Tuesday 30 August 2011

Changing Dynamics in the Expat household

I was warned that the domestic dynamics would change once the Queenager left for college. Given how well she and the Man-Child get on, I knew he would miss her (even if he does insist on telling us that we'll see her soon). The dog is hanging out in her room whenever she gets the chance (see previous post) and I am actually sleeping a little better now that I can't here her clanging around in her bathroom, which is directly under my bed!

What I completely failed to grasp however, was the need for a babysitter! Oh yes, I feel like I"m going backwards. If you'll recall, the Man-Child is almost 16, and the Little Guy is 8. Despite what the Ball & Chain says, we can't leave him on his own in the house. That means, any time I have to drive the MC anywhere, I have to schlepp the Little Guy along with me too. That should be shed loads of fun when it's below freezing. And when the MC's social life kicks in, (as it should in the next few months) I will either have to stay in or find a babysitter.

Have you any idea how long it's been since I needed a babysitter? A good 5 years, give or take.  I have no currency in that world at the moment. I have failed to keep tabs on which high schoolers babysit, how much they charge and who isn't to be trusted with a barge pole.

Something tells me that my social life is about to become even more laughable than it already is.

15 comments:

  1. Oh, take him along. The conversations are priceless.

    Joanne

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  2. I only have one child, so I didn't have this problem and from the age of zero to fourteen, we practically never went out! My friends laugh at how out of date I am in terms of shops and places to go as much changed in that time!

    I feel for you, but how long will it be before eldest son gets his licence in the States and can ferry himself about happily?

    Much love, thinking of you and yours and glad you're all safe! Fhina xxx

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  3. See I'm resigned to never going out without a child until I'm like 100 or something. Now your making me think that in a few years my beloved first born could be an in-house babysitter...

    Sorry you've lost yours but I've gained mine! ;0)

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  4. Baby sitters now there's an idea! Seriously though there must be someone you know with an inside track, take em out to lunch and get the low down! Good luck!

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  5. I've kind of lost mine too, as oldest is totally immersed in soccer. Not that we ever go out, you understand. But tonight, for example, I had to get him early from practice so he could babysit the other two while Husband and I went to the "Meet the Teacher" night.

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  6. Y'all don't tell some of the commenters at Scary Mommy about this. Some think it is mean to make our kids babysit.
    As my oldest is 7, is the reluctance to leave him alone your's or the government's? Depending on where/how long I'm going, I'd be fine leaving Christopher Robin to himself. Is that just my Free Range mom-ness or an issue of law? Please don't tell me the latter. I'm already having Hill House school withdrawl as the kids can't push each other on the swings and Cupcake's class isn't allowed on the monkeybars--they have to be 7 rising 8.

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  7. Yes, that's a really tricky one. My resident babysitter Harley, nearly 14, has decided to play sports every night, which makes it all so complicated again. Just when i thought I had ended the babysitter sagas..

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  8. Aaaah, I'm seeing visions of my future when my teen goes off to uni in three years. Thanks for that! LOL

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  9. AH - don't you worry about my teen. We pay him the going rate and he gets pissed off when we say we're not going out. And there's no way I'm leaving this 8 year old alone. I won't tell you where I found him today with his little buddy. Let's just say his polystyrene giant plane ended up on the garage roof, and he was higher than that! And not on inside the house.
    There's no clear law here on how old kids have to be, but if it's deemed that you left in "in danger" then it's negligence and they bring down the full force of the system.

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  10. Ah, I didn't think about the specific 8 year old. Mine is no problem. I have That child, the one who would end up on the roof, but she's only 3 so I haven't thought about this through this way.
    At least this is one issue that having kids close together avoids. By the time my babysitter leaves the nest, the others won't need sitters.

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  11. I say start hunting! Do it for you! (Says the one with her head in the sand about the recently departed cleaner.)

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  12. (Departed as in left, not departed as in died.)

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  13. Good luck, though bet you'll find some babysitters soon. We found a great one on our street and came back one night to find her cleaning the windows because she was 'bored'!

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  14. You just seem to get settled in one stage of life and the pow you are knocked off your feet. I hope you find a solution. Perhaps the MC will start driving soon?

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