Stood Up @ 29
I have been a Stay at Home Mamma for 3 1/2 years and I don’t regret a day of it. My decision to stay home with Catcher at first stemmed from the fact that I didn’t want to do day care. Nor did I want to pay for it. The fact was when Catcher was born my salary in NYC was next to nothing and day care would have taken it all. The cost of a nanny ($100,000/yr) was out of the question.
I have thoroughly enjoyed staying home with my kids. It has MADE my life! Everyday I see something new in each of them and I everyday I am taught something new by each of them. It is like university all over again minus the vodka and zannies. I love having the freedom to educate my children and take them to places most kids have yet to see. I am proud of the fact that I can do the parenting thing on my own. I can pack up the Prius with 2 kids, their double stroller, and head downtown to spend the day at the Science Center. I can take both kids grocery shopping and be out in under an hour. I somehow manage to get Biggie Smalls bathed & fed & in bed every night by 8. Each night I lay the boy down by 9 and I find myself reading 30 book straight until 10. And I am happy. So so happy.
My days can be stressful, my days can be perfect. But at the end of said day all I need to do is look at there way to cute faces and know I made the right choice.
But sometimes choices are taken away. Sometimes the choice is no longer an option. Sometimes your choice leads to a bigger choice. When the Chef & I moved from Brooklyn to Cleveland we knew we were going to open a restaurant. And we knew that I was going to work in it. The Greenhouse Tavern project has been moving forward weekly and I need to get involved. I need to play a more active role with the rest of the time. Starting next week I will attend the weekly project meetings on Tuesdays as well as take a 4 week class about LEED on Wednesday night. I am also writing this blog, updating the Chef’s blog, and writing for About.com and Cleveland.com on a weekly basis. And I am trying to shed some FAT before Paris so I have decided that I am going to sign up for a hellacious class called Boot Camp. Apparently it is designed like the actual Boot Camp one goes to if they sign up for the war. Doesn’t sound fun but sounds very effective. Did I forget to mention that also have two kids under 3, one super allergic to everything pitbull, and one pug who loves to sneak under the fence and run away at the most inopportune times?
So yeah. That’s my crazy life. And to help out with my vida loca the Chef & I have decided to hire some help. We started looking for a grad student/nanny/mother’s helper last week to help us out every Tuesday. I have gotten a few responses and even set up an interview this morning. The girl who responded sounded great, her resume rocked and she even offered up a background check. The problem…she no showed and no called. Until now.
As I began to type this post I was angry. The Chef & I wasted all morning waiting around for our potential sitter and she no showed. I had set up the appointment for 10.30am. By 12.30pm we knew that we probably were’nt going to see her. Then about half way through this post, she called. It was 1pm. She said that she got stuck at the doctore’s with her son and didn’t have my phone number to call. We chatted for a few minutes and we rescheduled for Wednesday. My question is this. Should I have evn bothered to reschedule? Is her not showing up a sign of things to come? How did you find help for your own families? I could use all the advice I could get. I am so NERVOUS about leaving them in someone’s care but I have to do it. I have to be able to leave them. It’s just a matter of time before GHT is open and I am putting 25 hours in.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
That would drive me crazy. I can see how you would be uncomfortable moving forward. I would feel the same way. Do you have other options?
August 25th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
i’m a blurker coming out to say…..go with your gut….your mother’s instinct. no show for an interview is a bad sign, my two cents is move on with out a second’s hesitation. there are great people out there looking for jobs.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
She should have had you number with her. Those of us with kids know that even the best laid plans get messed up. I can totally relate to being stuck at the pediatrician’s office, or even my own doctor’s. But she should’ve had your number. Had she called, you probably would’ve felt differntly about rescheduling. To me she just wasn’t prepared and that wouldn’t be good enough for my daughter.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
mama chef- i wish i could help out! i will put my eyes and ears out. only the best for those beautiful babies of yours! hope to see you soon.
August 25th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I don’t think you should have bothered to reschedule. My mommy vibe and teacher vibe is sensing something is amiss with this girl who is so inconsiderate of your time.
CW-I have an early childhood education degree and taught preschool for 5 years before becoming a momma myself. I know tons of other ECE grads, former teachers and current teachers and almost always someone is looking for a job. Shoot me an email if you want me to give you more info!
