You guys,
Babysitters are a hot commodity.
Sam and I hoped to find someone through word of mouth but it was surprisingly difficult. So I finally created an account on care.com which does background checks on all candidates, and posted a listing.
All four young women we interviewed seemed nice and well qualified, but only one made me feel comfortable in her presence. I liked her disposition.
She will be responsible for George three hours a day, four days a week. Sam and I are PUMPED to have some uninterrupted time to ourselves. I’ll use that time for writing or I might even go to a pilates or bikram class. The thought of leaving the house to attend a workout fills me with anticipatory excitement.
But it’s hard to imagine someone else caring for George, even if it is a short period of time and even if Sam or I are home. She won’t know that the best way to tell if he’s tired is to close the curtains and turn on the sound machine because only then will he face plant into your chest. She won’t know that he hates getting his diaper changed and you have to distract him with silly songs and blowing raspberries on his belly. She won’t know that he’ll drink the first half of his bottle like a normal baby but for the second half he’ll want to sit straight up and tilt his head all the way back. She won’t know that George might cry when you put him on his playmat but he usually stops as soon as he can fit a toy in his mouth.
I know it’s good and healthy for George to be around other people besides his Mama and Papa. But part of me doesn’t want to leave him in anyone else’s care.
The other part of me is fantasizing about the sweat dripping from my body post workout.
…Okay. I can’t wait. Get this babysitter over here!
Essay of the Week
When it comes to having hard conversations with people, I trade the short-term relief of avoidance for long-term anxiety.
But I’m starting to feel like the short-term relief isn’t worth it.
I wrote an essay about hard conversations and how to have them.
Pinch Me
We got a pool! And palm trees. I never want to leave our backyard.
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Until next week,
Charlie