Top 10 Reasons You CAN get a sitter!

I was forwarded a hilarious blog post from Rants From Mommyland. (link here http://bit.ly/ccrUwX) This is a hilarious blog written by two women. It is (in their words) snarky, so be prepared, but it is great fun and very true. This particular post was titled The Top Ten Reasons it’s Not That Easy to Just get a Babysitter. I’ll let you read her points if you are interested and be ready to laugh! But after reading it, I realized SeekingSitters solves 9 of the 10 problems she listed! I wish I could call her and get her a great sitter right away, but since I don’t even know her, I have to settle for posting a comment to their blog. But I thought for my own blog, I might address those ten issues! So, top ten reasons you CAN just get a sitter!
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1. Complaint 1: You do not want strangers keeping your kids: Are they responsible and trustworthy? Do they have references? Do they know CPR? Will they make creative, mentally stimulating craft projects instead of just watching TV?

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With SeekingSitters the answer is yes, yes, yes and yes!! Our sitters are reliable and trustworthy. I have interviewed them, checked their references, completed a background check, and verified their CPR certification. They will bring a bag of activities with creative, stimulating craft projects and they will play, play, play. Our tag line? Our sitters don’t just sit!  Link to our babysitter STYLE  https://www.seekingsitters.com/sitters_babysittingstyle.asp

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2. Complaint 2: Getting a sitter will cost as much as the night out so you might as well stay home.
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I told you we could solve 9 of 10 complaints so this is the one that is more tricky. Babysitting does cost you, but my mom always told me, “You get what you pay for!” While we might be a little higher than the 12 year old down the street, you are getting all of the benefits listed above. Plus you get me, a local owner, working for you to make everything easier and to solve lots of the problems listed below!
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3. Complaint 3: It’s your special day and you still have to go to the trouble yourself to find a sitter.
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No problem! This is where the benefit of a local owner comes in. All you do is call me or make your request online and I do all the rest. Click submit online and next thing you know a highly qualified sitter is calling to confirm your job! With 7 days advance notice, I guarantee a sitter!
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4. Complaint 4: You could not find a sitter yourself for your special day and decide to take the kids along with you and now they’re acting like hellions.
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You would have had a sitter so no problem here! And even if your sitter cancels or gets sick, I will find you a replacement. Even for those last minute decisions, I can almost always find a sitter.
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5. Complaint 5: Finding a new sitter means awkward conversations about how much she charges.
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All fees are pre-set. All you do is sign the sitter in and out and then we do the rest. The job bills to your credit card and the sitter is paid through us. No more needing cash on hand!
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6. Complaint 6: Hidden charges when you get home such as out past midnight, pay by check fee, or pay for pizza sitter ordered.
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No hidden charges! You are welcome to add a gratuity to the sitter’s time sheet but everything else is in there. No after midnight fee or stayed out longer than expected.
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7. Complaint 7:  More awkward questions such as, “Can my boyfriend come over? Or – do you have Pay Per view?”
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No, no, and no. Our sitters know they cannot have anyone over. They must drive themselves to the job and cannot have someone else drop them off as this gives out your address to others. They are there to play with the children and limit all TV time. And if you are concerned about something with a sitter, you can always call me and I will address the awkward situation for you. And our sitters will leave your home looking as good or better than it did when you left!
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8. Complaint 8: You must master new technology to even talk with a sitter – text and Facebook.
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I will do all the texting for you! And if you call to talk to your sitter, she will answer the phone!
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9. Complaint 9: You have to go through crazy steps to keep your favorite sitter.
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Once you find your favorite sitters with us, you can mark them as preferred and they will always be sent for your jobs if they are available. But you also have the back-up of other equally fantastic sitters on the occasion that your favorite one isn’t available.
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10. Complaint 10:You find a great sitter and then she graduates or moves or gets too busy.
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Who hasn’t had this happen? It’s exactly why I started SeekingSitters! And that will happen with us too, but there will be 20 other equally wonderful, fully investigated, fabulous sitters ready to jump in and fill their spot! And if we start to get really busy and need more sitters, we will add more!
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Some other issues raised in the comments section of the blog mentioned: Why are there never daytime sitters available? We cover all hours 24/7! What about military families that move? Your membership with SeekingSitters transfers with you so anywhere there’s a location, you can get a sitter! Even when you’re on vacation you can find a sitter. With 49 locations in 21 states, we’re expanding quickly!
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Have other questions or sitter problems you’ve faced before? Post a comment and I’ll answer all that I can! But basically, life is stressful enough, having a night out and finding a great sitter shouldn’t be!

SeekingSitters Lubbock 101

How did we get started and where do we go from here!  Two years ago, we had an amazing sitter.  Evie.  *sniff*.  We miss you, Evie!!  She graduated from OT school and is now working as an amazing OT in the Dallas area.  Unfortunately that meant she moved from here.  That was about the third time I had a great sitter graduate or leave or just get too busy to babysit.  I have had an infant in my home for the better part of the last 8 years, and it is so hard to trust a new sitter with a baby.  Will they change the diaper correctly, will they be able to handle her crying, will they refrain from shaking or hurting the baby? So, when Evie abandoned us, I decided it was time to find a better option.  While I was in Dallas visiting a friend, I was introduced to SeekingSitters.  From there it was a quick journey through researching the website and into purchasing a franchise. My husband and I had talked several times about opening a babysitting service in Lubbock on our own, but when I found this franchise I figured there was no reason to reinvent the wheel!

