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babysitter horror stories
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Soft vibes, real chaos. This episode dives into babysitter horror stories, everyday overwhelm, and those moments that make you question everything. From awkward situations to lessons learned the hard way, we’re sharing messy, relatable stories—plus listener submissions you won’t forget. Cozy, candid, and perfectly unhinged. Light a candle and listen 🎧🕯️
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Transcript
Introduction & Parenting Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Hi, welcome to the Park Moms podcast where your host Haley and Becca. This is a place where we laugh and chat about the chaotic bliss of raising young kids. So whether you're about to take a hot mom walk or start a little laundry, let's
Pregnancy Challenges & Concerns
00:00:10
Speaker
get to yapping. Let's get to it. Oh, I miss those hot mom walks. I haven't been on a walk in a long while.
00:00:16
Speaker
I did go on a walk the other day and it was like midday and it was sunny even though it's freezing here and I was like, this is life. Like I need to be doing this. I feel like at this point, if I walk around the block, I will have the baby. Yeah. you're You're right there. I'm 35 weeks. And even just like we were walking around the grocery store a couple hours ago. And I was like, I'm going to have the baby at the Winco. Yeah. No, it's not really. You also have your babies early though, don't you? Yeah, I do. So like Graham was...
00:00:41
Speaker
I'm 35 weeks. He was born at 36 and a half. So I feel like I'm a week and a half away. Yes. Which would be you don't have a Christmas baby. No.
Winter Birthdays & Holiday Pressures
00:00:49
Speaker
My biggest fear right now is that I go into labor on like Christmas Eve. Yeah. And then like,
00:00:55
Speaker
who is going to be S-A-N-T-A. I'm scared my kids are listening. me No, I think the worst part is that like your baby will have their birthday be on Christmas. Christmas Eve. Oh yeah. Or Christmas. Wait, you don't have, oh yeah. Elsie is a winter baby. going to say, you don't have a lot of kids that were born in the winter. But February, like there's nothing going on. February is like, I feel like it's a good birthday. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That's not bad at all. No, February is good. I feel like even January, like, I know this baby is just like, or this kid is going to have a January birthday. Most likely. Yeah. but everyone crossed their fingers for me because for insurance reasons and just like for life reasons i need to wait until january but january 1st you better believe i'm gonna be doing all the things yeah i do think there's like a reward that you get if you have your baby at like midnight on december 31st they should just have it be free i think like basically free no like that should be the reward like a gift though the reward should be that you just like don't pay any hospital big bills
00:01:48
Speaker
I mean,
Admiration for Teachers & Career Thoughts
00:01:49
Speaker
that would be so nice. I mean, winter babies are hard. Even like Colson's birthday being in November because like it's November 20th and now Christmas is like less than a month away. It's like, I feel like I just did like a million gifts. Yes. And now I'm like, but his birthday, the fact that you had his birthday at a park at the end of November, like what a blessing. Yeah.
00:02:07
Speaker
when Our friend today was texting us. She's like, how do you know where his teacher lives? It was so cute. His teacher came to the birthday party. Is that how you know? Yeah. And he was saying, oh, we live right by here. So it's not a big deal. He says, if the whole class invited, I have to come. Like, but it was actually really sweet. It was cute. He was like a movie star when he showed up at the birthday party. The kids love him. Like, I truly think like how people say he's Mr. Rogers, the kids like idolize him like that. Yes. But also going back to teachers. So today they had their um like Christmas, what would you call that program for the whole school? Yeah. Well, it wasn't the whole school. It was actually only half the school. It was only K through third. And it was so chaotic.
00:02:45
Speaker
But did you, could you see the teachers dancing? No. I like was so far in the back. Oh my gosh. Was that the very end? No, we left at the same time. No, we left early. Don't talk. Pulse is like, where were you at the couldn't see us. I had to literally show Elsie a video. Like, look, I was there. I saw you. Because there was so many people. It was literally like mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, dogs.
