May 25, 2006
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There is a First (and last) Time for Everything
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It is so challenging with Trevor away; I decided to get a sitter one afternoon a week while I sneak up to my office to try to keep up with work.
I mentioned it to Jesse and Roo a few days ago and we discussed it this morning so they would have time to absorb the idea (they have never had a “sitter” before).
Jesse came to me later, “Mommy, what I want to know is, why would someone who doesn’t know me want to come and play with me?
me: “well, it is kind of a trade for L and me, she needs the money and I can use the help with you and Roo so I can get my books packed”
Jesse: “so you are going to PAY her?”
Me: “yes, I am”
Jesse: “I don’t like that Mommy, it seems kind of wrong“
Me: “why is that?”
Jesse: “well, I don’t want to play with anyone who is being paid to play with me, I only want to play with people who like me and just want to be with me“
Me: ummm…
Jesse: “hey, wait a minute, does Daddy pay you?!?!?!!!!!”
Me: “bwahahahahah…”
Jesse: “so, does she HAVE to come over?”
Me: “no, she doesn’t”
sigh.
the kid has principles.
Comments (40)
Indeed…very wise soul!
tee hee!
That is both amazingly cool and… kinda depressing.
I hope he comes to terms with the idea of having a paid caretaker for a short amount of time. Mommies need time on their own now and then. Or so I hear.
That’s funny and a heartwarming story. My daughter didn’t realize that we paid her babysitter. She thougth she was her friend, and would ask to call her up and have her come over. Finally one day I had to lay it all out on the line for her. Then she started encouraging us to go to movies more.
That is hilarious!
He makes an interesting point.
Tough situation, but a very proud moment. It’s one of those moments that gives you a quick flash in what your children are going to be like as adults. :coolman:
That is really precious! I have never left my two with a sitter before and am now rethinking even why I would do that. Like Jesse said, it really doesn’t seem unfair to *pay* someone to come and play since maybe they don’t really want to. More food for thought tonight, that’s for sure.
OMG he’s a freaking genius. He still might warm to the idea though.
Awww. that’s too cute
Sorry buddy! :giggle:
Sounds like a pretty great kid. :goodjob:
Love that kid and how his mind works! Do hope you can get caught up with work one way or the other though!
“Does Daddy pay you?”
Such a sweetie.
Indeed he does. What a sweet and brilliant little guy. :heartbeat:
Perhaps you can try a co-op arrangement, where you “trade off” child care with another family or families.
I can empathize – Norm will be away all week next week, and I won’t have many minutes to myself.
That is so funny. We loved to have sitters when I was a kid. They were nicer than our parents. haha
Your children look just like you, it’s adorable!
well he’s got a point! haha tho I’d probably just say I was just giving her the money b/c she needs it, but that she does wanna play with him (if indeed she did)
:::shrug:::
That’s cute, and yet a dilema, cause even mommies need a break somedays. I think if given the choice all kids would prefer to stay with there moms all the time.
too cute- boy are you in trouble!! :goodjob:
Wow- very cool. You have a very smart son.
It’s hard to argue with integrity.
:heartbeat:
I don’t think sitters are paid to play with children. I pay ours to be the responsable party. Playing is optional, but I have hired someone who adores my children and plays with them because she enjoys them. If she didn’t, I would find someone else.
I’m sure that you have already explained this to him. Imagine finding out that your friends were paid to be with you…ouch!
Maybe you took the wrong approach. Tell him that you are paying her to come over and make sure he stays safe while you go do some things you want or need to do on your own. She will be paid for helping him stay safe. She will only play with him if she chooses to on her own accord.
That kid is too smart for your own good.
He really is an amazing child.
My kids are begging me to get a sitter. I still haven’t done it, though I would really like to.
amazing!
Ahhh through the eyes of a child. How sweet. Someday he will understand that mommies are VERY underpaid money wise but then sweetness like this makes up for it!
He is so wise for being so little!
I see it this way: You aren’t paying the babysitter to *be* with him, you are paying the babysitter for her eyes and her judgement and her assistance to you and the kids, and of ensuring safety, and being a caregiver. *Being* with someone has value that money just doesn’t even factor in. It’s her childcare *service* you are paying for, and the companionship that comes with spending time together is the icing on the cake.
So when someone offers a service, they need to be compensated. Parents, by being with their children, are not in the business sense, providing a service, they are being a family. (and how does one pay oneself for services rendered?) yet, being a parent certainly has great value, even if we don’t personally get paid for it in money.
Sigh. I haven’t articulated this through enough to completely satisfy me, but I hope you know what I am trying to say! (-:
I came in here to tell you that I fondled your new camera in two different stores yesterday! (-: It’s soooooo nice!!! I want one, too!
hah, boy genius!
HA! Like me… I run a business from home and mine have never had a sitter… totally freaked them out when I mentioned it… hahaha! …so I function on very little sleep… very very little… midnight fuel is when I am the most ‘work’ productive … although there have beena few times when I almost sewed my fingers to the fabric!!! :sleepy: Maybe I should try the sitter things again
K~
well, my son made a similar argument about the sitter – he was even insulted when he found out that I was paying the math tutor! He said, “I thought he LIKED to teach kids about math.” I told him that the tutor does love it, and since we found someone with a special gift to share, we were going to pay him for his time, so that he can do what he loves.
ok, so the sitter might not *love* babysitting in the same way – although hopefully s/he does!
I hope you didn’t let it deter you from your plans. It’s not much to ask to carve out some time for yourself and the kids will adapt. (this coming from someone whose babysitter QUIT because my daughter is such a challenge – ha!) If only we had aunts & uncles & grandparents living next door… but we don’t.
That’s a tough one… I babysat all through high school/ college and still do part time. I do it because I love the kids and I love playing with them. I would do it for free, and I sometimes do now, but then I couldn’t afford it. Is there some way to convey to him that she WANTS to play with him and she’s only getting paid because she needs the money?
I hope you can work this out somehow! Your Jesse really is wqite a thinker.
I need to get a sitter for the first time soo, too.. we will see how it goes!
:heartbeat:
Very, very funny-and what a wise lil one you have!