, but your babysitter, particularly if it's his or her first time in your home, will likely not remember everything you say. Instead, if you need to instruct them on how to operate the 16 remotes to your TV (so they can occupy themselves when the kids go to bed), leave instructions on the coffee table. Have a security alarm? Definitely leave instructions for this. Some people may panic at the thought of accidentally setting it off, so having something to look at to arm/disarm is great.
3. Disclose any pets up front.
Usually, babysitters won't mind terribly having to feed a dog or your goldfish. There are instances, however, when this could be a problem. You definitely don't want to wait until he or she shows up to your house to figure this out! Some may suffer from allergies (like myself - very allergic to cats!), while others may have a fear of certain animals. Sometimes, the animal itself may be welcome, but your specific animal may be too much for them (sorry, but you know who you are. Sometimes animals are just out of control and it's only endearing to you!). It's not fair to ask them to babysit one child, when the animal makes it feel like 3. Just be considerate.
4. Be home when you say you will.
This one is important. Not only is coming home on time important, but you don't know what else your babysitter has planned for that day or night. It is not fair to assume that they have blocked off their entire night for you and your children, when they actually may have plans to meet with a friend, or to go home and get some school work done. Just as you would always be on time for business meetings or doctor appointments (or at least call with an apology if you know you're running late), your babysitter deserves the same courtesy.
5. Don't ask your babysitter what they want to be paid.
Aaaawkward. Sure, this is a dream question for us to be asked at work, but for a 15 year old, they want as much as you'll give them! Duh. Odds are, however, they'll probably ask for too little. And you don't word getting around that you're the parents taking advantage of cheap labor. If you're hiring babysitters, it's your responsibility to keep up with what the average hourly rate is in your area. Talk to other parents that you're comfortable with, and ask what they pay on average. I know that seems to be a personal question, but this is something you'll want to stay on top of if you want to find ready and willing people to come watch your kids when you need them. Also, be sure to pay extra when warranted. These instances could include: asking them to watch a pet; if they end up watching the neighbor's kid, too; if you arrive home late; if you expect them to tutor your child during homework; if you ask them to do household chores; etc.
These tips are taken from my experiences growing up, and trust me, my friends and I did talk about our experiences babysitter - the good, the bad and the ugly. We wanted to let others know when they should turn down a job for various reasons, so be sure that you're making your babysitters feel comfortable and valued. They will return the favor, trust me. And if there's ever anyone you want to treat well, isn't it someone who keeps your children safe and cared for when you can't be there to do so?
What other tips would you add for parents?
Until next time - -
Fear. Defined as "a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid." We all have things that bring us fear, and for some, these fears can even be debilitating.
I wish I could say I had no worries. That I always felt confident about life and that I put all of my trust in God 100% of the time. I do believe that everything happens for a reason, but that doesn't always put my fears to rest.
Today, I wanted to open up and share 10 of my biggest fears (in no particular order). I'd love to hear from you, too, on some of your fears. Maybe we have some in common!
1. Death of a loved one.
I did experience this recently, and it sucks. Period. I trust that she is healed and celebrating in heaven, but it still stinks for those of us left behind. For some unknown reason, I have always feared losing a loved one in a car accident. I don't know why, or where that fear originated, but it's there. So when I tell someone "be careful" before they drive somewhere, I mean it!
2. Cockroaches.
I know. They can't hurt you (but they do carry gross germs and diseases), but that does not ease my fear. I have been known to run and start crying when I see one. It's totally irrational and childish, but I just can't help it! I shudder just thinking about it...
3. Financial hardship.
I've always been blessed with a roof over my head, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in. We had times of trouble, and I wasn't always able to have things my friends had or to go places my friends went, but I still consider myself blessed compared to many. I am so grateful for our current blessings and incomes, but sometimes I fear something will happen and we'll have to make some tough choices.
4. Infertility.
Spencer and I are not currently trying to conceive, but I fear that when we do, I will have a hard time. I've had some issues (that I won't go into detail about) that might be cause for concern, but there's truly no way of knowing until the time comes. No sense in worrying about it now, but it does pop into my head on occasion.