August 25th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I’m in the same place! Our restaurant is about three weeks from opening, and I’m expected to work there (i didn’t apply for this job, by the way). My mom is coming to stay with us for three weeks to take of our son, but I haven’t even STARTED to look for someone to help out after that. I am freaking out, not only because I am worried about finding a good caretaker, but because I am not ready - and do not want - to leave my baby with someone else. Since I am no further along in the process than you are, I can’t really give advice, but I wouldn’t be willing to reschedule with Ms. No Show No Call. If she truly wanted to reach you, she would have.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
WHile they may not be located close to where you live, both John Carroll and Ursuline College have programs where you can find a qualified babysitter. And since both schools have a lot of commuter students, you may find someone who lives close to you or someone willing to drive to you. At John Carroll, there used to be a book in the campus employment office filled with students (usually education majors) looking for regular babysitting jobs. Also for a small fee, you could put your name and needs in their book… I got several calls from qualified people that way. At Ursuline College, go to the nursing school and the education department There used to be bulletin board sthat you could post on or sometimes students would advertise. One of my friends found a terrific nanny there.
Good luck!
August 25th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Am ….
Ursuline College - I second that one.
Second chance for this girl … NOPE … leaves a bad taste in my mouth … what happens when you’re waiting on her to sit for your kids?
I love www,.sittercity.com…. it may seem like a costly expenditure to start with as you have to join …. but we have found OUR SITTER after two days!!
Call me if you want to talk more about it.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I have been a babysitter for 14 years, I’m 26 years old, and I would have NEVER not called and not shown up. It’s unacceptable. Have you tried Craig’s list? Also, some of my friends who have children go in together to try to find sitters for days. If you know any parents around you with children who don’t want to use daycare it can be less expensive and for parents I know it is a relief to know that the kids are with friends as well. John Carroll and Ursuline are great places to look, as well as BW and CSU.
Also, I just took my LEED exam July 31st, it wasn’t too bad, and I have a ton of study material. I’m sure you will get a bunch of stuff from your class, but if you want some extra info, or to ask some questions of someone who just took the exam, please feel free to contact me…
August 25th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I would say it’s a “NO GO” with the “NO SHOW” - Doesn’t feel right…..
I’m not a Mom, but most of my friends are and they have always found people through people they know and trust.
Good start of asking your audience here…. Good Luck!
August 26th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Hi! Like Judith, I have been babysitting since my early teens and I am now a 27-year old full-time nanny. I also have an education degree and taught 2nd grade. I agree with you and everyone else who has posted, that if she wanted the job and truly had an emergency, she would have found a way to contact you. I wish I could offer you some advice, but since I do not have any children of my own, I can only imagine how hard it would be to find a great sitter for your children…I wish I was available to help you because I’d be there in a heartbeat! I could get paid with fries and pizza from Cento, too! In all seriousness though, I will let you know that I found my family through the internet. Most sites work like dating sites where the family and nanny fill out profiles and the computer does the matching. The site I used is called http://www.nannies4hire.com and others I have checked out are http://www.sittercity.com and http://www.enannysource.com. I wish you all the best in this difficult search. I would be happy to offer you more advice on this process if you’re interested.
P.S. For the contest, my husband and I have a favorite we make at home…Vodka Cream Sauce Pasta from -gasp- Rachael Ray who I normally do not like, but this is sooo good (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/you-wont-be-single-for-long-vodka-cream-pasta-recipe/index.html); but when we go out we love everything at Bar Cento and Lola (honestly!)! Can’t wait for Greenhouse as well!
August 30th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Oh, have I got the sitter for you! Her name is Virginia Martinez. She is originally from Mexico. She is a very hard worker, will be starting nursing school at Huron Road School of Nursing next year. She does babysitting for several of the Browns players’ families — who recommend her highly. I will email you with her phone number. My, my, you’re a busy girl!
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
This was THE same post I wrote today. I had my first boot camp on the East side and I really enjoyed being up before 6am. It wasn’t not as bad as I thought it would be.
Now. My legs are another a story and I can’t even pick up my baby. Geesh.,.. it will be a long 12 weeks.