00:03:08
Speaker
Just kidding. There weren't dogs. but And we were there early too, which was annoying. And we still were in the very, very bad. You know, it's just the time of year. It's like you do those things and you're like... What was the point in that? But anyways, i was what ah my point was is teachers did like a dance to Justin Bieber's Drummer Boy and they were fully like, I couldn't really see because even though we were there early, we're in the very back and you can't see anything, but I could kind of see them like doing some dance
Christmas Decorations & Pregnancy Experiences
00:03:32
Speaker
moves and they were like fully getting into it. And I was just thinking my head, like it takes a special person to be a teacher because even at my age 31,
00:03:42
Speaker
If at the workplace they said, you guys are going to have to perform to a rap dance in front of all these people, I would say, i here's my resignation. I'm actually done. like you cannot there's They do not get paid enough to do that. But teachers are special in the way that like they probably enjoyed it. They probably enjoyed it. Guess what I told Sam today? What? I told him I could be a teacher.
00:04:04
Speaker
That's funny that you guys had that conversation because my conversation was i could never, i could never. I could see myself after my kids get into school, like going and like being a teacher, honestly. Like yeah I could see myself doing the dances. I would do the drum, the drummer boy dance.
00:04:19
Speaker
Are you for real? Yeah. I like don't love kids enough to be a teacher. I was like the kid in high school, like more for an entrepreneur, money stake who like started preschool in my neighborhood. Like I had a preschool and my The kids would come when like 12. And that's probably the most money you would have ever made being a teacher because teachers do make enough money. Pre-school might need the way to go because then it's like you actually make money and it's like three hours a day versus like eight hours a day. Justice for teachers. That's all I have to say is they literally... They're angels. That was my point. I'm not angelic enough... No, they are....to be a teacher because...
00:04:50
Speaker
And they are just so sweet. Like you have to have a lot of love and like to manage a classroom of that many different kids and personalities and the parents too. no they're, they're special people. They're special people. Pay teachers more. That's all I have to say about that.
00:05:02
Speaker
Um, okay. I have a few life updates, but like not a lot. We should do the update of this location. and We're actually filming at Haley's new house tonight. So it's kind of fun. if you're watching on YouTube, check it out. I wonder if you can see the paper chain or if it's just the shadow. I'm starting. Are you getting to the point? I'm like ready for Christmas decor to come down.
00:05:22
Speaker
Not quite, but I feel like I've been working a lot. So I think like I will get there in the next two weeks when I'm like taking time off. Yes. Cause I'm not like in the decor in my office. You didn't decorate. You didn't put trees all over your office.
00:05:34
Speaker
I want to redecrate my office, but not for Christmas. just and You're like on a Zoom call and there's just like paper chains all around Actually, that'd kind cute. It'd be cute. You need to vibe up your office. People respect that. No, I am so ready for it to come down, but I also think it's like nesting instinct. Like I just, oh, nothing nothing is safe in this house. You should take down like right after Christmas. Oh, I'm ready.
00:05:52
Speaker
great Christmas day. Yeah. I'm going to be taking them. Like you better believe the bins will be out. The bins will be out and I will be fully like ready to get rid of it.
00:06:04
Speaker
But also this house is smaller. So just like, I don't know, it's fun, but it looks really cute and really festive. I'm feeling the Christmas vibes. Oh, thank you. Okay. What I was going to say is um,
00:06:15
Speaker
Have you ever, had this thought today, have you ever craved something that's not food, but like you don't just like desire it, like your body wants it so badly. Like you want the feeling of something that's not food, like you're craving it. That's the only way to describe it. Like a rock?
00:06:30
Speaker
Or like what? Like today, i was literally, my body was craving putting on a pair of jeans and just like wearing jeans. Like I just want to wear jeans so bad. Like, don't get me wrong. I love sweats. I love pajamas. Catch me in a pajama set once it's 3 p.m. But like,
00:06:49
Speaker
The thought of just like putting on jeans and a t-shirt right now, like it's not like I just desire it. like My body is craving jeans. I also feel like when you've worn sweats for so long, you kind of start to get jealous of other people when they have like they look stylish. You're kind of like oh, I'm jealous. like I want to be able to wear...
