To sit or not to sit? That is the question.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The lady I babysit for IM'ed me earlier and asked if I thought I'd keep babysitting after our baby is born. Originally, we discussed me taking a few months off and then watching her little boy again in the Fall, because she thought her niece might be able to watch him through the Summer until school starts. I just really want that special one-on-one time with our new little one. The thought of having someone else's needy toddler around while I'm adjusting to taking care of our newborn makes me shudder. I don't know if I'll even be up to watching the little boy again after taking a 3 month break....since I've never had a baby before and don't know exactly what to expect, it's tough to give her a "yes" or "no" answer right now. I told her that I plan on taking a 3-4 month break, like we had discussed, and then start watching her boy again in the Fall, but that I'm not even sure how I'll feel at that time. I guess her niece isn't going to be able to watch him, and she has nobody else in mind at this point, but she understands that I'll need a break.
What if I feel like I just can't handle a toddler at that point? By then he'll be 2 years and 3 months old, and our baby will be 3-4 months old. I know that moms around the world handle the combination of toddlers & small babies all the time. When you have more than one and there's not a huge age gap, it's just something you have to do. But there's no doubt in my mind that it's different when both children are your own. I can totally see myself being a little territorial, and that just wouldn't be very fair to the toddler.
We need the extra money, so a supplemental income while I'm staying at home is a must. But at this moment, I'm not sure if babysitting a small child will be feasable. Maybe I'll change my mind when the time comes, though.
What if I feel like I just can't handle a toddler at that point? By then he'll be 2 years and 3 months old, and our baby will be 3-4 months old. I know that moms around the world handle the combination of toddlers & small babies all the time. When you have more than one and there's not a huge age gap, it's just something you have to do. But there's no doubt in my mind that it's different when both children are your own. I can totally see myself being a little territorial, and that just wouldn't be very fair to the toddler.
We need the extra money, so a supplemental income while I'm staying at home is a must. But at this moment, I'm not sure if babysitting a small child will be feasable. Maybe I'll change my mind when the time comes, though.
Labels: babysitting
posted by Unkempt Mommy at 9:48 AM
3 Comments:
Your dinner last night sounds good to me! I know what you mean about craving spicy food though. Pad Kee Mow is calling my name each and everyday. Then to have some sticky rice with mango to top it off. So yummy!
Anyway, I think you're "let's wait and see approach" is a great one. If she can't wait for you and needs to get a full time babysitter before you're ready, then you just have to trust that God will provide another child when the time comes for you to open your house for babysitting again.
It'll work out and I think it's wise for you to take time off to be with your baby, just the two of you. When and if you're ready to babysit again, if it's God's will, then there will be somebody ready and willing to pay you ot watch their kid.
I broke down and ordered 6 more fuzzy bunz for my 2 year old.
Having a baby and a toddler is hard enough when the children are both your own. You might be tougher than I, but I wouldn't have been about to watch someone else's toddler when my first child was a newborn.
Of course, now that I have 5 kids, I doubt I'd even notice if an extra child was in the house :)
I forgot to ask one very important thing. What does your dh have to say about the situation? What does he think you should do?
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