Calling All Babysitters!

In Search of a Super Sitter

By Teri Cooper Brown

Pages: 1 2 3 4

The children called her "the babysitter from Meantown." She was the daughter of a family friend and an honor student. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were impressed with her friendly, mature manner. She introduced herself, then sat on the sofa with Chris, 6, and his 4-year-old sister, Caroline, who were just beginning to watch an eagerly anticipated Halloween movie. After instructing her to serve cookies and cocoa after the movie and put the kids to bed by 9:00 p.m., the Taylors kissed the children good-bye, then left for a well-earned evening at the movies, certain their children were in good hands.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor returned to find Chris and Caroline together in the bottom bunkbed, still in their play clothes. Chris sadly reported that he and his sister never watched the special movie they had waited so long to see, because after his mom and dad left, the sitter changed the television channel to MTV. She called several friends, and never served the cookies and cocoa as instructed. Instead, she talked on the phone the entire evening and ignored the kids, who eventually put themselves to bed. Though their children were probably never in real danger, the Taylors were furious, and vowed never again to use the selfish, irresponsible sitter.

Parents cringe at the thought of an apathetic, incompetent babysitter. But husbands and wives know that an occasional evening out keeps the pilot light burning in marriages relegated to the back burner when children are little. No one can replace a parent's love and care, but a caring, competent, temporary caregiver can be found with time, research and lots of patience.