00:07:06
Speaker
Like high, high waisted jeans and like a belt. Yes. Like, no, I just want I just want to put on jeans and I know I'm still so far from that. You're not that far though. You could also get like some oversized jeans. I did. I did get some oversized like ones from Target that i was like maybe, but like even the pregnancy jeans, cause the thing that's in right now is like the low, low waisted. Stretchy, yeah.
00:07:26
Speaker
and like stretch your jeans like no I just want a pair of like mid-rise jeans that i can like rarely breathe in know like ones that like aren't stretchy like a real pair of Levi's that like I know my butt looks good in and yeah I just want which speaking of my butt this pregnancy flattened has disappeared completely she it is gone to the point where and I've never had this in my life I will say i have like, don't say there's like a dent in. No, well, have two bulging discs in my lower back. And so it does kind of like this and then it flattens. So it's like a little shelf above my butt. And like, it's to the point where like my pants are falling down because I'm so pregnant and I have no ass. Yes.
00:08:10
Speaker
That I'm like, so
Holiday Preparations & Gift Traditions
00:08:11
Speaker
literally if you see me in and the next couple of weeks before I give birth and even afterwards, just like do me a favor, don't look at my butt. Yeah. I also feel like breastfeeding is the same because it's like nursing butt. Like it takes the fat. So like you're kind of, you're kind of a ways away from butt. I know. I'm a ways away. That's okay. But anyways. This is your last baby. My update just like. So that's like, will come. I really, really want jeans. My other update, it's also pregnancy related because that's just the face of life I'm in.
00:08:37
Speaker
The rage that I feel this pregnancy, this part of pregnancy, like I asked our friend who just became a doula, Carly, because she was just educated on all this stuff. I was like, is it true like that your hormones in your third trimester, I'm like, is it making me mad? So I'll be like mad enough to push the baby out. like I was like, there has to be a reason because i have never felt this level of rage in my life. Yeah. Like there was a lady, we went to dance and i was parked. There was like three spots behind me, but she came and parked directly behind me and just like stopped there. And then I went to pull out. I didn't see her because it's not a parking spot behind me. I like went to pull out, almost hit her. oh no. Because she was just like, she and she was there for a long time.
00:09:20
Speaker
I almost hit her and not like almost header with my car and then like my car beeped at me and i was like, oh my gosh, shitck what's someone doing behind me? and so I sat there for a second and we had to go somewhere and she didn't move.
00:09:32
Speaker
and Then it was like five minutes later she didn't move. I like get out of the car and i'm like I literally i just tell myself, like haley It's not that big of a deal. Reign it in. Reign it in. But it was also like I'd been waiting in the car for an hour for dance with the other two kids. They were screaming. Like it was the end of the day. I was so done.
00:09:48
Speaker
And I literally had to talk myself down. And then I go and i like I like wave. I'm like, hey, like I need to get out. And she is on the phone and she goes like this to me. And I was like, I'm going to jail. I'm going to jail tonight. Like the rage that I i felt my body warm. What happened after that? form Nothing. I did nothing. I just, I was just like, I need to get out. Like, Hey, like I need to leave. And she was like, okay. Like, but it's also funny how like those scenarios, like still, even after the fact, even after you left, was it playing in your head? It's been over a week. Camden had to talk. We went to Chick-fil-A afterwards and I was like raging. I was like, and then he was like, yeah. And he was just being such a good husband. He was just like validating like, yeah, why would she park there? Instead of being like, it's not that big of a deal. He knows. He has learned. He's well-trained that he's like, yeah, that's so annoying.
00:10:35
Speaker
When like in reality, if I wasn't pregnant, I would probably just be like, that's not that big of a deal. It's not that big a I think it's just like everything triggers you at the of the Everything is triggering me. Okay, let's go into your life updates because mine are just being raging and uncomfortable.
00:10:50
Speaker
okay. I forgot. I forgot i even wrote these. Okay. So question number one, are you ready for Christmas? No, I'm not. Like, are we really supposed to wrap all these presents? I was just thinking, I told Sam today, I'm like, maybe I should plan a girls' night and do, like, wrapping. But I'm like...