We opened in November 2009.  I immediately hired 5 sitters and started getting our name out.  We have had some wonderful coverage on the news stations and newspapers (Thanks Wendi and Karin!).  And have partnered with some fabulous local businesses for some cross-promotion (Joyful Noise Music, Building Blocks Toys, Lil' Footprints, Sae Kim Tae Kwon Do, Jumpin' Jungle, Cookie Bouquet, KidSpace).  And we have been the fastest growing franchise the corporate office has opened to date!!  YAY Lubbock!  I'll tell you the corporate owners were not 100% sure a franchise would do well here because we're a little smaller than their typical market.  But with some great support from the franchise liaison there who happened to live in Lubbock in the past, they brought us on.  And now look at us go!  We now have 21 sitters and 72 families using our service including 5 corporate accounts (4 churches and Betenbough homes).  It has been an amazing 6 months. 

So, what type of sitters do we have?  We have sitters from age 18 to 34.  All of our sitters have First Aid/CPR training, go through an extensive background investigation, have experience with all age ranges of children, and have been personally interviewed by me.  They bring a bag of activities to the family's home and leave behind an information sheet of what the kids did during the day.  We provide sitters for all times of day, all days of the week, and even for vacations and holidays!  Here is some of the feedback from our members:

Yas was a supersitter. Somehow she managed to play, draw pictures, bathe children, put children down for naps while baking cookies!!!!! Wow!!! What a trooper too, the baby spit up all over her and she still had a smile on her face! I was very impressed...  Marie,Lubbock

Kristen did a fabulous job for us! She helped the kids make Mother's Day cards for us, and played with Play Doh, too! Also, the house was spotless when we got home...she even cleaned up from dinner and put away the dishes! (Definite plus for me!) All the kids have asked when she will be coming back...we hope soon!  Amanda,Lubbock

Ann is absolutely wonderful! The kids loved her and I felt great about leaving the baby. When we got home all 3 were fast asleep. We will definitely have her back. The kids still talk about her.  Kaci,Lubbock

Ann was terrific. Our two boys thought she was one of the best sitters we have hired.  Gary,Lubbock

This was my first time with seekingsitters. I think seekingsitters is a wonderful service. From the time we left to the time we got back, Danielle was entertaining my girls. She came with a big bag of activities. My girls really enjoyed their time with Danielle. Very well organized from the food the kids ate, to the activities they did, to the times the youngest went to the potty. Will definitely use seekingsitters and Danielle again  Ronnelle,Lubbock

So great! When I got home my 2 year old was trying hard to tell me all the fun things they did and was dancing around "like a bird and an airplane". Stephanie figured out her favorite cartoon and made puppets out of paper bags that looked just like "Max and Ruby" Really Great, will for sure ask for her again! Brittni,Lubbock

Families join as a membership with us. It generally takes 24 - 48 hours to activate a family membership. We also screen our families to make sure it is a safe environment for both the sitters and the families.  There is a one-time membership fee that gives access to the website, a Family Information Packet, and the option of requesting a sitter online anytime.  Families can view sitters' profiles and mark sitters as preferred (or blocked).  Hourly fees for the sitters are based on the number of children in the home.  We provide constant support, easy scheduling, guaranteed sitters, and peace of mind.  You will get an extraordinary sitter with no hassle and no worries.  We do it all for you!

So, what comes next?  Next, we're launching our VIP program (Very Important Parent).  Families with a monthly membership with us will receive a VIP card which provides discounts in local businesses.  We are currently meeting with local businesses to see if they will partner with us for this program.  The business will offer a discount to our VIP members and we will provide free advertising in return.  We will list all our partners on our website and will feature one business per month in special notices to our members and on our social media accounts.  I think it will be a great opportunity for us and for our business partners.  Already Lauren Clark of laurenclarkphotography.com has joined us and is offering $50 off her sitting fee for portraits!  This program should launch near the end of summer once I have accounts set up and ready to go.  If you would like to be a VIP member, sign up today!  And if you would like to be a partner company, call me!

I love the peace of mind this company has given me and the great sitters I have working in my home.  And it's been fun too!  Thanks for reading about us and sharing the information with your friends!

Travel with Toddlers

Travel with Toddlers




So summer is here and so are travel plans. We travel quite a bit with our kids and have taken big vacations since our first child was 4 months old. My friends and family think we are crazy. I know this because they don’t mind telling me so! Recently, several friends and even some casual acquaintances have asked me about tips for travel with kids. I have tried to think about what I find most important.



Planning – it is all in the planning. We have taken kids (babies) on cruises, car trips, and to Disneyworld. I love lists. That’s not surprising! I used to make a packing list for every trip until it occurred to me to save the lists! Genius! So now I have multiple packing lists (Packing for car trips, Packing for cruises, and Packing for Disney). I’m willing to share those with anybody. It is so easy because you can pull them up and just modify for the specific trip you’re on.



