Swap Meet

Sometimes getting a babysitter isn't financially in the cards.  That being said, there are other cost saving ways to ensure that you can carve out a little alone time without breaking the bank.  Here are some great ideas to get you thinking outside the box when it comes to child care.

 

 

Alternatives beyond fencing in your child or tying them to a stake in the yard so you can have a dinner date.

Neighbour Swap
I'm not talking key parties here, I'm talking kid swap.  I have a friend who has an agreement with a neighbour friend that once a month one parent walks down the street and looks after their children (I think one couple gets the second Friday and the other couple gets the fourth Friday) while the other couple goes out on a date.  Two weeks later they swap out.

Professional Services
I've never tried this, but there are sites designed to help people connect with other parents in order to trade babysitting. The first one I came across in my search was Babysitter Swap

The Play Date
One couple takes double duty hosting a play date at their house while couple A goes out for lunch and a matinee (or whatever), when they return couple B takes over the play date while couple B goes out for dinner and dancing.  Couples can alternate who hosts, or split the shifts at their own houses and also swap out who goes out when.

The Barter
I find that my little brother will do just about anything for a Subway Sandwich and access to a "free laundry facility" to do a few loads while the minions sleep.  When negotiating with someone who doesn't have kids you can pay them for their gas, a flat rate or offer a trade of services...You'll wash their car, dog sit, be their personal shopper, chauffeur their drunk butt home from an upcoming wedding, defrag their computer, organize their records or help them move.  Get creative and know your audience. 

Sitter Sharing
Go out on a lot of double dates?  Why not pay your sitter an extra dollar or two an hour while you and your friends go out to save some cash.  You can alternate who's house it's at and don't really need to be going on a double date, just coordinate the timing and enjoy your time at around 60% of the cost.

How have you managed to save some money on babysitting?

To read a post about finding your ideal sitter or Mary Poppins click here

To read a post about where to find a babysitter click here

To read a post about interviewing a new sitter click here

To read a post about preparing your sitter to deal with your little hellions click here

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Bird Dog

We realized a number of months ago that the minions weren't quite ready for a trip to the zoo.  The Toronto Zoo is huge and expensive and their attention span, patience and enjoyment wouldn't equal the frustration, crying, cost and effort.  This combined with the fact that Molly thinks all animals are: cats, dogs, fish, bears or my favourite dogbears means that we have been finding other ways to expose the children to the elusive dogbear.

 

 

This weekend we went to High Park Zoo with the minions and their grandparents as a part of a Father's Day outing.  It's the ideal size for our 22 month olds to run around, interact with other animals and the cost is a donation if you feel so inclined (we go fairly often and empty the change out of our pockets to help support the zoo).  There are other ways you can support the zoo by purchasing colouring books, Peacock feathers or even lemonade.

 

 

Molly was a little nervous of the Llamas and didn't want to get too close.

In an effort to get close to a Bunny, Chris entered the small animal pen with Molly.  A volunteer dropped a chicken on his lap.  He was unimpressed as the chicken pecked at his wedding ring.  Molly just yelled, "Dog Bird" as Chris wished for a case of Purell.*

Jack trying to get close the the baby Walaby.

 

We even got to feed the Capybaras...

 

But had to stop when Jack tried to jump into the pen with them.

 

 

I recommend giving the High Park Zoo a visit with your little ones, unless you're chicken.**  If they still need to blow off some steam and run around after, you're less than a five minute walk away from The Jamie Bell Adventure Playground which was recently re-built by Canadian Home Improvement Celebrity Mike Holmes.

 

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*Chris has added having a chicken dropped into his lap into an epic description of his own personal hell.

**I'm sorry Chris, I couldn't help myself!

Father & Son

Parenthood has ups and downs.  There are great days and there are really, really bad days.  This is the second part of my Father's Day series celebrating the good, the bad and the ugly about parenthood.  I hope you enjoy what these fathers had to say as much as I did.


What's the worst part of being a dad?

 "The crying. Completely stresses me out. Crying in the car. Crying when they are legitimately hurt is even worse. Not being able to take their pain away is horrible."  - Mike, Father to two toddler daughters

"Knowing they will grow up." -Jake, father to two child daughters

"I miss having the chance to be alone."  - Ben, father to infant son

"The ‘hurts’ to your kids and, by extension, to their families. You feel the hurt with them but, in most instances now that they are grown, you can only be supportive while he or she deals with a hurt on their own.  Fortunately, there haven’t been a lot of hurts." - My Dad - Father to three grown children, four grandchildren

Sarabeth says: I guess Clark Griswold had something right, nothing seems to beat quality time with your kids.

Fondest Memory 

"Family time/outings/vacations together. Especially enjoyed being involved with Scouts & Venturers – had both kids in Venturers together. Tons of fun for 'Jungle Jim'" - - My father-in-law - Father to two grown children, five grandchildren

Dad and Miss Molly

SaraBeth says: When my first long term relationship ended at 20 my ex-boyfriend had a significantly more emotional goodbye with my father than with me.  I've run into him a few times over the past decade and a half and each time I see him  the second words out of his mouth (after hello Sara) are "How's your dad?"  Awkward!

Who is your fatherhood role model?

"My fatherhood role model is my mom. She raised me and taught me everything I know. Particularly how to respect women."  - Mike, Father to two toddler daughters

"My Dad of course…didn’t miss a single hockey or soccer game or practice in 11 years I played...that is caring." -Jake, father to two child daughters

"My father... he taught me everything. And if everything goes wrong, I'm going to blame him!"
Chris, Father of infant daughter


SaraBeth says: I love (and it drives me insane) that my dad is always trying to "help".  Who else is going to remind me to put steering fluid in my car, get an oil change or leave me messages about gas prices going up?  Who else would have his daughter put her boyfriend to shame because she knew how to change a tire and he didn't?*

What is your favourite memory with your own father?

"From a young age, my Dad was always great about taking my brother and I on camping trips. And we're not talking about "pull your car up and plug in a cooler" sort of trips, but full on, week long backwoods trips. I learned more from these trips, both about inter-personal relationships (think Lord of The Flies) and nature, than I ever did in school. I appreciate how hard it must have been to wrangle us, especially when we were younger, but I want him to know it was totally worth it."  - Ben, father to infant son

"Time at the hockey rink." Darcy, father to infant daughter

"Growing up, whenever my dad and I went to baseball games we were equals.  In my early thirties we started going to regular baseball games together again.  There's something to be said about cheering for something together to help reconnect, even if the only talking is screaming 'Kill the Ump!'"  -Chris (my husband), Father to infant toddlers Molly & Jack

Sarabeth says: It seems like being the "ideal" dad isn't about being perfect it's about trying hard, even if you look silly or fail in the process.

Who is the best TV dad? 

"Ozzie Nelson." - My father-in-law - Father to two grown children, five grandchildren

"On TV, fathers are too cardboard for me to choose who were best and worst. Even Archie Bunker and Al Bundy had their “best” moments."  - My Dad - Father to three grown children, four grandchildren

"Steve Martin in Father of the Bride.  That movie makes me cry." Chris, Father of infant daughter

"Phil Dunphy from Modern Family."  Darcy, father to infant daughter


Who is worst TV dad?

"Peter Griffin Family Guy."  - Mike, Father to two toddler daughters

"Any single father from the TV series Mad Men.  Apparently fatherhood in the 1960's was about drunken debauchery, womanising and ignoring your children.  Thank goodness we were raised in the 1970's!"  -Chris (my husband), Father to infant toddlers Molly & Jack


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*I swear my relationship with my dad goes beyond car maintenance.  I make him sound like a good mechanic here rather than my dad.