Re: Watch Babysitting Without A Net Free
Alfonzo Liebenstein
With Father's Day around the corner, I have a pet peeve to share with all of you, and I think it is something that is somewhat common in our language about dads that we need to change. Nine times out of 10, when I am out without the kids and without my husband, people ask me, "So is your husband on babysitting duty?" Now, before you jump all over me, I get it, this is just one of those "things people say" -- but that doesn't mean it's OK.
I'm tired of the old-fashioned notion that mothers are always the primary caregivers and the only ones who know how to properly parent a child. You've seen the commercials, the ones where the dad might be at, say, the grocery store, in the diaper aisle, like, "Huh? Diapers? What are these?!?!" -- as if he's completely clueless and this whole "Dad" thing is just beyond his comprehension. Or the sitcoms where the mom goes out for a night and finds out the dad was so incompetent he let the kids stay up way too late and eat nothing but junk food 'cause hey, he's not a mom, he's a dad. Such portrayals promote the idea that dads (AND moms) have to fit into these certain roles -- each parent providing a certain brand of parenting (or in this case, babysitting) -- and that those roles can't be interchangeable, or one is inherently more important than the other.
To realize how ridiculous it sounds, turn the phrase around a couple of ways. If you happened to bump into a mom at the grocery store with her kids, would you say, "Oh, looks like you're babysitting today, huh?" No, of course you wouldn't. If I'm out with my kids and not my husband, no one will say I'm "babysitting" my own children. If we are at an event together with our kids, we are "there as a family." But if my husband is there and I'm not there, he's "babysitting." Sounds pretty silly, right?
I say let's abandon this notion that dads are these bumbling buffoons when it comes to parenting, and give them the credit they deserve as parents. So no, my husband is not "babysitting"; he is spending time with his kids, which he enjoys. While he is doing it, he is probably making them a better meal than I would (he's a far better cook), changing a bunch of diapers, drawing with our daughter, finding a movie to watch with our son, helping with homework and doing laundry. He is not "babysitting," he is parenting, and he's pretty damn good at it.
She said that she, my brother, and my other married brother and his wife, were doing a couples spa evening experience that they booked a few days earlier and they needed me and my BF to watch all of their kids. She said my brother was supposed to have asked me earlier that day. He forgot to.
My parents walked in on us arguing, and eventually they offered to watch the kids. They were supposed to go to a free concert on the beach together but decided to cancel so someone could stay with the kids. I felt really bad but my mom insisted.
When I took my Safe Sitter class, I thought about a lot of things. What I was going to spend all my babysitting money on. Whether I would have to change diapers. What I was going to spend all my babysitting money on. What I would do if kids behaved badly. What I was going to spend all my babysitting money on.
In Texas, you can legally care for up to three children at once without a license if you are babysitting in your own home. The law also states that if you are providing childcare outside of the home, you must obtain a professional license from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
So while it may be possible for an individual who is seeking only part-time work or who plans on watching fewer than four kids at once to do so legally without a license, most daycare providers will need to obtain their license before providing services even if they are only caring for three or fewer children.
Earn your babysitting certification from the American Red Cross. Whether you're just starting out or you've cared for your siblings for years and now want to start earning money or even build a business, our programs can help. By allowing you to demonstrate your skills to the families seeking your help, a Red Cross Advanced child care certification or Babysitting certification shows parents that you take your job seriously.
The American Red Cross makes babysitting training and certification fast, simple and easy. And with Red Cross Digital Certificates you'll get anytime, anywhere access to your certificates; plus the ability to print, share, and download them wherever and whenever you like. Digital certificates can be viewed, printed or shared online and can be accessed anytime through your Red Cross Account. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a QR code which meets employment requirements and allows employers to easily confirm your certificate is valid. Class participants and employers can visit -a-class/digital-certificate and enter the ID found on the digital certificate (or scan the QR code with a standard QR reader using a smart device) to access a copy of the valid certificate with student training information.
So how do you know at what age it's OK to leave your tween home alone? And when are your kids old enough to start babysitting? Experts say the answers to these questions depend on your child's maturity and your situation.
Preteens can learn some of these skills, along with first aid and CPR, by taking a babysitting class. Check with your local chapter of the American Red Cross or YMCA for babysitting classes in your area.
What if you have a live-in nanny, would letting her live rent-free in exchange for babysitting be consider a tax-free benefit? I recalled reading something that if it is for the convenience of the employer, housing (and meals) expenses are not taxable to the employee.
It depends on your role and attitude as a parent. If watching your kids isn't something you normally do, and/or you resent doing it, "babysit" would be appropriate. If it is something you do with some frequency, or even if it's not but you want to help her, then you would be "watching" your kids.
He and the kids were always fine when I was away. When I started seeing things differently, the only thing that changed was I actually enjoyed the gift of time my husband gave me when he watched our kids.
Shellie, I often go away for the weekend (or 48 hours ish) to a hotel fairly near. I LOVE IT! I think you are so right, that sometimes just getting away and being alone is exactly what the doctor ordered. I feel myself relax and become expectant to see the kids, but without the frustration and annoyance right under the surface!
My ex husband use to say I am not babysitting for you, it would drive me crazy when he said that. He was their father, he was as responsible for them as I was. It is called parenting, that is what parents do!
Yes, Ashley! I was totally writing from my own perspective of feeling guilty for trying to get my husband to watch them! He never minded, but I put the guilt on myself. And feel free to put links to your posts here :)
Hmm, I see your point. I guess I just feel happy when ANYONE watches the kids besides me, so I was meaning more in a general way. Like, if you ask your hubby to pass the salt and he does, you can still say thank you?
While most grandparents won't expect to be paid for occasional babysitting, it is reasonable for them to be paid if they provide ongoing or full-time care for the kids. After all, babysitting is a job. As such, it requires them to fulfill certain responsibilities and to keep a schedule.
But it's important that your parents or in-laws don't feel taken advantage of. Feelings of resentment are more likely to happen if they are asked to care for your kids on a regular basis without pay or other compensation and you haven't had open, honest conversations beforehand.
In order to help grandparents avoid feeling guilty for saying "no" to a babysitting request, assure them that you have a list of other sitters you can call whenever they're unable to watch the kids. (And make sure you have that list handy for when it's needed!)
However, there are times when I do need some assistance and I have to hire a babysitter. The good news is that there are some sweet and hardworking teens in the area. Having someone watch over our toddler and our little girl makes it much easier to knock out the bigger, more intensive projects.
Can you babysit from home? Yes, you can babysit from home. Although there may be some additional restrictions compared to traditional babysitting jobs at another family's house. Depending on where you live, you might need additional licensing or certifications to babysit out of your own home.
Admittedly, there are lots of babysitters out there providing illegal services without the appropriate licenses or paperwork. While the chance of getting caught may feel quite low, particularly if you're just babysitting for family members or friends, the risk isn't non-existent. All it takes is one of the parents you babysit for to claim your babysitting services as a child expense on their taxes to get the authorities interested in you.
In Canada, the only real limit on unlicensed babysitting or daycare is the number of children that you're able to watch. You're only able to care for 5 or fewer children under the age of 6, and you need to include any of your own children in that amount. You also aren't able to care for more than 2 children under the age of 2 at a given time.
It really varies what is required to run a small-scale babysitting business in different states. About a third of states require licensing even if you're only babysitting one child in your home. Other states may allow you to watch up to 7 children at once without any kind of license.
Altogether you're looking at well over 300 just to get started. So I would highly recommend against babysitting within your own home in the UK. Only babysitting in other people's homes in the evening will help you avoid having to pay annual fees to be a registered childminder.
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