Airplane trips – Here is my number one rule with traveling with kids: “By the end of the trip, I do not want everyone on the plane to know my children’s names!” I’m sure you’ve had one of those trips. My mother was on a plane once with Jackson. She clearly remembers his name. Throughout the trip the entire plane heard, “Jackson, stop it! Jackson, don’t kick the seat! Jackson, don’t throw your peanuts! Jackson, get back here!” At that point, Jackson was crawling away from his mother under the seats. When they got off of the plane, Jackson was asleep. His mother’s hair was falling down; she was sweating, and probably about to cry. Here is one of the key things – His mother had brought absolutely nothing for him to do. I hate having to carry a truckload of stuff on a plane but it saves us every time. We bring snacks, DVD’s, new games, colors, dry erase, and anything else I can think of!



Other general tips for planes – bring something to pop their ears (gums and drinks for bigger kids; pacifiers and bottles for babies; Dum Dum lollipops are also perfect!) Remember birth certificates for lap children under two. And I always take empty sippy cups in their bags and then ask for an entire can of juice or water. And of course, board early! We always fly Southwest so now families can board between the A and B group (if you don’t get an A boarding pass). One trip home from Orlando we got to the airport really early so then we just kind of wasted time, ate, didn’t go through security. And then suddenly we were late! We rushed to the gate but got their as the C boarding group was getting on the plane! And here we are with 4 kids under the age of 7. It was comical. I thought I might have to use my mom’s trip from back when we were little. This was during the days of assigned seating and she did not get two seats together when I was very young. The gate attendant recommended she sit me down next to the other passengers in my row and hand me an airsick bag. Then politely tell the nice man or lady sitting there that I tend to get motion sick, but she would be just 5 rows up if anything happened! Guaranteed seat swap!



Car trips are not my favorite way to travel. I love that you can take so much more of your own stuff. I especially like to take all my own pillows and blankets. My favorite thing to do is for me to fly and for my husband to drive with all of our things! But I have found some tricks. I have found metal TV trays and large Magnetics. The animal shape ones are especially fun! We also bought one of those grabbers like you can use to pick up trash or reach things several feet away, and I use that to pass things back to the kid in the back of the van.



And cruises – I love to cruise with small kids because it is so contained. Your room is right there for naps, the food is right there, the entertainment is good and easy to get to. Not too much time spent figuring out what you’re going to do and how you’re going to get there. The biggest downside is you have to bring EVERYTHING with you. Diapers, wipes, formula, snacks, clothes, etc etc. There is no option for running to Wal-Mart for something you forgot. Makes packing and getting there tricky. We did find some good tips though on one of our last trips. One was to buy one of those shoe organizers that hang over the door. They have all the little pockets for your shoes. Generally, cruise state rooms are very small and have almost no counter space or storage. You can hang this over the bathroom door and use it to store all types of things – cameras, room keys, toothbrushes, sunglasses. Anything small that you need to get to easily. That has been a life saver! I also always take Ziplocs, Sharpie markers, scissors, electrical outlet expanders, Band-Aids, blister pads, and ponchos on trips. You never know what you might need to store, mark, cut, plug in, or protect yourself from on a vacation!



Disney trips would be a whole other blog entirely. Disneyworld is one of my favorite places to vacation. It is so easy and kid friendly. I could talk forever about tips, things you must do, things you must NOT do with kids, strollers, resorts, souvenirs, and more. I think it is a great trip with all age ranges. We’ve been with babies (age 4 months); we’ve been with all 4 kids; we’ve been when I was 7 months pregnant. I love it! And after all, it is the happiest place on earth!



So, I say travel with kids! Don’t feel trapped because of the difficulties posed in travel with small children. But, do plan plan plan and then plan some more. Have a schedule; take plenty of familiar things from home, and some new things to grab their attention. Keep to your routines with meals and naps as much as you can. And then just relax and know that things will go wrong, kids may have meltdowns, and the laundry will be waiting when you get home, but it will all be worth it!

Some Days I Feel Like a Taxi

Guest blog on LubbockNeighbors.bing.com

Some days I feel like a taxi. And with my new van wrap, I kind of look like a taxi! You hear it called “soccer mom” syndrome, but we’re not in soccer. We are however in a learning program (4 days per week), music (1 day per week), speech (1 day per week), and Tega (1 day per week). Add in various doctor appointments, dentist appointments, our first ever orthodontist appointment, plus work and assundry other things and it just gets crazy! What I really need is two of me! I have a large dry erase calendar in my garage entry, I have a Google calendar which I can access on my phone, a calendar on the SeekingSitters site to track babysitters I have set up, and a date book at work, but it doesn’t seem to be enough to keep it all straight. I can’t figure out what kids are where, who is picking up whom, when I have sitters at the house, and how to keep from losing a kid! Today I printed off my Google calendar (which I love because you can color code your different activities – pink for home, blue for office, yellow for sitters), and then I used a highlighter to mark pickups (green for dad, pink for a grandma), and when a sitter is here, and then everything else is on me.

I have blogged about organization before and about the ups and downs of a big family, so I guess this blog is a little bit of both. I worry that we get going too much and I don’t really have time to just sit down with the kids. (Note to self: add to calendar game night, snuggle time, family swim.) But I also worry that just because it is hard to get to all these things, that my kids will miss out because I drop activities to make it more convenient. And what do you drop? Not the tutoring program that is helping my 1st grader immensely; not the piano that I value but my son might drop in a second or the music class that is the 3 year olds only activity; not speech. Already we opted out of any sports this summer but I need to fit swim lessons in there somewhere.

