Sitter Lady takes over.
May 23, 2006Despite my low-key expectations for Henry and his new sitter, they went right out for an adventure. This was good for me, because I haven’t been able to do nearly enough fretting lately. So as soon as they were gone I got to work!
I had rather thought they would stay inside, although a little voice in me was shrieking ARE YOU NUTS SEND THEM TO THE PLAYGROUND. Because if they were here? Henry would be in my office every few minutes, updating me on whatever events were transpiring downstairs.
But anyway it turned out it wasn’t up to me. Sitter Lady showed up, looked around, and announced, “I like to be out and about. So we’re off to the playground!”
Shouldn’t you ask my permission or something? I thought but did not say, because I was already intimidated by her.
“Okay, sure,” I said.
“And Charlie will come!” she announced to no one in particular, as the dog heard his name and proceeded to throw his body toward the ceiling.
“You’re taking the dog? You’re sure you can handle that?” I asked meekly, thinking oh god that dog’s going to pull her all over the place and Henry will leap into the street while she’s trying to rein him in and WHY CAN’T I SAY THESE THINGS OUT LOUD.
Before I could stop her, she had Charlie’s leash in her hands, which is Charlie’s cue to lose his shit. He whinnied and mooed and made every kind of sound you wouldn’t think a dog could make, all while skittering around S.L (that’s Sitter Lady) and flogging her with his tail while she put on Henry’s shoes.
Henry, meanwhile, had decided that S.L. was probably his new mother and that was okay with him. From their first meeting, he knew that S.L. knows nothing about Star Wars, poor thing. Before she showed up he told me this. “I’ll be her teacher,” he said. “She needs to learn about the Force.”
So while she tied his shoes and expounded on the many delights and health-giving properties of fresh air, and I stood over them practicing my fretting techniques, Henry placed one guy after the next in front of her, stating their names and personalities. “This is Greedo. He’s a bad guy. This is Han Solo. He’s good and he shoots Greedo but it’s okay because Greedo is bad.” And so on.
And all at once they were out the door. “YOU’RE SURE YOU CAN HANDLE THEM?” I called out as they bounded down the street, Henry holding S.L.’s hand, S.L. holding the leash that held the blur that was Charlie in her other hand. S.L gave me an amused little wave, a wave that distinctly said, Lady, do you know how many kids I watch? You think your little dog is going to be a problem for me?
Still, I fretted, and then finally I snuck over to the playground, just to make sure she hadn’t sold him or anything. There they all were: Henry running around, S.L. keeping an eagle eye on him, Charlie lazing in the afternoon sun. There was no reason for me to be there. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Reader Comments (57)
Congrats on the job and taking the leap to let SL in your house and out of your house with Henry.
And never believe for a minute that Henry wouldn't have you there in a heartbeat.
You're his mom.
No one can ever take your place.
Sounds like a successful first day, even with the fretting and fretting and fretting. Hopefully that part will subside.
You could make her say things like, "Instead of making this peanut butter sandwich the good way, like your real mom, I'm using rat poison and Drano, so you will die." Or, "Your real mom would probably never stuff you into the crawl space behind the furnace, which is funny because that's just what I plan to do this afternoon."
Either way, your kid gets sat. The experience can either turn him away from you or have him clinging to your bustle until well past middle age. It's your dime--you call the shots.
It will get easier. As one who has had wonderful experiences babysitting and being babysat, I can say I've been blessed by those relationships. No one will ever replace you! Having said that, I think solid adult (or teenaged) role-models are wonderful gifts to our children. My daughter is still little, but we have a very good friend who sometimes watches her. I just know she will run to this friend's home if she's ever fifteen and wants to run away from home. And I'm so glad this wonderful woman will be there for her!
But then, that's not very uplifting, is it? Just be sure to get out every now and then... and perhaps calm the fretting a little with the restorative fresh air SL mentioned!
And yes, I *definitely* would have been out for a little "fresh air" myself!!! ;)
That made me smile, laugh, empathize, and tear up all at the same time. Congratulations, and good luck.