00:11:08
Speaker
Christmas is next week. Yeah. No, like who has the time? Because I had that same thought. I was like, let's do a girls' day. When do we have the time? Maybe Monday or Tuesday? I don't know. I tried wrapping presents last night and I got stuck because of my bulging disc situation.
00:11:21
Speaker
Yeah. And I was literally stuck. I couldn't move because I was sitting on the ground wrapping presents and Camden had to come in and like help me up. And I was like, I can't do this. No, it's too demanding. I probably will save most of that for Christmas Eve and I'm not even done shopping. Then to day up so late.
00:11:36
Speaker
And you're tired the next day. That's my problem. But then I have like Sam and I can tackle it together. Yeah. I feel like that will be the occasion or he'll want to do it with me. But like I have Christmas parties this weekend, so I will have to at least wrap a few of them. Like all of our gift exchanges and stuff. So that's probably handful. And when you're type A like us, like I know people are going to say, well, just like don't wrap it or like buy a gift bag. It's like we can't, I can't do that. Like that would actually cause me more stress. Yeah. Then just like, I want to wrap the presents. I bought the ribbon. Yeah. Use the ribbon. i Yes. Like, am I going to complain about it? Yes. Am I going to do it? Yeah. And is it all color coordinated? Absolutely.
00:12:10
Speaker
Um, I have my nanny coming on Monday though, which will be nice. Just like get my final things done. Yes. So I'm going to do like stocking stuffers, like the last. Really? I'm telling you. I need to do like my last like few things. And we're honestly doing a pretty small Christmas this year. Like, so we I think the kids are getting like five gifts.
00:12:28
Speaker
Yeah, which they don't need more than that. but They think they're getting a lot. Oh, don't you love when it's the night before Christmas and, or like someone asks them the two days before Christmas, so what do you want? And they introduce something that you have never heard of. Oh yeah. You've been asking them, what do you want from Santa? Let's write Santa cards. Like we've seen yes Santa twice. Yeah. And so like, I feel like I should know. I'm just preparing myself that like there's going to be a Walmart order that's going to have to happen the night before.
00:12:57
Speaker
It's true. Because all of a sudden, that that will be all they want. It's so true. And they're like, that's what I told Santa I wanted, so Santa's going to bring it to me. It's funny. We've been trying to teach Coles about giving to other people and something we could do to give to other people. Some people may get less gifts and stuff. He's like, that's not true. Santa's just going to give them tons of gifts. I'm like, okay, this is a tricky one. That is tricky one. How do we navigate that one? Are you doing Elf on the Shelf? Actually, I gave in this year. You did? did. That's
Holiday Stress & Creating Joy with Kids
00:13:24
Speaker
your first year. It's my first year,
00:13:26
Speaker
I think I wanted to create like the magic of, um, of Christmas this year. And like, honestly, it's been pretty easy, but I've done like lazy version. Like okay sometimes he just, it's actually a girl. Sometimes she just moves. yeah i love That's so feminist of you.
00:13:42
Speaker
What, what made you decide on a girl elf? I think we just got one and then the boys thought it was a girl. And so we just kept with it. And her name is Jingle. Our name is Elphys. Oh, so you have one. Yeah, we do have one. Have you had one before?
00:13:54
Speaker
Well, I had one growing up. Like I had one. We've talked about this, I think. I had one growing up. It's like a bunch of lore when it goes back to, we think that my grandma actually is the one that came up with it. And the idea got stolen because we called it Elf on the Shelf.
00:14:08
Speaker
Like that's what we called it from like the time I was little. you be making millions right now. Well, my mom and my grandma should, but I'll have to confirm with them that that's the story because that's what i'm I'm pretty sure. Anyways, where was I going with that? Elphys. So, oh, this is my take on Elph on the Shelf. Yeah. Because people would be like, oh, I don't want to do it. So much work.