So many things change when you become a parent. You get such a different perspective. In my counseling practice, I used to talk to parents whose kids were having behavioral or emotional problems about needing to schedule one-on-one time with their child on a regular basis. Sounds good, right?! It is good! But that was before I had kids. Seems like it should be simple. Now, I still counsel that but with a more understanding air of how difficult that can be! Especially for a big family. My kids all need that special time. I need to find that time for them, but time is what is flying past us at mach speed. I am going to put that on the calendar though. Every other week, a special afternoon for just one kid and an extremely fun babysitter for the rest! It’ll be good for all of us.

My daughter said to me today, “You are always working.” This is sadly true. I’m home much of the week, but there is so much paperwork for my psychology job and phone calls for my babysitting business, and just general upkeep for the house. When I was a child, my mom said, “It is not my job to entertain you. Go play.” And I whole heartedly agree with this. I do not have to be my children’s playmate, but I don’t want to miss their childhood because I am BUSY. Busy can wait. You would think things would slow down in the summer, but they sure don’t!

Bucket lists have been a popular topic lately and I have things I would like to do for me and only me. And I encourage moms (and dads) to have that time to themselves. That is rejuvenating and makes you a better parent. I just got back from a long weekend in San Antonio with a dear friend, and I’m in a great bookclub with several close friends. And my husband and I try to have a date night once a week. But my bucket list for this summer is going to be about the kids. Things we need to do and time I need to set aside. They’re only little once!

Clay Café with Erin
Jumping Jungle with all kids
Zoo (Amarillo, Abilene, or Dallas) with all kids
Tea Party with Ryan
Science Spectrum with Evan
Shrek movie (3 big kids or by myself – I just want to see it!)
Game night
Slumber party for whole family
Playdates set up
Ranching Heritage Center
Botanical gardens
Swimming at least one day per week

What are your plans for the summer? I would love to add more great ideas to my list!

Out of the mouths of babes

Guest blog on LubbockNeighbor.ning.com!

Do you ever notice how children can say the most amazing things? They see every detail in their life around them. They appreciate every moment. Today, my daughter Ryan (age 3) said to me, “Thank you mom for getting me a drink.” So sweet! So appreciative. Children will hug you and love you or distrust you and avoid you based on instinct. They are so emotionally perceptive to the world around them. We are always telling ourselves to “stop and smell the roses” and children do just that. It is beyond me how they decide on the treasures they will store up and I try not to let my biases influence how I respond to these treasures. Why in the world do you need to keep the cup that your cheese sticks from Sonic came in? Because I can use to as a cup holder or to store up rocks, or any other small things I find! (Evan, age 7) Why are your pockets filled with gravel? Because I was saving it to put in the fish tank! (Ryan, age 3) Why are you running off from me all the time? Because I want to explore my world! (Reagan, age 15 months. I just assumed this one!) Why do you need to mail that card to your friend when you will see her tomorrow at school? Because everyone loves to get mail! (Erin, age 5). Too true!

Ah, the sweetness of childhood. One of the gripes I have with the toys today is they do not encourage imagination. A Dora toy is always going to be Dora. Sure, you can pretend to go to the Highest Mountain and through the Gooey Geyser, but what are you creating on your own? Children can do the most amazing things with sticks, boxes, and tubes from a paper towel roll. They can create pirate ships, telescopes, rockets to the moon, forts and camps, and anything else that pops into their mind. They can expand their imaginations and through that they grow. Developmentally, play is key for children’s emotional, social, and intellectual growth. It is key for adults too! We all need to play more and it needs to be active play. I am not against television or video games by any means, but these are not active play. Too much of this passive play dulls the mind and inhibits creativity. Give a child paints and paper and random art supplies and see what they can do! Do not try to control the activity. When making a face, it is fine for the eyes to go on the chin or the nose to be higher than the ears! Just look at Van Gogh and Picasso!! Art and beauty are subjective.

I went to a training once on the importance of play for adults. It was fascinating and makes you realize how much we limit ourselves and our creativity. We get so busy and on the go, we forget to play. And I don’t mean play with your children or by going to the gym. I mean activities that are pure pleasure for you. It might be sports such as golf or baseball. It might be hobbies such as scrapbooking or photography. For some portion of your week, you should immerse yourself in play. Have you ever just let go to a song and danced wildly around your house? How releasing that can feel! It is the endorphins released in play. Trust me – it’s scientifically proven so give it a try!

Another area where my children amaze me is their connection to God. Erin sits in her bed at night singing praise songs to God. Ryan starts all of her prayers with, “God, I love you.” Tonight, Evan wrote a song all on his own. It starts with (spelling errors left in): All hail the Lorb for he has made me. And he loves me with all of his hart. So, I tell you the Lord loves you to and the Lord made you to and if you love the Lord he loves you. It goes on for many more lines and at the end, there is a box set aside where he wrote: One question, Do you love God – yes or no. Put a check in yore anser. Put a X in the anser you don’t want. It really is that simple. The simplicity and beauty of childhood. This week I want to stop and smell that sweet smell of childhood. They grow up so fast and while they are not missing a thing, I worry I will miss too much if I don’t slow down and watch.

