Dear Babysitter

Living in a town without family nearby and without a ton of contacts (ahem, or people that don’t want to share their babysitter…), we’ve struggled finding the right babysitter for our family. Finding a stranger that you are going to welcome into your home and leave the most important person in your life with is a huge task. To my current and future babysitters…

Dear Babysitter,

First of all, I want you to know how important you are to our family. You are the one we call when we are in need. In need of help or in need of a night out, you are our person. While the idea of babysitting seems easy peasy — watch a Disney movie, play with toys, eat a snack, play with more toys, and then peace out — I want you know the stress and anxiety I have when I leave my child.

I’m leaving you with my heart and soul. My best friend. My baby. I am relying on you to nurture and love my child as part of your family. I am trusting you to take care of my child, to ensure her safety. I need you to build a relationship with my child so that she’s excited to see you when you walk through the door. Leaving your kiddo as she’s screaming and crying isn’t easy.

I want you to become part of our family. I want to know about you, about your family, about everything. I need you to be open and honest with me. I need to trust you with my home and everything inside it.

I want picture updates. No mother is going to scoff at knowing her child is happy and safe.

I want you to feel comfortable at our house.

I need you to want to be with my child. I want you to text me and say, “Hey, I’m free tonight and I’d love to come play!” I want you to want to be part of our family. {Most often, if you text me saying you want to babysit, I won’t turn down a kid-free dinner or a grown up movie. So, that’s money in your pocket kiddo.}

I don’t want to feel like I’m imposing by asking you to babysit. Responses like, “Ummm…let me check.” Or “I guess that’ll work.” I will cross you off the babysitter list.

With that, if you have a big project/exam or already have plans, please say so. I want you to succeed in school and have fun! You aren’t my slave, you are a resource for me.

Share your friends with me! No, not so we can be besties and share clothes, but just in case you can’t babysit, give me another option. You know your friends best, and if you have a friend that would also be a good fit for our family please let me know! But know that if they screw up, that reflects back on you. Be picky.

When I was younger I babysat, but I never realized the huge amount of responsibility put on me until I had a kiddo of my own. Please know that if I call you to babysit, that means I trust you. It means that I believe that you will take care of my child and love her. It means I’m leaving the most valuable possession I have with you.

Please take care of my baby.