00:14:28
Speaker
You don't need to do all the crazy shit that everyone does. You don't need to put a full hot tub, hot cocoa mix in your bathtub. yeah You do not need to do that. do you know what we do every night with our elf? why We move him around to a new location. That's what we do. It two seconds. The kids love it. They love finding him in the morning. Yeah.
00:14:47
Speaker
Sometimes we'll get more creative some nights and do like toilet paper. We did the toilet paper one or like the one where the toilet paper like rolled down the stairs. We did that one. Took two seconds. Yeah. But most nights he just moves, she just moves around, I should say. Yeah, seriously, that's so feminist of you. I love that. I We used to, we were were are your kids allowed to touch your elf? No.
00:15:05
Speaker
We were not allowed to touch the elf growing up, and we told, I don't i think I came up with this, but if you touch the elf, you would get pointy ears. Oh. And my brother Spencer, like, kind of has pointy ears.
00:15:16
Speaker
Did he touch the elf? Like, to this day, always like, it's because you touch the elf too much. So, like, you started to turn into an elf. Yep. He doesn't have, like, very pointy ears, but, like, they're definitely just, like, more... like a little more pointed than ours, yeah like the rest of the siblings. Yeah.
00:15:29
Speaker
Oh my gosh. That is, that is so funny. yeah I've been, I've been okay with it this year and like, it's actually been fine, but I do feel like the holiday craziness is kind of hitting where it's like, we've gotten sick.
00:15:39
Speaker
I don't want to eat at home anymore. I just want to eat out. Cause I like, it just feels so busy and like's like, it's like running on empty at this point. Like, I feel like the craziness of December is like hitting. Yeah.
00:15:51
Speaker
No, we're all running on empty. Yeah, I was talking to my mom about it too, and she's just like, it should just be so joyful, but it's just like there's so much to do well. When you're in this phase of life, and this is just like the epitome of being a young like being a mom with young kids, is yes, like you know that you're supposed to enjoy it, and it's supposed to be magical, but so much easier said than done. Yeah. And I know we're going to look back and be like, we wish we enjoyed it more, but like we're doing our best. And that's why we take a lot of pictures and videos. And we look back at the pictures, and that was so fun. Yeah, and then we're like, oh no, actually...
00:16:21
Speaker
I
Babysitting Horror Stories & Funny Fails
00:16:22
Speaker
was really stressed. Okay. Getting into the theme of the episode. This one's kind of a funny one. It's like babysitting horror stories. Babysitting i'mi horror stories What did I say? No, you did say horror, but it's like babysitter horror stories.
00:16:40
Speaker
Babysitter horror stories. Horror. And we we did it from like either your point of view, like when you were growing up and things happened or like if you had a babysitter and something. crazy has happened to be fair I started to google some to like supplement and they started getting too scary and I said I'm not doing this oh I bet there are like some weird ones out there it's creepy I guess I don't mean horror stories I guess I mean just like fails like they're not like just scary yeah yeah so like if you're like I'm gonna turn this off because I can't handle scary things neither can i so it's not creepy it's not creepy it's just like how did this happen yes exactly I actually go start with my personal ones um
00:17:18
Speaker
And just like some thoughts around babysitting and then we'll go into the submissions and you should tell me yours as well. Okay. So this is one where this person was babysitting for us and it was like a younger girl in our neighborhood and the kids were actually already asleep. And so she was just coming basically waiting at the house and we weren't too far away. And you have cameras so like you can keep an eye on the kids. Yes. Actually, this is how i found out. It's from the camera. And she probably was pretty, like, she honestly was pretty young, like maybe 13 or 14. She was not very old. And one of our babies woke up.
00:17:47
Speaker
Oh, the one baby we had at the time. Because I think we had one toddler and one baby at the time. And I see on the camera, she's, like, giving the baby a stuffy animal. And it was, like, a pretty young baby. Like, not old enough to have a stuffy animal 100%. Yeah. But, like, of course, in her mind, she's, like, comfort. Yes. You just don't know those things. And so I just had to text her. Like, luckily i had the cameras. like, hey, can you remove the stuffed animal from the bed?
