NBR: Valentine's Day help needed

Re: NBR: Valentine's Day help needed

• amh_navyblue

  February 2012

  I agree that you should find a neighborhood sitter for the long term, but since VDay is next week, I would encourage you to take your friends up on their offer to watch the LO.  You don't have to go out on VDay itself, if that's what makes you feel bad about asking someone to babysit.  You could go out this weekend or next weekend to mark the holiday.  If it makes you uncomfortable taking help without doing something in return, you could offer to bring dinner one night to the kids with friends or just get a simple thank you gift for the friends without kids (I have a single friend who has babysit for us and I got her some nice lotion and bath soap since I knew she wouldn't take my money...).  I know it can feel odd to accept help for something like this, but if they have offered--TAKE THEM UP ON IT.  You'll be glad you did, trust me:)  And since you know them, you don't have to feel freaked out about leaving the LO with a stranger.

  On the neighborhood sitter side of things, I would start asking around and see what options you might have for the future, then set up a time to do a "try out."  Have the potential sitter come over for an hour or 2 while you're home and see how he/she interacts with the kids, get to know them a little bit and then go from there.
  

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• kastle member

  February 2012

  I agree with PP.

  Before you had a baby, would you offer help to a friend that didn't have family near by & desperately needed some alone time with her husband?

  Probably, right?

  Take your friend up on it.  If it makes you feel better, make her a goodie bag as a "thank you" present.
  

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• vtkgirl77

  February 2012

  The way we usually do date night is that we put the kids to bed first and then go to dinner around 8pm. That way, a babysitter/friend/family member literally just has to sit there and watch TV for 2 hours. We usually go to a restaurant nearby so we aren't gone that long. Our dates aren't that elaborate but I feel like I would rather do short dates like that once a month rather than doing a more elaborate date once every 3-6 months.

  I would definitely take your friends up on the offer or try to find a babysitter. If you put the kid to bed first, it's actually a really easy job for them and if you go to a nearby restaurant, the person can call you if there's an issue and you can be home in 10-15 minutes.

  

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• umdbride

  February 2012

  Thanks ladies - you're right, I would have (and still would) gladly watch a friend's child and we'd most likely go after DS was in bed. He goes to bed at 6:30/7 and stays asleep pretty reliably unless he's sick so I don't know why I'm overthinking this so much.   

  Thanks for giving me the kick in the pants I needed

  

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• tracy042206

  February 2012

  Totally go out.  If you are going out after he is asleep chances are the sitter will just watch TV until you get back.  Also if you want a night in but to make it special, rent a good movie and make a good meal and have some wine with it - this is what DH and I did one year for New Year's and it felt so special to have a hot meal (most of our meals were cold by the time we got to them with 2 kids), watch a whole movie by ourselves and drink some wine together.
  

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• mssaint

  February 2012

  What we have done for special nights is get a crazy expensive steak from Whole Foods and cook after LO is in bed.

  Of course, that's what we used to do before LO arrived - we're homebodies -- so that might not be enough of a celebration for non-homebodies.
  

  

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