"We have a 3-year-old daughter. Once a month, we have a babysitter watch her so we can go out. The babysitter is a friend of a friend, and she is an elementary school teacher. We were lucky to be introduced last year, and we feel great having someone so responsible and good with kids hang out with our daughter for a few hours, even though obviously we don't "need" a licensed teacher watching our toddler while we're at dinner."
"We had a full-time babysitter for our three children from the time our first kid was a minute old, and she stayed with us until our youngest went off to pre-K. She was family to us, and I'm certain she felt the same way. When we were asked by other parents if she was available, I know we were definitely hesitant to answer because we didn't want to lose her-what if she loved another child more than she loved ours? What if they were willing to pay her more? So yeah, we hoarded our sitter. When other parents inquired with us about her services, we promised to ask her, we absolutely did not."
A parent relies on a trusted babysitter, an elementary school teacher, to watch their 3-year-old monthly and values her responsibility and skill. A neighbor asked for the babysitter's contact to help a child with developmental delays, and the parent hesitated because the babysitter is busy and in demand. A recalled experience describes keeping a long-term babysitter to oneself out of fear of losing her to another family or higher pay. The hoarding behavior is acknowledged as selfish and potentially harmful because it can prevent the babysitter from future gainful employment and limit her autonomy.
Read at Slate Magazine
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