Comments on: Babysitter drama in the opt-out arena http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:42:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Esran http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-135352 Esran Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:52:45 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-135352 that babysitter is out of order!!!!!!!!! he needs to go and get a real education again and come back and babysit i hope you interviewed him i hope your baby is ok now that babysitter is out of order!!!!!!!!! he needs to go and get a real education again and come back and babysit i hope you interviewed him i hope your baby is ok now

]]> By: Brazen Careerist « MoJoPokeyBlue http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-15617 Brazen Careerist « MoJoPokeyBlue Fri, 12 Jan 2007 01:31:46 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-15617 [...] One of the more recent posts was about babysitting drama as it relates to every parents nightmare. You have to read it to believe it, so I’m not going to spoil it and try to tell you the story myself. As a father of two kids, I can appreciate the sheer terror Penelope most undoubtedly went through. [...] [...] One of the more recent posts was about babysitting drama as it relates to every parents nightmare. You have to read it to believe it, so I'm not going to spoil it and try to tell you the story myself. As a father of two kids, I can appreciate the sheer terror Penelope most undoubtedly went through. [...]

]]> By: Ed B http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-12871 Ed B Tue, 02 Jan 2007 17:48:48 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-12871 Words from Grandparents: Childcare while we worked was at times a nightmareish reality and one we would not choose to do again. Now that our children are married we reflect back on what the true benefit was by trying to combine work and childcare and in the end we probably did not benefit as much as we expected to when we were making that decision. So when our children began having children my wife came home and informed me that she is retiring and going to be a grandmother. Fortunately our children are able to make a better childcare decision than we did and it may be the result of our influence. Our youngest daughter worked with her employer to work out of her home, and then recruited a nanny to work out of our daughters home three days a week. Our older daughter was able to have her inlaws and an adult care worker help with thier childs daycare and my son, Jamie whom you correspond, was able to make sure they did not become dependent on his wifes income. She became a stay at home mom, pursuing her art career around kids schedules. And of course Nanna is on the road between Vancouver, Seattle and Idaho on a regular basis helping with child care. I know that many people have not had the opportunities that our family has had but creativity and re-evaluating what is important may open soem new opportunites that may have been overlooked. <strong>* * * * * *</strong> <em>Ed, thank you so much for posting this comment. It's a real treat to see someone write "Words from Grandparents." I'm honored to have grandparents commenting on my blog. You bring a great perspective that is often missing in the blogsphere.</em><em>-Penelope </i> </em> Words from Grandparents: Childcare while we worked was at times a nightmareish reality and one we would not choose to do again. Now that our children are married we reflect back on what the true benefit was by trying to combine work and childcare and in the end we probably did not benefit as much as we expected to when we were making that decision.
So when our children began having children my wife came home and informed me that she is retiring and going to be a grandmother. Fortunately our children are able to make a better childcare decision than we did and it may be the result of our influence. Our youngest daughter worked with her employer to work out of her home, and then recruited a nanny to work out of our daughters home three days a week. Our older daughter was able to have her inlaws and an adult care worker help with thier childs daycare and my son, Jamie whom you correspond, was able to make sure they did not become dependent on his wifes income. She became a stay at home mom, pursuing her art career around kids schedules.
And of course Nanna is on the road between Vancouver, Seattle and Idaho on a regular basis helping with child care.
I know that many people have not had the opportunities that our family has had but creativity and re-evaluating what is important may open soem new opportunites that may have been overlooked.

* * * * * *

Ed, thank you so much for posting this comment. It's a real treat to see someone write "Words from Grandparents." I'm honored to have grandparents commenting on my blog. You bring a great perspective that is often missing in the blogsphere.-Penelope

]]> By: Dave http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-9722 Dave Tue, 26 Dec 2006 03:42:35 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-9722 When my son was born, my first and foremost responsibility shifted to that of keeping him safe from harm. He had complete trust and faith in me, his Daddy, that I would not let anything happen to him. My wife and I were fortunate in that we were able to afford for her to be a stay-at-home-Mom. It took some sacrifice but I could leave for work each morning knowing that my little boy was in the best possible hands. Finding babysitters we trusted WITH OUR SON's LIFE was extremely difficult. When my son was born, my first and foremost responsibility shifted to that of keeping him safe from harm. He had complete trust and faith in me, his Daddy, that I would not let anything happen to him. My wife and I were fortunate in that we were able to afford for her to be a stay-at-home-Mom. It took some sacrifice but I could leave for work each morning knowing that my little boy was in the best possible hands. Finding babysitters we trusted WITH OUR SON's LIFE was extremely difficult.

]]> By: Brazen Careerist « MoJoPokeyBlue http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-8603 Brazen Careerist « MoJoPokeyBlue Sun, 24 Dec 2006 05:15:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-8603 [...] One of the more recent posts was about babysitting drama as it relates to every parents nightmare. You have to read it to believe it, so I’m not going to spoil it. [...] [...] One of the more recent posts was about babysitting drama as it relates to every parents nightmare. You have to read it to believe it, so I'm not going to spoil it. [...]

