Despite early encouraging signs about the availability and eagerness of teenage babysitters out here in Seagull Fountain, we have yet to secure a minder for the coveted Friday night date slot. Today in church the Young Women (12-18 years old) sang that testimony song, and boy! did they look pure and wholesome and ready to spend four hours straight playing dress-up with my mermaids.
Tonight I talked to a nineteen-year-old girl who was playing the piano for a church function. She said her almost-sixteen-year-old sister loves to babysit and wants to make money. Then she said that she too would be happy to babysit, as long as it’s a week that her work schedule is light enough. Not this past week, for example, when her job at Olive Garden (which she loves) had her working 42 hours. 42 HOURS.
I asked if she was going to school full-time? And she is not. At all. She ran out of money and doesn’t want to take out loans, so now she’s working to save up enough money to return to school.
She is unmarried, un-child-hindered, healthy, fit, cute, living at home with supportive parents, and she thinks that working 42 hours a week is too heavy a schedule to allow for an evening of babysitting once a week. Even though she likes babysitting and is desperate for money to continue her education.
Um?
Dick says not to worry: we’ll sign our girls up at the workhouse as soon as they discover boys.
Maybe I shouldn’t have complained every week when mom made us do our Saturday chores. Without those formative experiences, I might get fatigued over the breakfast dishes.
I’m right here, right? (I mean, of course I know I’m right, but, you agree, right? 42 HOURS. Healthy. Young. Not In School.) Dick says I can’t talk about it anymore tonight. He’s afraid the kids will think I’m yelling at him. I’m not.
*Udpated*
I really gotta stop posting so late at night. I realized after reading a few comments that I didn’t include two pertinent facts (and I promise I’m not making them up — I know it probably seems like that because they support my position, but you’re just going to have to trust me that I learned this about her last night as well): A) she and her family just moved here from CA a month ago, so I’m guessing she doesn’t have tons of old friends she just has to hang out with and b) She’s not interested in dating, because she has a “fiance” (date set, no ring) in California.
This added to the rest makes it kind of incomprehensible to me — because I think she should be pursuing an education with everything she’s got. And, when she mentioned her schedule, she said nothing about always working nights or weekends, her only (stated) objection was the number of hours. Quite possibly she has seen my kids at church and has no desire to babysit them. I wouldn’t blame her for that, because half the time I don’t want to babysit them. But I hope she has so more get up and go for the rest of her life, is all I’m saying. (I mean, I think babysitting should be like her third job, after a second part-time job. But that is just hard-working (All this TYPING) me.
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Um, while i agree that 42 hours isn’t particularly stressful on a person’s psyche (most people do this on a very regular basis), but I just can’t help but think of the hours that Olive Garden is open…nights and weekends. So I bet she has plenty of time from 9am to 3pm and would be willing to babysit then, you know, for a romantic morning of running errands or whatever. If she’s working all those nights then if she gets a free weekend off I don’t think that babysitting your little angels is the first thing on her list. Just a thought.
Yeah, thats nothing like my 168 hour weeks. I would take off the time I slept, but I had a 4 year old with a recurrent nightmare kicking me all night every night. And I think time spent watching certian cartoons or reading certian books should count double. And since I have a 2 year old on my lap right now, I can even count computer time (and often bathroom breaks).
And I hate finding babysitters at a new place. It takes forever to find someone who can handle all my kids. Only a few months till I can legally leave them with my oldest. I am counting down the days!
Charlottes last blog post..O Amazon
Ok why does this seem like its not right? I worked about 45-50 a week at that age to make money between semesters, Ok granted I never finished until after I had my first kid and now Im back in school finishing the BA part hopefully into the MA part. But maybe she doesnt have time cause she has other activities that she didnt want you to know about? A boyfriend? Friends to hang out with? I mean then she wouldnt sound too responsible so she would probably want to keep that on the down low(been watching too much tv with my 8yr old) 42 hours is a full time job, and sometimes when you are 19 you have that feeling of ok I dont always want to be working. You have to have fun, but that doesnt mean I would tell a would be babysitting job that I would rather hang with my friends in my off hours than watching her lovely kids. Just an idea.
I still cant find a sitter who will be brave enough to handle 4 boys with lots of energy, 2 asthma, 1 severe allergies and a daredevil who thinks everything(yes everything) is funny. IF you know of someone let me know it might be worth the move lol.
I’m not sure about this one. I guess it’s good she’s not taking out loans, but I would at least baby sit a few times a month, as long as I was not working during evenings.
I was most amused by the fact that Dick made you stop talking about this. I “talk” loudly too when I get aggravated. I always get told to stop yelling at Chris. Hey, we’re just expressing our opinions right?
Of course 42 hours a week doesn’t seem like a lot now that we are moms and work non-stop. But at 19, when you are still young and immature, 42 hours seems like a lot of time. Those 42 hours probably seem like they take up most of her time to spend with friends. There are two 19 year olds in my ward here in Oklahoma and I am always so happy when they babysit for us because I remember being 19 and not wanting to babysit anymore. I think you should look for those 16 year olds who are still excited and interested in babysitting and willing to sacrifice a night out of hanging out with friends to babysit.