00:18:10
Speaker
But it's just you knew you were watching her. That's a question I have. Do you tell your babysitters, like, just so you know, there's, like, cameras in these rooms? i Yeah, I'll usually tell them. you? Well, we don't have cameras in the rooms. oh Oh, yeah. We have cameras in our rooms. And then, like, we had one in our playroom for a long time, too. And I always should just say, like, oh, yeah, we have the cameras in here to watch the kids. Just so they're not, like, thrown off by that. Yeah, they're not, like. But I feel like people kind of assume there's cameras, right? Like, I would.
00:18:32
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think they do. But I do think it's good if you have cameras that like maybe you can't see or that it's not obvious to tell, like just so you know, like there's cameras in here. Yeah, I think it's smart.
00:18:44
Speaker
It's good to make them feel comfortable. Yeah. Okay, this is another one. This is actually a dog sitter for us. You've heard this story before, but I don't think the podcast has. um Sam and I were downstairs in the basement, just like chilling. Luckily we weren't doing anything rated R. We were literally just sitting there in the couch and all of a sudden someone comes, opens our door and comes into our basement. And it was our dog sitter.
00:19:03
Speaker
Into your house, not your basement. Into your house. You could hear them upstairs. We couldn't hear them. We didn't hear them until they came into the basement. We hear them come through the front door. Because were watching show or something, huh? We were watching a show. We didn't hear them. And were sitting on the couch in the open basement. And we're both just like shocked that someone came into our basement. But it was our dog sitter. And she had confused the dates. We were out of town. And she came in and walked in on us. I forgot about that. was horrified like honestly we were fine but I think she was just like so embarrassed and I felt so bad yeah she also was young our dog sitter and she's like I'm so sorry I missed I'm like I texted her mom I texted her I'm seriously do not stress like I know that probably felt really embarrassing but it was not a big deal at all you're just banging on the couch I'm glad we were very rated G at that point.
00:19:48
Speaker
we were shocked. No, that is shocking. That is shocking. know. That was a funny one. Okay. Other ones are more around how to keep good babysitters and tips. Yeah, this is a good one. But do you want to share any stories before I go this? From was younger? From either you babysitting or babysitters you pack? Honestly. Well, I will say...
00:20:08
Speaker
I want to take this opportunity to apologize to anyone that had to babysit me growing up because i was the kid that I bet you they have horror stories about now. Like, I remember one time I pretended I was, like, possessed. Oh, my gosh. Like, I was mean. i remember one time I, like, ran down the street, like, jumped out the window, ran down the street. Like, I don't know why it was my mission yeah to, like, really test these babysitters, but we I definitely did, and I remember that. So now that I'm a mom, I just want to say I'm sorry. we're never watching her again. And apologize. And I hope that...
00:20:42
Speaker
You're in therapy for what I Just kidding. I feel like babysitters do like see it all though. So they're kind of just like, whatever. Like you have to be pretty chill. Like, well, what was thinking about this, babysitting is like a very intimate
Babysitting Rates & Affordable Date Nights
00:20:52
Speaker
thing. Yeah. Like it is such an intimate thing. Like our nanny that we have now, like she sees me on my good days, my bad days. course. She sees my house the messiest it's ever been. She sees me when I'm like so just, you know, it is an intimate thing. It really is. And like, I feel like both of us have been like so lucky with the nannies we've had. Yes. um And i even babysitters. Like, I genuinely feel like I've had, like, no, like, really bad experiences. Everyone's been, like, so wonderful. can we talk about – But I've heard horrors. Not our nannies.
00:21:20
Speaker
But the price that some of these nannies are charging is absolutely insane. Yeah, I was going to – I actually wrote this down here. What do you think paying a babysitter or a nanny? I feel like babysitter and nanny to me feel slightly different, so feel like I'd pay a nanny more. feel it has to be situational because a nanny, is – it could be a career, right? Like, it could be a career, especially if they're coming, like, every single day. Yeah. We have a part-time nanny, but she comes once or twice a week. And so, like, I still call her a nanny.
