Saturday, December 4, 2010

Babysitting Co-op

Tonight we watched three other children that were not our own.  In our care were the following:  a 7 month old, a 13 month old, 2 two year olds and a 2 month old baby.  The night was utter chaos.  Between a teething baby who sobbed if he wasn't being held, crazy two year olds who are learning how to share and use the potty, a newborn that needs to eat every two hours and needs to be cuddled often and another little crawler who grabs and gets into everything, we barely survived.   At one point I was nursing Carsten and holding a sad baby in my lap at the same time.

As four children slumber peacefully upstairs and Lance snores in the Lazy Boy, I would consider the evening a success.  Despite having to get two babies down to bed at the same time, Elisabeth pooping in the bathtub while she was taking a bath with her best friend, and the 7 month old dumping a pitcher of water all over the table, herself and the floor during dinner time - yes, a success.  I still need to bleach my tub.  That will have to wait until tomorrow.


We are part of a babysitting co-op with three other families in our area.  Each couple picks a Saturday or Friday each month when they are available to watch the children of the other families.  If everyone participates on the given Saturday, there are 7 children total - two infants, one young toddler, three toddlers and one school-aged child.  The five hours we have these kids are probably the longest five hours in the month.

But having three date nights a month where we don't have to pay a babysitter - totally worth it.  The idea is actually ingenious.  Don't you think?
 


Lance amidst the chaos.

5 comments:

  1. LOL I recognize all those children and have been all but one of their babysitters :) Fun times!

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  2. They are all sweet kids. It is just a lot to handle between two parents! As they get older, they get easier, right?

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  3. Wow, our date night is 3 hours with a little leeway. I guess if the kiddies can be asleep that is a great way to give the parents some extra time. I can't imagine the chaos of that many little ones. We have 9, but three older girls who help their little siblings. Ok, gotta go, baby is in the Christmas tree.
    hugs-kps

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  4. I'm laughing because that sounds like most days at my house. And they're all mine with me usually doing it all by myself. It's good you get some kid-free date nights.

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  5. We did the same thing in TN. Definitely a night of chaos...but worth the date nights, just like you said. Glad you guys survived :)

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