I worked that while going to school at that age. I was a waitress too, and I have to agree with Brock. She probably doesn’t have the right hours open. 42 hours a week in the evenings is a lot of time. Unlike 42 hours during the daytime hours when you still can do other things with your life after work – including babysitting.
But if she said it like 42 hours was crazy and she couldn’t believe they would make her work that much, then that’s just silly. If she wants the money, she should be happy for the opportunity to earn it.
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I hate to say it Jane, but she’s probably lying to you. She probably doesn’t have the courage to say “I don’t want to babysit for you.” I TOTALLY agree with you that 42 hours a week at Olive Garden does not seem like a big drain on her precious psyche, so we must assume it’s something else.
So she’s being coy, avoiding the issue, sideskirting by directing you to her little sis. Possible truth is that she liked babysitting when she was younger, but now at her advanced age, taking care of three kids *all at the same time* is too much for her. Perhaps she could handle ONE infant, who’s already been put to bed when the parents leave and will sleep soundly until they return. Who knows?
Jane – move on sister, and know that the babysitters will come, just not this one. Also rest easy in the fact that one day, she too will likely be a mother and then can finally understand what it’s all about!
Have you tried 12 year olds? They seem more willing to babysit and less likely to just turn on a movie the whole time. We’ve had 12 year olds babysit most of the time, and they do fine.
Find the YW that is super busy and loves it. We have had the best luck with those ones because they enjoy being busy, they need to make money and know with a busy schedule they can not get a “real job.” Since they are high energy, they will LOVE playing with your kids and not be lazy! We have had one girl that lasted us through all of her high school and still loves to come back when she is home from college. She would even do the laundry or mop the floor if the kids went to bed!
Erins last blog post..the enemy
I think I hated babysitting at that age (in fact I think I still hate it) and unless you are going to pay her the same amount she would make at a couple of hours at the Olive Garden (I have no idea what the going rate is there) I would be very suprised if any 19 year-old would willingly do it unless it was a favor to a family member or a VERY close family friend.
There is actually a 19 year old girl in our ward that actually sent flyers to parents listing her available days to babysit. But when I call her, even on her “available” days, it interferes with her social schedule. What’s up with that?
I wish I could trade places with her. 42 hours, probably very low cost of living. Sounds heavenly to me. Personally I hate trying to find babysitters. If one tells me no three times I stop asking her. In my ward they all quit babysitting by about age 15, so you have to ask the younger ones. Since we never stay out late this has worked okay for us. Not that we go out more than once a month.
Rebeccas last blog post..Year of Miracles #31
I agree with the other comments… And I have recently worked in restaurants, so I know- if you are working that many hours, it’s nights and weekends.
And, good luck finding that elusive sitter!
I’m with you on this one 100%. Just don’t get me started on my sister….
Sharllas last blog post..We have a winner!
Do all you people have nothing better to do then speculate over some 19 year old’s work & social habits? Jane will move on with her life and be onto her next rant soon.
Wait, what does that say about me that I just read (skimmed) all the comments? Well, I’m just spoiled on the babysitter front. Nah, nah, nah!
CONGRATS! total side note— just saw you posted as a winner on TAMN’s site~! SO lucky! you’re like totally a celeb now!
This post made me chuckle. I am grateful for my 19 year-old babysitter who is willing to drive 25 minutes to babysit for me despite the fact that she is taking 18 credit hours and working 30 hours a week. LOVE HER. Not meaning to rub it in. I bet the gal’s 16 year-old sister she was trying to pawn the job over is heavily involved with student council, soccer, and has the lead role in the school musical. I bet she works part time and averages about 3.5 hours of sleep at night and she would be thrilled to watch your kids. That’s the way it goes sometimes!
Oh to have a 42-hour work week…………….
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Gee Tara, with friends like you, who needs nice readers who understand me and offer their advice?
I think you must be way-spoiled in the babysitter department to not appreciate my ANGST.
angst schmangst
Taras last blog post..Old News, But Still Amazing
I have the greatest babysitter ever! Their Nana who lives next door. It’s going to be painful when we move away next year because I can’t remember the last time I paid for baby sitting. I agree that you should be trying 12-14 year olds because they don’t really have big social lives yet and they can’t make money any other way. If I was 19 I’d rather poke my eyes out than babysit.
Sheas last blog post..The Stein
The main incentive for me when I was around that age to babysit was that I was paid cash. No tax, yada yada, and that heady $5/hour could go straight into the cash registers at the CD shop, dress shop, or wherever it was that I was spending up big …
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When I was young & healthy & 19 & out of school because I ran out of money, I worked about 70 hours a week. And I had a healthy social life. But I didn’t sleep much. That was bad.
She’s a wuss.