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We're all Humans
Kids will be kids, and babysitters are human.
Your relationship with the person who watches your children is the most important (and possibly the most tricky) professional relationship you'll ever have. In many ways, your baby sitter is a member of your family. But you're still her boss - and you want to keep your employee happy so you can continue to reap the benefits of her expert car-seat buckling, Lego building, lunch making and tantrum soothing.
Sure ways to lose your babysitter are:
- Arriving home late on a regular basis. Even worse, you don't even call to tell her you won't be on time.
Babysitters have lives, appointments and families, too. Try to be prompt whenever you can. If you can't, give her the courtesy of a phone call and pay her for the extra time.
- Expecting her to be Super Nanny: Sure, it's hard for you to get your child to nap, eat all her veggies and stay dirt-free at the playground -Shouldn't your babysitter be able to handle it?
Don't have ridiculous expectations that even you can't meet. On the other hand, you are paying her, so while you might try to multitask by putting your kid in front of the TV for a few minutes while you check your e-mail, your baby sitter should always be on duty.
- Paying her less than the going rate. Who doesn't love a bargain?
You get what you pay for. Trying to hire someone on the cheap can backfire - your babysitter will either be perpetually unhappy on the job, or she'll just be biding her time until she gets a better offer. You don't need to splurge, just consult with other moms or call your local nanny agency to find out what's considered a fair wage in your community.
- Creating a vibe that makes her feel like a stranger in your home. You don't let her raid the fridge or make any phone calls, period.
Your babysitter is your new part-time family member. Suggesting she help herself to the Fudgsicles in the freezer could be all it takes to make her feel welcome, buy her favorite snack when you grocery shop.
- Making it clear you don't trust her. You ask her to keep a minute-by-minute log of your child's activities - in case you don't get to call and check in every hour to make sure she's on schedule.
If you can't trust your babysitter, find someone else. The fact that you're leaving her alone with your children on a regular basis means you can't micromanage. If you're suspicious she's doing something wrong, talk to her about it immediately. Or leave an activity log for her to fill out with the children such as this one:
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