Date Your Mate – Part 3

In previous posts, we defined the date and balanced the budget. If you still have kids in the home, you need a babysitter!  Gone are the days that you could just put out a bowl of water and a box of fruit roll-ups and allow the kids to “have fun”.  Hmmm, legal obligations… what are you going to do?  (for those who don’t know me yet… relax I’m just kidding)

1.  Trustworthy

There are certain people you should not use for child care.  Let’s get real here!  There are certain family members that, although you may love them, and although you are trying to reach them with love, you should never allow your children to be watched by them without supervision.  Be sensitive to your spouse if they are uncomfortable with a brother or cousin that is available to babysit.  It’s better to miss that date than to put your child in harm’s way.  There are certain friends that you’d trust your life with, but you still know deep down, you shouldn’t trust your kids with.  “How do you know the difference?”  Trust your gut.  If you have a bad feeling about the situation and your “spidey-senses” are tingling, just politely get out of the situation.  For those who are Christians, you have something much more trustworthy than your gut, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within (I Corinthians 6:19).  The Bible says that He will guide you into truth.  At times you will “feel led” to say no to a potential problem.  The deeper you develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the more strongly His Spirit will lead you.  For those who are not yet believers, you will never have the Spirit until you receive the Savior. (Romans 10:9-10, 13)

2.  Affordable

Teenage girls are wonderful for babysitting, especially those who are faithful to church and have a testimony of obedience to their parents.  If you are trying to save money, you can always set up a “Couples Switch”.  Find a Couple that you trust and set up a rotation.  You watch their kids on the 1st of the month and they watch all the kids on the 15th of the month.  This is a great way to make friends as well.  Take advantage of willing grandparents and that elderly lady at church.  Some grandparents are not able and some elderly ladies at church are not willing.  Yet, we have found success in all of these categories.

3.  Etiquette

Pay the babysitter!  This is not necessary if you are doing a couples switch or using a family member that will be insulted by the gesture; however, it’s not right to stiff the babysitter who has given up her evening to watch your children.  For hourly rates, there are several good blogs on the subject.

Also remember to be on time.  If you say that you will be back at 10:30pm, be back at 10:30pm.  There is no better way to run off a good babysitter than to be inconsiderate of their time. Provide Emergency Phone Numbers.  If you are going to leave your cell so that you can focus on romance, allow the baby sitter a way to find you in case of emergency.

What do you think?  Where have you found the best babysitters?  If you are a babysitter, what are your thoughts on the subject?  Express your comments below.