response 1 of 48:

Feb 4 10:52 UTC 1994

I have quite a story.  We don't go out or anything very much, but a while
back (2+ years ago) we had a Friday-evening-&-all-day-Saturday conference
we wanted to go to.  So Grace asked the older sister of someone in Jonathan's
(then) preschool to babysit.  Saturday night, after we had paid her and taken
her home, we discovered that she had done the dishes, (I think) vacuumed
a couple of rooms - not sure quite what else, as if that isn't enough.  No
prior discussion, no extra pay, she never said anything.  This is a really
precious memory.  (Grace mentioned it to her mother, who said something
like: this is Melanie?  She never does housework at *home*!)

The other one, several years earlier, that comes to mind is not so nice.
We had a weekly evening event, & had a neighbor girl babysit regularly.
After a while we found we were missing a couple of books of stamps.  Then
a calculator and a cheap portable tape player.

response 3 of 48:

Feb 4 15:05 UTC 1994

(*Our* kids have usually been excited to be left with someone else.)

response 5 of 48:

Feb 8 01:52 UTC 1994

From my own childhood?  My parents did *not* go out in the evenings,
and I only once remember being left with a sitter of an afternoon.
She was a pleasant middle-aged woman who read us a book about some
cowboy, that's all I remember.
        More recently: Dave's recollection of Melanie is correct.
She *cleaned* the kitchen, including dishes, vacuuming the floor, and
bringing order to the COUNTERS!  Ditto the "dining" room, I think.
She may well have been accustomed to more obstreperous kids than ours,
and felt bored with time on her hands -- also no TV to watch.  If she
lived in the next block instead of at least 5 miles out in the country,
she would still be in our household budget every week or so.
        However, being human, Dave has forgotten something else.
Our two have not *always* been happy to be left.  The very first time
we went anywhere without Jonathan (he was just over 8 months and we
went to a G&S matinee) he cried the whole time we were gone.  After
that he didn't mind so much, and eventually we found an excellent
sitter for him whose coming he looked forward to.  With Paul we have
had many fewer child-excluded engagements, but during the first year
of his life I had to keep an ear cocked  even when I left him in the
church nursery -- sometimes sobs were token and quickly ended, but
when they came from the heart only Mommy would do, and it was easier
for everybody to have Mommy come back for a few minutes (and maybe
take him into the service for a while) than to suffer 30 minutes of
heartbroken screaming and then summon Mommy after all.  I always
wondered if this related to his neonatal experience (6 weeks premature,
3 days intensive care, 3 weeks special care) or if it was just his
personality or his allergic indispositions.
        As for babysitting myself -- sounds like a great idea.  We
live in Milan, most Grexers don't, so during the school year this
would not be practical.  Maybe during the summer we could have a
Grex playgroup.

response 9 of 48:

Feb 8 18:23 UTC 1994

Actually, we really rarely go out anywhere without the kids.  The reasons
for this are many & varied, but among them are penury, general lack of
energy, and preference for reading over other forms of entertainment.
(Bibliophiles who are also low-energy types should *not* get married to
each other unless they *want* to stay home all the time. 8-{)> )

During one period when we had a weekly meeting to go to & a regular sitter,
she sometimes brought a portable TV.

response 11 of 48:

Feb 9 02:01 UTC 1994

The first time I think it was because she was supposed to watch
something for school (she was only about 14).  After that I suspect
she brought it because she remembered that Jonathan had enjoyed it,
but it wasn't a regular thing and they were never watching it when
we came home.  More often jumping on the mini-trampoline.
        

response 13 of 48:

Feb 9 06:32 UTC 1994

sorry, a bit of residual cynicism leaking in.

response 15 of 48:

Mar 2 00:22 UTC 1994

I too am willing to babysit-  just so you know- I'm nineteen now and
have babysat since I was 11.  I have also babysat for kids from one month
to nine years.
If you're interested I'm free rather often, as a university student I
can rearrange my schedule without too many problems.
I can be reached at 764- 5985.

response 17 of 48:

Mar 4 17:32 UTC 1994

If you need me, Kami knows my number until 5/7.

response 19 of 48:

Mar 9 05:08 UTC 1994

oh, do tell?

response 21 of 48:

Mar 10 05:16 UTC 1994

If Kami is referring to me, well I'm starting this class and need
to get caught up and it could take time. :)

response 23 of 48:

Mar 10 17:36 UTC 1994

It's in the gun closet.  The key is on the dresser.  The ammo is
on the pillow.