Guest blog again on Lubbock Neighbors!  http://lubbockneighbor.ning.com/

My hands are full


For 7 ½ years - 2737 days - 65700 hours, I have had an infant in my house. No, I do not mean a child that would not grow up! Just a series of infants overlapping each other in the infancy state. I have had someone in diapers (sometimes two someones) for 7 years. I have had someone potty training for 4 years. I have buckled approximately 340,000,000 car seat buckles. Wiped bottoms, cleaned up throw up, patched up skinned knees, carried small bodies around, rocked babies to sleep. It has been without pause for 7 glorious years. How did this happen? I have four children all under the age of 8. Evan is 7 ½, Erin 5 ½, Ryan 3, and Reagan 14 months old. There is almost exactly a 2 year split between my first two; 2 ½ years between 2 and 3, and slightly less than 2 years between the babies. They form their own little cohorts which I love.

From even before we got married, I knew I wanted 4 children. My husband maybe not so much! He comes from a family of 6 children; I come from a family of 2. Maybe you always look to skew the other way! After my first child was born, I asked his mother how she decided to have six kids. She said, “I just knew they weren’t all here until Melissa was born.” I loved that sentiment and I felt exactly the same way until our youngest was born. I just knew they weren’t all here. My husband came to that same realization in his heart, but maybe not in his mind and body! As he says, “I’m tired!” But God had a plan for us and had these children waiting.

What I get asked a lot (especially by people expecting another child) is if it truly gets easier. You hear it all the time: One and two were difficult adjustments, but after that you hardly notice another one. Oh, I notice!! But there is some truth to that. Some things are easier with multiple children. Having your first child is a huge earth-turning, life-upheaving event. You have to get used to not just jetting off for vacation, you have to pack like you’re moving to go to the grocery store, you have to plan around this other life. But you can still basically wag one child along with you wherever you go. We are night owls so my son typically went to bed around 10:00 as an infant and slept to 10:00 am. Glorious! Then the second child comes and I would argue this is almost just as overwhelming of an adjustment. Especially if they’re close in age. The difficulty here is now you have a toddler used to your undivided attention and still needing a lot of care and attention and you have a baby needing to be rocked and nursed and cared for. And forget those wonderful daytime naps for mommy! But baby three and four don’t really change things a lot. It’s just more people to keep up with, and they outnumber you! But they play together, entertain each other, help each other. Plus if your oldest is big enough then you really get a lot of help!

Some things are more difficult with a big family and sometimes it’s the things you’d never think of. You can’t sit in a regular booth in a restaurant. I love booths! I love Chili’s because they have those super big booths. And traveling! We need an entire row all the way across an airplane. And whoa is me if we don’t get to board early!! On one recent trip home from Orlando, we goofed around and missed our A boarding group spot, and the family boarding!! We boarded last and it was comical. Here we are with 4 kids under age 7 on a full airplane. I know everyone thought I was the most unprepared mother. And booking hotels is difficult too because most will not let you book 6 people into a regular room. Not that I necessarily want 6 people in a small hotel room anymore!!

Childcare is another area that’s difficult too. I always worried about leaving my infants with sitters. Babies can be tough sometimes. They can get to crying and not stop and nothing you do works. I know it’s hard on a mom so how can a sitter survive?! And as we had more and more children, finding good, reliable childcare became more difficult. I am blessed with two sets of grandparents in town, but after awhile, you can’t even leave them for long with grandparents. I mean, 4 kids is a lot for someone over 60! And it’s really just not nice to leave them for very long! This is why I opened SeekingSitters here in Lubbock because childcare for 4 kids was tough!

But big families have their joys too. As we watch the baby grow, we all get to enjoy each new phase. Today I was getting snacks for the kids and asked if they wanted Sonic or hotdogs. Erin yelled out, “Hot dogs!” and Evan “Sonic!” and then Reagan (14 months) yelled, “Hot dogs!” We all laughed and laughed. I can’t wait until their big enough for board games like Clue and Yahtzee. We have our own teams for games! And I hope they will always be there to support each other and to grow up close and connected. So, big family or small, I’m sure there are challenges. Sometimes I get tired of people staring at me in the grocery store like I’m crazy or telling me I “have my hands full.” But most of the time I just smile. I do have my hands full: full of joy, full of love, full of small pudgy hands that I will never let go of.

Julie Bates







 

Guest blog on Lubbock Neighbor!

I Love Anything You Can Color Code!

Hello! My name is Julie Bates and I am the mother of four darling children, owner of SeekingSitters in Lubbock and Amarillo, and a child psychologist. Whew! That is a mouthful. My title: Crazy-Busy Person! Sometimes it feels that way and I wonder how it all gets done without something suffering. I get asked all the time how I do it all; how I keep up with it all. Probably people really are asking WHY I do it all! It does seem too much at times but it rolls smoothly most of the time. When I was asked to guest blog, I begin tossing around lots of ideas of what I would like to talk about. We have so much going on with the kids and raising them. Then there is our babysitting business and exciting new things there. But the thing that has been most on my mind and that I’ve been meaning to blog about on my own site is ORGANIZATION. I think it’s so key to my existence that I just have to talk about it! So, I am going to refer you also to my own blog for more information in the future about fun things like Babysitting Clubs for your neighborhood (www.lubbocksitters.blogspot.com), and then I’m going to dive into the uncertain realm of organization!