00:21:49
Speaker
And I do pay her more than I would pay a babysitter. And I think it just depends because like she's there during the day when the kids are awake. Right. They need either to be like picked up from school or they they have other things that they're doing. i do feel like there's a big difference between nanny and babysitter. Yeah. And I used to – I think it was Kaylee. I said like do you – is the term like nanny like – sometimes I feel weird saying like nanny. Yeah. She was like no. Like I don't want you to call me a babysitter like I'm 11. Yeah.
00:22:13
Speaker
Like, that's a good point. But I don't know. I think it just, like, has to vary with what time of day it is, how many kids they're taking care of. Are they just watching your kids, or are they also doing other, like, household tasks or errands? Yeah.
00:22:28
Speaker
So I feel like there's just such a huge range. i just, like, heard a story of a friend – who had like – I think she was like a 14-year-old tell her that she charges like $18 an hour. Oh, my gosh. it's like – I do think the rates have gone up. For sure. Okay, they've gone up from the $6 that we made an hour. used to make $20 for like four hours. remember that. Yes. Yes. No, like – and I was stoked on it. Yeah, I was stoked. Babysitters are built different these days. like Yeah. I would – I also feel like it wasn't a thing. Like, did you – when you were a babysitter growing up, did you ask – For a certain amount or did you just take what you were given? was just taking what I had given. There was no dollar amount. No, exactly.
00:23:02
Speaker
Now they have rates Like there are rates. i was just like, whatever you want to pay me. Like, great. yeah Thank you. Yeah, exactly. And and they and you did if they didn't pay well, you didn't go back. Yeah, but like you didn't look at it until you got home too. Yes. And you're just like, thank you. And like stuffed it as like your little limited two person.
00:23:20
Speaker
That is such a like... relatable experience. Well, now it's a good amount. Like, all of us have like, is it a 20? it 5? Is it dollar? Yeah. But actually, there's a really funny story in here about that from one of our friends. Okay. We'll have to read that one. Okay.
00:23:34
Speaker
um I will just touch on the paying thing, though. I feel like there's nothing more painful, and it's not the nanny or babysitting's fault than, like, going on a date and being gone, like, five or six hours when the kids are asleep and then you're paying, like, hundreds. You're, like...
00:23:47
Speaker
It is hard. But, like, you have to do it. And you value them. You value them so much. I think we just – it's a different time that we have to get used to. So we've gotten really creative with, like, date nights, being at home. Yeah.
00:24:00
Speaker
But also you gave me this tip, and I love this, is you said if you're going to go on a date night, start it at, like, 3 p.m. Yeah. Like, on a Saturday, when the kids are awake – Yeah. And we always do that now. Like today, actually, we took off work early because we had holiday errands to run. We had a na our nanny come from 2 to 5. Yeah.
00:24:18
Speaker
And like, to be honest, those are some of the hardest hours of the day. Like have them come at 3.30, have them come at 4. Like i have a few hours with the kids awake. It feels more like worth it. Well, and then like you get to come home.
00:24:29
Speaker
Come home right after the kids go to bed. Yep. So that the nanny has to put them to bed, babysitter has to put them to bed. You can put your pajamas on, yeah get into bed, and still watch a show. Exactly. And it's like you're basically going to go out and watch a show or go see movie anyway, so you might as well come home and do the show. Yes.
00:24:43
Speaker
So you gave me that tip, and I love that tip. like make it Since we are paying more, make it worth your while. Okay. Last question. oh wait. One tip. Don't have the don't have the dads in the babysitter home or drive the babysitter home. Yes. I'm like, it's actually the worst. No, it is the worst. And I remember this happened a lot to me. Like, the dad would drive me home.
00:25:01
Speaker
I remember there was one family in particular. It's because they had a stick shift car and she couldn't drive stick shift. So she couldn't take me home. Why didn't she use her car? I don't know if they, like, just didn't have a car. But I don' i don't know. i just remember being like, learn how to drive stick shift. like Yeah.