]]> By: Bill C. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-8015 Bill C. Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:52:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-8015 See... hahaha the 'funny' thing about that story is that as I was reading it and got to the part where you said blah blah the coffee shop, my first question was why you would have suggested to the babysitter (whose job it is to say home with the baby, hence the job title) that he might have gone to the coffee shop where you were, and my second question was "who's going to be watching the baby if both of you are @ the coffee shop?" :D It wasn't until I read your reaction to what he said that I became aware that you meant for him to move the baby while the baby was sleeping, which didn't make sense to me, either. :) I suppose the moral of the story is to not count on someone like that babysitter (or me) to take care of a baby in the same way that someone that's actually had a child would or someone that's capable of having a child would or even someone that would LIKE to have a child. Of course he's an idiot for leaving the baby, since he's not clairvoyant and had no way of telling WHEN the child would wake up. That's what happens when people accept jobs just to put some money in their pockets. I'm glad everything turned out fine! :) See… hahaha the 'funny' thing about that story is that as I was reading it and got to the part where you said blah blah the coffee shop, my first question was why you would have suggested to the babysitter (whose job it is to say home with the baby, hence the job title) that he might have gone to the coffee shop where you were, and my second question was "who's going to be watching the baby if both of you are @ the coffee shop?" :D It wasn't until I read your reaction to what he said that I became aware that you meant for him to move the baby while the baby was sleeping, which didn't make sense to me, either. :)

I suppose the moral of the story is to not count on someone like that babysitter (or me) to take care of a baby in the same way that someone that's actually had a child would or someone that's capable of having a child would or even someone that would LIKE to have a child. Of course he's an idiot for leaving the baby, since he's not clairvoyant and had no way of telling WHEN the child would wake up. That's what happens when people accept jobs just to put some money in their pockets.

I'm glad everything turned out fine! :)

]]> By: Jen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-7932 Jen Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:06:36 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-7932 All ~ Not all childcare arrangements subject children to unsafe environmnets. You can work outside the home and have your children in loving, stimulating, fun environments. Rememeber not all parents are providing their children this even if they are home with them all day. Even some relatives that watch young children cannot provide the quality of childcare necessary for young children. We have had two nannies for our two children and they have been first rate care givers; conscientios, loving and truly loved what they do. If you can't walk out the door in the morning and have a clar mind that your child is well cared for then you need to stop and go home. I work outside the home 50 plus hours a week with some travel. I have never hestitated that my children are getting the best care they can get. My children have thrived with their nannies who have become an inmportatnt part of their life. All ~ Not all childcare arrangements subject children to unsafe environmnets. You can work outside the home and have your children in loving, stimulating, fun environments. Rememeber not all parents are providing their children this even if they are home with them all day. Even some relatives that watch young children cannot provide the quality of childcare necessary for young children. We have had two nannies for our two children and they have been first rate care givers; conscientios, loving and truly loved what they do. If you can't walk out the door in the morning and have a clar mind that your child is well cared for then you need to stop and go home. I work outside the home 50 plus hours a week with some travel. I have never hestitated that my children are getting the best care they can get. My children have thrived with their nannies who have become an inmportatnt part of their life.

]]> By: Mary Baum http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-7847 Mary Baum Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:08:54 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-7847 In St. Louis we are privileged to have three superb full-time daycare facilities -- Downtown Child Care, Developmental Child Care and my favorite, Clayton Child Center: http://claytonacademy.org/ We chose Clayton because it's five blocks from our house, but over time I've realized we never again had to give a second thought to the issues of child care that come up so often here and everywhere else in print and online. Fifteen years later, my daughter and her two best friends from there (whose mothers are my two best friends) work there in the summers, and two of the girls' teachers from back then are in our book group -- and are still teaching at the Center! Our area also has two other top-notch programs to choose from, plus one at the Mid-County Y. So while St. Louis rightfully deserves a lot of knocks for its conservative corporate, I give it props for great -- if expensive -- child care. In St. Louis we are privileged to have three superb full-time daycare facilities — Downtown Child Care, Developmental Child Care and my favorite, Clayton Child Center: http://claytonacademy.org/

We chose Clayton because it's five blocks from our house, but over time I've realized we never again had to give a second thought to the issues of child care that come up so often here and everywhere else in print and online.

Fifteen years later, my daughter and her two best friends from there (whose mothers are my two best friends) work there in the summers, and two of the girls' teachers from back then are in our book group — and are still teaching at the Center!

Our area also has two other top-notch programs to choose from, plus one at the Mid-County Y.

So while St. Louis rightfully deserves a lot of knocks for its conservative corporate, I give it props for great — if expensive — child care.

]]> By: norma lapham http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-7819 norma lapham Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:20:23 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-7819 Dear Penelope,Try gramma or reasonable facsimile.Many seniors are not only experienced but could use the extra income Dear Penelope,Try gramma or reasonable facsimile.Many seniors are not only experienced but could use the extra income

]]> By: Todd http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/comment-page-1/#comment-7536 Todd Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:05:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/12/18/babysitter-drama-in-the-opt-out-arena/#comment-7536 Jesus. Every mother's nightmare. My mom did that once - left me at home (this is back in 1969) while she went "really quick" to grab some milk at the store up the road. On the way back she gets pulled over for driving, well, really quick. After becoming hysterical she convinces copper to follow her back to the house to write her the ticket. lol. Jesus. Every mother's nightmare. My mom did that once – left me at home (this is back in 1969) while she went "really quick" to grab some milk at the store up the road. On the way back she gets pulled over for driving, well, really quick. After becoming hysterical she convinces copper to follow her back to the house to write her the ticket. lol.

]]>