I love to be organized. I love to plan, run, figure out, and solve. In almost every group I am involved in, I find myself fixing, changing, suggesting, and organizing. As I grew older, I tried to learn to do this in a non-bossy obnoxious way! Or so I hope! As a kid in school, I color coded every folder and book cover. Geeky, but I always knew which folder and book to take and never got to class with the wrong things! When I was a part of a book club as an adult, I organized our meetings, sent out reminders, ordered books for everyone, sold back books for everyone on Amazon.com, and kept a running tab of who owed me money of vice versa. I had a friend visit from Dallas one weekend and observe all my spreadsheets and mass emails and mass book ordering with astoundment. “WHAT are you DOING?” she asked. “Are you even having fun with the book club?” But I loved it. It kept it running smoothly!

I think other than the jobs I am doing, my favorite job would be to be an Imagineer for Disney. That is an amazing job!! Those people just sit around all day figuring out how to make things run better. I LOVE it! They plan everything from getting people on and off rides quickly to baby centers with everything moms would need. And it all runs so smoothly all of the time! So that would be my next favorite job. I try to see myself as an Imagineer in my own job. How can babysitting run smoother for families? What would be the most efficient way to match sitters to families in a seamless way? We’ve had some bumps in the road, but that’s where the organization comes in! I interview sitters, background check sitters, contract with sitters; families sign up and I talk with families, learn about their kids, figure out the style sitter they like and off we go! Babysitting clubs seems like the next interesting option to me because then families can split the cost of a sitter and go out together (or alone!) and the kids get a fun playdate in the process. But like I said, that’s another blog!

In my own home, I look for what doesn’t run well. Laundry drove me crazy. I would fold it on the couch in piles then carry the piles to the kids’ rooms. No good. So fold it on the table, then into laundry baskets then to their rooms. Blah. So, now I have 4 baskets that I line up on the table and fold clothes into each kid’s individual basket and then off to their rooms. Much better!! And now the bigger kids can even take their basket to put the clothes away on their own. Even better! If the baskets were color coded it would be perfect! When I had trouble telling my two girls’ socks apart, I marked all the littlest one’s socks with a blue dot on the bottom.  Worked great! I think the key to keeping things running smooth is finding these types of tricks for yourself.

I love to watch other people do things well too. We were in Jason’s Deli for lunch one day and they were preparing box lunches for what looked like a million people. I was fascinated to watch how organized and seamless the process was. They flew through those lunches. I had to take a picture because this blog on organization was already percolating for me. And who isn’t impressed with the organization of the drive-through at Chick-Fil-A!! That place is amazing. I entered them into a contest for best fast food restaurant once because I am so impressed with how they thought out every detail.

I know this may all seem crazy, but things just go so much better when they’re organized. So how can you not appreciate that? Don’t get me wrong. Some days I don’t feel so organized. Some days I end the day feeling like my To Do List definitely got the better of me. But, hey, there are other priorities there too. Sometimes I just spend the day sitting on the couch with my kids watching silly shows, or rocking a sick baby all night long, or having a quiet dinner with my husband, or going out with friends for coffee and easy conversation. I know these things are more important than the lists, or baskets, or color coded folders. But hey! I can have both, right?!



Julie Bates

Mother of Evan, Erin, Ryan, Reagan
Owner SeekingSitters (www.seekingsitters.com)
Crazy-busy, but Organized Lady!

Loveys, pacis, soothing and separation anxiety

Kids and their attachments.  Who can figure it?  Whether it's a binkie, paci, lovey, blankie, or ratty bunny, kids will find what they love and then they stick like glue.  I am a big fan of lovies.  They help kids self-soothe and anything that they can do themselves is good by me!  My two oldest kids did not attach to anything as infants.  I bought every brand of pacifier on the market, stuffed animals, soft blankets, even the “Snoedel.” All to no avail. They never paid a bit of attention.

My third child attached immediately to pacifiers and I was glad! She sleeps so well and always has.  As my kids got older they started to attach to stuffed animals and both now sleep with a menagerie.  My son is particularly attached to a bear he made with his grandmother.  It is the ugliest, rattiest thing.  If you can't tell, that is stuffing coming out of his stomach.  Who can understand the things that comfort a child?!

Transitional objects are helpful for children dealing with separation anxiety.  The object helps the child feel comforted and attached to you and home even when you're gone.  Separating from mom (and dad) can be difficult for children.  Some separation anxiety is very normal for children.  Ranging between ages 6 mos - 9 mos and then sometimes again at 18 mos - 2 years, children struggle with being away from their parents.  This is a important developmental step for children and it's necessary for them to face this.

How do you help your child stay with someone new? 

First, NEVER sneak out.  This is very overwhelming for children and just teaches them that you could disappear at anytime.  Imagine how scary this would be! If you might disappear at any minute,your child will feel the need to cling to you and watch you every second to make sure this doesn't happen!  So, develop a routine for leaving. It does not have to be a production or a drama.  Tell your child good-bye, reassure him you will be back, give him a kiss and a hug and then leave calmly.  Try not to return once you've left as this will just be confusing.  Use the same routine every time you leave and the child will associate this with leaving and know that you always come back.

Second, be calm and collected yourself.  If you are anxious, tearful, upset about your child being upset, this will transfer to your child.  She will see/sense that you are upset and this will confirm her fear that something is wrong.  Your baby thinks, "Oh no!  Mommy is upset!  I knew this was bad!"  And then it's harder for her to feel safe and secure.  Hearing your child crying can be distressing, but try to hold it together until you get out the door!  Then it's okay to cry a little in the car!

