Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2019

60 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.ReadMPM.com feature T hese days, I feel my descriptors range from managing editor of Mount Pleasant Magazine to Beezus’ mom and Instagram manager (Beezus is my golden retriever) to daughter, sister and aunt within a rapidly growing family scattered all over the U.S. (and soon abroad); but what many may not know about me is I also moonlight as a babysitter several evenings and weekends a month — and have even nannied in a past life. “Why?” may be the thought of many. Sure, many people my age would rather spend the majority of their Friday and Saturday nights enjoying a drink at the newest spot in town. … But “Why not?” has been my reason for years, since I first started caring for children of family and family friends at the age of 15. Babysitting has done nothing but expand my connections in a positive way in every community I have lived for the past 12 years — and that extra boost of spending money doesn’t hurt either. And I’m here to share some “tips” I’ve learned in my years of babysitting and nannying that may help with your interactions in hiring your next perfect date-night sitter or regular addition to help care for the little ones. How to find your sitter or nanny (and how your sitter is finding you): • Word of mouth: This is always a great place to start. Do you know that couple that always seems to have it together, going out for happy hours and concerts? Ask who their sitter is. … Maybe she has a friend or is willing to pick up another family. • Facebook groups: Similar to word-of-mouth, find a community group on Facebook and ask fellow moms BY HELEN HARRIS A Babysitter’s Guide Rules, How-To’s and What-To-Do’s