Horror stories: Baby sitting and the opt-out revolution

Charlottesville Hook ^ | 1/4/07 | The Brazen Careerist

[Oberon]

It's funny, TC...when I first saw her use the term "opt out," I thought she meant opting out of her primary job, i.e. parenting.

Silly me. In this author's world, all adults have day jobs and parenting is a hobby.

[Little Ray]

Most coffeshops seem have wireless access. I've seen a lot of folks doing business there. My wife's group held a meeting one, and everybody brought their laptops and connected wirelessly to view the presentation.

[Madeleine Ward]

A lot of parents today ask: How can I fit my kid into the life and lifestyle I already have?

[RepoGirl]

Man, what a horrifying image. It's amazing what passes for common sense these days. She TAPED his pacifier to his face? I can't get over that.

We lucked out with the greatest baby sitter on earth. Her father is a former cop (and my hubbie's best friend). She's been watching our daughter since she was three months old.

I'm planning to join friends on a two week trip to Europa this summer, and felt so uneasy about letting my daughter stay with her grandparents (my parents are dead, hubbie's parents are Boston socialists...) We decided to hire our sitter as a temp nanny for the two weeks I'll be gone.

I feel safer with this 17 year old girl watching my daughter (whom she loves as a little sister) than I would her grandparents watching her. How sad is that?

By the way, I'm glad your son is doing well. Any word on whatever happened to Marge?

[Night Hides Not]

Sounds like she is complaining because she wants it all.

DING-DING-DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

[proud American in Canada]

Better him picking up the slack than to find out his baby was sexually molested or worse...

But, your post has common sense, unlike this clueless mother and father.

[proud American in Canada]

It's interesting how the mommy in this piece keeps referring to her child as "the baby" and not "my daughter" or "my son." Could be nothing, of course, but if you ask me, that's very telling right there of exactly where this mom's mind is at.

That's a very perceptive point.

[Night Hides Not]

While, of course, demanding that her husband work more absurd and inflexible hours to "pick up the slack."

DING-DING-DING!!! WE HAVE ANOTHER WINNER!!!

And if hubby doesn't "pick up the slack", hubby can look forward to harangues such as "not loving his family", etc.

[dsc]

"A lot of parents today ask: How can I fit my kid into the life and lifestyle I already have?"

Good point.

The correct question, of course, is, "How can I meet my responsibilities to my children?"

[jusduat]

6 weeks/months of paid leave after baby, fed regulated flex hours,
national health care, and all for a small deduction from your paycheck. That was all I could take before tuning out.

[SquirrelKing]

He says, "I think it was a language problem. I just misunderstood you. I thought you told me to go to the coffee shop and leave the baby at home."

Dumbass.

[Tax-chick]

Phooey on that!

[lsucat]

Oh my! Speechless...

[Colorado Mike]

Less of a question I think than a position to take with regards to your life.

[Tax-chick]

Tell him to either write his wife a check for the amount he would pay for others to do all this work or STFU and put in some OT.

And then she should write him a check back, for half the rent/house payment, half the utilities, her share of the groceries, rent on the appliances, etc., etc. Just to be fair.

Or, alternatively, they could agree that they are a team, with each filling an essential position. They could work together to set their priorities. If being together as a family is their priority, they could agree to a less-expensive lifestyle. If a fancy lifestyle is their priority, then they should pay for professional daycare and get the mom out maximizing her earning potential.

[misterrob]

We are long past the days of Ozzie and Harriet and Leave it to Beaver where Dad goes to work every day and Mom stays home and raises the kids. Many people who thumb their nose at families where Mom works speak from experiences 20 years ago or live in more rural or less economically vibrant areas.

[Stashiu]

They young lady needs to write on the chalk board:
A child is not a pet
A child is not a pet
A child is not a pet.............

[jusduat]

I just can't believe how many people I am running into that think national healthcare would be a good thing.

I'm talking about engineers, nurses, lots of people who
are suspossed to be 'smart'

[linda_22003]

NOBODY seemed to work on Ozze & Harriet. Ozzie was always hanging around the house.

[scan59]

On my 11th reading, I think I grasp that the guy should have walked a sleeping baby over to the coffee shop.

It confused me too. I think the guy DID follow instructions.