Third, find someone who respects your routines, your house rules, and is committed to helping your child adjust.  You need someone that both you and your child like and trust.  And if you don't find that the first time, keep looking!

Our goal at SeekingSitters is to help you find the perfect sitter for you, even if I have to hire someone new to do it!  

Most of all, don't despair!  Almost all kids grow out of this phase on their own or with a little help from you.  If they don't seem to be able to work through the separation anxiety on their own, you might consider a consultation with a child psychologist.  Kids are amazingly resilient and they can learn to overcome things quicker than adults, but sometimes we all need a little help and support! 

For any questions you might have about babysitters, child separation anxiety, or parent anxiety!  Feel free to contact me.

How do you keep your kids safe?

Safety. What a huge issue when you have kids.  It starts before they are even born.  Worrying about what you eat, every little pain or cramp, what happens to the baby if you're too stressed, too tired, don't eat right.  Almost every mom I know made at least one emergency call or trip to the Labor and Delivery to check on some concern during pregnancy.  With my first child it was worrying he didn't move for several hours.  After an hour hooked up to the fetal monitor, we went home feeling sheepish but relieved.  With my third child it was sharp pains early in the pregnancy that made me sure it was ectopic.  One ultrasound later and we're back to sheepish, but relieved! 

There is so much to worry about and then they're born and it all quadruples and more!  Now you have to worry about crawling, putting things in their mouth, sharp edges on tables and fireplaces, car seats, germs, developmental milestones.  How do you handle separation anxiety, sleeping patterns, diaper rash, eating patterns.  Send them off to school and now they're gone from you all day.  What do they do there?  Are they making friends?  What if other kids are mean to them?  How do you keep them safe? This month my 11 month old developed a serious kidney infection.  My doctor told me he would call in a prescription for an antibiotic after the cultures showed the type of bacteria.  He did not tell me what he was calling in, but when it was at the pharmacy, I picked it up and started giving it to her.  She developed horrible stomach problems and after 5 days on the medication with several calls to my doctor, we discovered the pharmacy gave us the wrong antibiotic.  She was prescribed 5 ml, 3x per day of Keflex but was given Omnicef.  On Omnicef her dose should have been 2.5ml, 1x per day!  I was appalled!  How could this happen and how could I have kept her safe?

Whew!  It can be alot to worry about.  Mostly, I think we go with the flow.  You just slowly learn what you need to know - how to use that suction bulb thing to clear their nose, how to tell what their different cries mean, when to let go and let them figure it out on their own.  But lots of things need a manual!  It seems like there is so much no one told you about when you had the baby.  What if you don't bond right away to the baby?  Is something wrong with you?  What if you don't know how to get him to stop crying or to let you leave the room for a second?  Mom support groups are great, and lots of reassurance can come from other moms.  I had a great support group with my first two kids.  We met in a breast-feeding support class here and then were friends for over five years.  Sometimes I was hesitant to even mention my fears to my friends, but when I did, I always got the support I needed.

One topic we frequently debated was babysitting.  Did you have a good sitter?  How did you find a sitter?  How could you know if she would be safe and loving even if the baby wasn't acting so loveable that day?  We struggled through the early years, but finding sitters was always difficult.  I had another friend with a negative sitter experience when she hired a regular sitter for her infant and later found out the sitter was leaving the baby in her crib almost the entire time.  Leaving her crying and sometimes not even feeding her.  Horrible!  The family didn't trust other sitters in their home for a long time.

Many of these things led me to SeekingSitters for my own use.  I wanted a consistent sitter base so I didn't have to scramble in an emergency, and I wanted to trust my sitters.  This is also what I want to provide to Lubbock.  Background screened sitters with extensive experience, but also sitters who have support behind them.  My sitters can call me anytime if they have a question or concern.  We meet monthly to provide support and a team atmosphere and we will cover questions such as how to soothe a crying baby, how to help children separate from their parents, and what are developmentally appropriate activities for different age groups.  Parents can call me at anytime to ask for more information about specific sitters and can mark sitters as Preferred on their profile.  It is babysitting with management!  And that has to bring some relief.

Parenting is a stressful job already.  Babysitting should not be another thing you have to worry about!  Save that worry-energy for the criticial things like monitoring medication and staying SAFE!

For more great information about Nanny Cams, Background checks, and other critical babysitting/parenting concerns, you can visit the corporate blog site at http://seekingsitters.com/blog/blog.html.  Adrienne Kallweit is the founder of SeekingSitters and also a mom of three herself!

If you’re anything like me, your children are your pride and joy and also sometimes your biggest frustration. If that’s just me, don’t tell me! It is so important to spend time with your children, nurture them, help them grow, and enjoy them. But it is also important to spend time AWAY from them! That nutures you and helps you grow! And that makes you a better parent!

One of the hardest things about leaving your children with someone is trusting that someone to take good care of your babies. To love them, nurture them, and treat them with respect. How can you be sure the sitter will have the same patience you have (most of the time) with the two year old’s constant questions of “Why?”
          “Mommy, I want juice! Mommy, why you give me juice?”
                                                       Why – Why – Why!

Or that the sitter can handle the baby crying for the last 20 minutes without wanting to scream and pull her hair out. Or the mess on the floor, and so on and so on. How do you find a trustworthy sitter?

