Why Join a Babysitting Co-op?
I had my doubts when asked to attend a meeting for a local babysitting co-op. My first question, what was a babysitting co-op? I found out a babysitting co-op is a group of women that trade watching each others kids using a coupon system (NO MONEY INVOLVED). One coupon is payment for watching one child for one hour (The rate changes for more children. Our co-op exchanges 1.5 coupons per hour for two children). I attended that first co-op meeting a year ago and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made! My co-op started 25 years ago with a group of women from Corpus Christi, Texas and somehow ended up in this area. I think the co-op’s detailed organization has kept it going this long.
Have you ever tried to trade babysitting with a friend? There is so much guilt involved. How do you work out watching their three kids while they watch your two? What if they don’t ask you as much as you ask them to exchange “date nights”? How late can you stay out and what about overnights? A great babysitting co-op takes care of all of these questions. Our babysitting co-op operates under a detailed list of laws or rules. I’m kind of a crazy play-by-the-rules kind of girl so it’s perfect for me. The co-op meets once a month at a different member’s house each month. During the meetings, we determine how many coupons the other members have, plan a play-date or ladies night out, and schedule “sits” with other members. A sit is either watching someone’s kiddos or having them watch yours. Everyone in the co-op was once invited by a member and then completed the process to join the group. I had to fill out an application detailing my parenting beliefs and my family, pass a home inspection, and attend another meeting to be admitted.
I know. That all sounds great, but how does it work? I have three or four families that I use in the co-op because it’s really important for me to know the families watching my kiddos. I pick and choose whose kids I will watch and who I want to watch my kids. It’s nice to get to know other women in the co-op at the ladies nights or playdates, but I’m not required to use them. I usually schedule two or three date nights a month and either drop my kids off, or sometimes other ladies are willing to come to my house to watch my boys. I also use the co-op every once in awhile for grocery shopping. Bubba has no idea that hour or two that he’s playing with his buddies, I’m getting tons of errands done. Last night I used the co-op for an overnight and the first thing Bubba said when I picked him up was “Can I spend the night at my friends again?”
When asked why join a co-op, I tell other moms there are too many reasons to list. Yes, you’ll save money, yes, your kids will love playing with their friends, and yes, you’ll meet fantastic women and won’t feel guilty about having them watch your kids. Oh, and what about actually having time to go on a date? Before I joined, Hubby and I rarely had a date night. After spending forty dollars on a sitter, we couldn’t afford to go somewhere really nice, let alone do that more than once a month. Hubby loves the co-op almost more than I do now. If you don’t know someone in a co-op, ask at your church, or look online. There is no pressure, so feel a few groups out before you decide on one that fits your needs. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
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denver babysitting co-op, how to join a babysitting co-op, what is a babysitting co-op
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Keep me updated on the next meeting please. If you are accepting new members I would like to become a part of it.