5. Disappointing people.
If you've read this blog for any length of time, or if you know me personally, you're aware that I'm a people pleaser. Always have been. As a kid, it only took "the look" to make me cower and cry (Momma, don't try it because it still works!). I like people to like me, to meet peoples' expectations, and to make them happy. I know it's not possible to do all the time, but I dread the times that I let people down.
6. Aging.
I don't particularly fear aging for myself, but more for my family members. I have two living grandparents that I feel so lucky to be able to spend time with. I also am blessed with not two, but four wonderful parents. I try to ignore the fact that they're getting older, because I like to imagine they'll always be around. It's just easier to think that way.
7. Forgetting a work event.
A large part of my job as a marketing coordinator includes events (educational, social, internal, etc.). I sometimes have a last minute fear that I've forgotten an event, or an important detail like ordering food or reminding the building to leave the lights on. Things do (and have) gone wrong, but I still never get over having those fears.
8. Anxiety.
I haven't shared this on the blog, but I currently take medication for anxiety. It started for me this past summer, and I'm so grateful to have a husband that I could be open with. He called to make a doctors appointment for me (because I couldn't do it myself) and I've been on medication since. After a few experiments with dosage, we've settled on a good one for me. I do fear that it will stop working and that my anxiety will come back. On occasion since I started, I'll feel my heart beat increase or another symptom that occurred before my medicine, and I'll start to panic. I'd like to eventually decrease my dosage if possible, not have to increase it!
9. Working alone.
I've talked (written?) before about being an introvert, but I have found that I do better work, both at home and at work, when I have a partner or a group to work with. I like the opportunity to bounce ideas off of others, and to divide and conquer. It makes me feel more confident in what I'm doing. I do work alone sometimes, but I just feel that I do better with one or two others.
10. Wasting my life.
Sometimes I sit back and wonder what I'm doing with my life. I've never had big dreams to be famous or to go down in history. I just want to live my life in a way that I'll have some sort of a positive impact on other people. I want to bring others to the Lord and to live my life in a way that shows my love for Him. To make people smile, to make them feel important and to let them know they matter. I worry as the days go by that I'm not doing that enough.
Well, those are my fears (as I said, in no particular order).
What do you fear? Does it hold you back? Have you been able to overcome anything you used to fear?
Until next time - -
Let me start off by saying I am not the financial guru in our household, but thankfully, my husband is wonderful with money and numbers. After we got married, I felt I should be more responsible with how I handle money, since it no longer affected only me. I still don't hold a candle to Spencer as far as financial smarts are concerned, but I am learning. A big incentive for me has been a big European vacation we have been planning a few years for. We couldn't take the trip until we had enough money saved, and I am dying to go. Guess what - we are going in May!
Hopefully you find at least one of these tricks to saving money helpful in your financial life!
One:
If you don't have one already, create a budget. Once you have one, you actually have to stick with it! It's shocking how much money goes down the drain without you realizing it. Until you have a budget, there is no way for you to find the leaks! Then you can tighten the pipes (sorry, I had to continue that...).
Two:
Never spend $5 bills. We have a bank in our closet (probably the least cute bank ever, which is why it's in the closet) that Spencer made out of an old cheese ball container (yes, we washed it first). Ha! He cut a slit in the lid and bam. Insta-bank. Whenever my wallet starts to feel heavy, I know it's from too much change (definitely not too many bills!). I empty all of my unused change in there, but reserving some for things like parking meters. After I started doing that, I heard a tip. When you get a $5 bill, don't spend it! Hold on to it. Put it in a piggy bank. Sure, it doesn't make interest there, but it's a way to set money aside from the rest and visually watch it grow.
Three:
Sell unused items. When I re-did my Craigslist dresser, we were left with an unused TV stand collecting dust in our garage. I considered getting rid of it quickly by putting it in my in-law's upcoming yard sale, but decided I would give Craigslist a shot. I listed it and waited. I dropped the price by $25 after 2 weeks, and not long after, got a buyer! It was out of my garage, and I had a handful of cash that I could put in our cheese ball bank. I was thrilled, and all of a sudden wanted to start selling everything haha.
What other tips do you have for building savings? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time - -