That is why I would like you to MEET OUR SITTERS! These are some of the sweetest, most responsible, and reliable girls (and grandma!)! I have personally interviewed each of them, checked their references, and had many of them babysit in my own home. (Babysit with the Why-asking two year old and sometimes crying baby who doesn’t like anyone but giggled at Sara!) But it’s hard to join the service without getting to see the sitters or know for yourself who will be coming to your home. On our website, after a member joins, they can view all of the sitters’ profiles and see their pictures. This is fabulous when you have a new sitter because the kids can see what she looks like! Also you can mark sitters as PREFERRED (or Blocked, if things don’t match up), and ask for your favorite sitter every time.

We have 12 sitters now ranging from age 18 to 82! I’d like to introduce you to a few!

Yasmine: Hi, my name is Yasmine, but I go by Yazzy. I am 20 years old, and a full time student at Texas Tech University majoring in Exercise Sports and Science. I have three siblings whose age differences range from 8-14 years younger than me, so I have had plenty of experience with taking care of them. I have also had experience in churches, group babysitting, and neighborhood families. I was fortunate in junior high and high school to have so many constant families, and I got to see so many kids grow up and experienced all different ages, from newborn to pre-teens. I love working with all different ages of kids. I love being a "girly-girl" and doing arts and crafts, but I also have a great passion for sports so I love playing with boys and girls alike. I can't wait to meet your family!

E’lisa: Hi, my name is E'Lisa. I am finishing up my sophomore year and can't wait to be a teacher. I have been babysitting since I was 12 years old and I love playing with children! I have no preference to any age I think each comes with their own blessings and love both boys and girls. I have experience with every age from infants on up from working in a daycare, and having smaller siblings. My favorite things to do are make colorful crafts, playing pretend, and don't count me out on a game of catch. I am really looking forward to meeting your little blessings.

Sara: My name is Sara and I am a junior enrolled in Texas Tech's nursing program. I am certified in CPR and first aid and I also am a certified nurses aide. I absolutely love children and have been babysitting since I was thirteen years old. I have experience with all ages of children. I used to work at a daycare where I cared for children as young as infancy to 3 years of age. I also have been a nanny for two different families where the children ranged from age 2 to 10 years old.Babysitting is a passion of mine and each experience brings great joy to my life.

Family feedback we’ve received:

Ann is fantastic! I love that she always does some educational activities like reading or practicing counting as well as lots of active play-time. She is great with my bigger kids but can also get the baby to sleep which is quite a feat in our house! Thank you Ann for being so great with my kids.

                 Ann was terrific. Our two boys thought she was one of the best sitters we have hired.

E'Lisa was with us for three days - each was wonderful. She was prompt and organized. She worked very well with my grandchildren - I was totally satisfied with everything she did. I will request her again.

                Kyla's references all sang her praises. One (son age 11 months) said Kyla is the
                only babysitter she will leave her son with and she hopes Kyla will still have time
                to babysit for her!

Kyla was great! My children had a lot of fun with her and are now asking when they can go visit Kyla! This was our first experience with someone we didn't already know and it went off without a hitch! She was on time, professional and yet full of activities and energy compatible with playing with a 3 and 5 year old. We would definitely ask for Kyla again.

I hope this will help alleviate any concerns you might have about our sitters and I would love to tell you about the other 9! Call me anytime with questions you might have and get more information at www.seekingsitters.com

Corporate accounts are here!

Today I have been driving around looking at all the businesses that service Lubbock and flipping randomly through the phone book considering where my services might be beneficial. Corporate accounts offer childcare options to employers to help decrease missed work days due to lack of childcare. I can think of some options where this is likely a big issues such as in nursing, teaching, and small doctor offices. I know in my office it is REALLY hard for us to function when our staff is out. Teacher work days, school holidays, closed daycares, regular babysitters that are unavailable all can cause employees to miss work. For me, the half-days at school always catch me unprepared and scrambling to get childcare so I can work (at least it used to cause me to scramble before I had SeekingSitters!).

My dilemma today is which businesses might benefit most and how to approach them. If you're an employer, I'd love to hear your feedback about how the system would work best for Lubbock employers. If you have a business you think would benefit, I'd love your suggestions. And if you know a business owner you could put me in touch with, that would be even better! So feel free to post! Here's some more information about the corporate accounts and you can also find information on the website at www.seekingsitters.com

The average working parent misses 9 days a year due to child related issues. That number jumps to 13 after the children are in elementary school. Those absences cost companies money. A study published by Cornell University found child care problems leading to absences cost companies $3 billion a year. That’s why SeekingSitters offers Corporate Accounts to help you provide safe, reliable and flexible child care to your employees. At SeekingSitters, we do all of the work, so your employees can keep working for you.
Here are just a few ways in which SeekingSitters can help:
• We can send sitters to your office so your employees can attend Corporate Meetings easily and worry-free
• We offer on-site child care at hotels or other locations where your company may hold Special Events
• Your corporate account is good at any SeekingSitters location. From San Diego, CA to Las Vegas, NV to Albany, NY; we can help you with Company Retreats
• The same great Back-up, Part-Time, or Full-Time Child Care for Employees that we offer all of our members nationwide
• Employee Appreciation Gift Packages are a great way to reward your employees for their hard work and dedication