At the start of August, I hired a 14 year old to come play with DS (29 months) for two afternoons a week (4 hours a week). Â I intended this to be more of a mother's helper, as I want to time to do stuff around the house, make calls or to just rest and relax! Â I did think that I may go for a walk or sit outside or something though.
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So, for three weeks it was fine. Â The babysitter didn't seem all that exciting, but I assumed she was shy/getting used to DS. Â I could hear them, and though her dialogue seemed to just be "okay...cool...okay", she was playing with him, she would read him books, he was entertained. Â
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Then it went horribly wrong. Â Last week, he would not leave me. Â If I encouraged them to go downstairs, he'd run up and find me, crying. Â I sent them to the park, they came back in five minutes. Â I tried to walk with them to the park, thinking I'd hang a bit, then gradually leave when he was playing, but he only wanted to play with me. Â She didn't try to take over or anything. Â When I tried to leave, saying I had to go pee and he could stay and play with Jenny instead of leaving with me...nope. Â He grabbed onto me, crying, and saying he wanted to come.
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So, she's due to come anytime now. Â I have tried preparing him and talking to him, and he is not happy. Â I ask what he wants to do when Jenny is here, and he wants to "play choo-choos with Mama". Â I tried to suggest a walk with her, he only wants to walk with me.
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Should I keep trying this babysitter thing, or is it just not going to happen? Â Oh, he stayed happily with family on the weekend, so with familiar people he's okay if I go. Â But our family isn't close enough to watch him regularly, and I'd love to look forward to a little break for me each week...especially since DS doesn't nap anymore!
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