00:25:19
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know. i feel like it's just uncomfortable. situation Also, the other thing that's sometimes uncomfortable, especially if it's like someone doesn't always watch your kids, like the conversation after. you like, how are the kids? I'm like, you know they don't want to sit and chat. No. And like, what are you what are you talking about with the dad in the car? Like, so like, what are your hobbies? Like, oh, I don't know. you like living in this neighborhood? c to To be honest, though, don't you feel like those conversations we had to have like also molded us? Yeah. To like be like – Sometimes I'm like, these kids... And this is not any of my nannies. But like sometimes I'm like, these kids need to have awkward conversations. Yeah, I think that is a good point. I think also that's like a good thing we are raised of... like
00:25:59
Speaker
You had to like talk to adults and I think that is harder to do these days. Yes. But I feel like, yeah, the ones I have are all amazing. Okay. Here's one last question and we'll go into the submissions. Okay. How do you keep good like babysitters or nannies? Like what are your tips to like actually like retain people that are like amazing? i feel like you should have really good tips on this.
00:26:17
Speaker
I've been lucky. I've had like a lot of people stick around. I think paying well, honestly, like even though sometimes it like feels like not worth it. How sometimes I justify in my head like let's say i'm paying like two or five dollars more.
00:26:28
Speaker
an hour. Let's say they're only there for five hours. That's 25 bucks. Like, yeah for $5 more an hour. So i think I think it's just like, sometimes it outweighs the affordability. Yes. Well, and my thing too is, yes, pay them well, but also there's different ways you can show your babysitters or nannies that you appreciate them that yeah aren't necessarily money. Yeah.
00:26:48
Speaker
Or like, maybe they're money. Like, something that you taught me that's good is like, if you know that your nanny is like, going to be there longer that day, or if it's been a long week, send her a Starbucks gift card and be like, hey, like after you go to the museum with the kids, like get yourself a drink. or like Because I know that that helps me when I'm mothering to have something for myself. or like yeah Be like, hey, drive-through swag. Obviously, there needs to be parameters, but like just doing little gifts like that to show them or just even a text that's like, hey, I know today was like a lot. Thank you so much. We really appreciate you. I agree.
00:27:18
Speaker
It's just like any other job. Yes. Like you have to feel like they're part of your family. Yes. Because it is so And they're comfortable. It's so intimate. Another thing is like, yeah, just that comfortability at home. Like really like letting them know like they're welcome to any snacks or food or drinks or like they can use your credit card. if I have my nanny has a budget um each week she can use for whatever. She can choose what she wants to use it on. and Like usually they use it on like Swig or like going to lunch or something. And it's only $30 a week. It's not that much. But I think just like giving them the opportunity to have some independence It's really good. And then the last thing i would say is like set expectations up front. yeah There's nothing more awkward than like having unmet expectations, but you never said what they were. i know. Yeah. I've had to learn this the hard way because I feel like sometimes I try too hard to be there forever. I can say that. Yeah. And Kimden's like, Haley, like you don't need to – I'm like, no, no, no. I've got it. I've got it. like You just sit down. back I've got it. He's like, Haley, you're paying them. like It's okay. And I do think –
00:28:14
Speaker
It does – it's better for me to just be like, hey, like, can you do this, this, and this? And there's a nice way to ask. I think it's just hard for me to make that transition because I truly feel like it wasn't that long ago that, like, we were the babies. It's true. And you do want to kind of be the cool friend. What I actually did is i like, wrote down all my thoughts in ChatGPT like, the schedule, like, expectations, like, cleaning – this is more for a nanny on a babysitter. Like, cleaning before you leave and stuff like that.
00:28:37
Speaker
And then, like I give them to that the beginning of the job. I'm like, does this sound okay to you and stuff? Well, any other job does that. Yeah. You have expectations. You have things that you have to get done. Like, yes it is a job. And if we're going to pay them like it's a job, then there has to be expectations. Yes.
Babysitting Tales & Childhood Fears
00:28:51
Speaker
And then every season, I'll make a new one. It's like summer. Here's a new schedule. Yeah. Remember the expectations. Like, obviously, there's always many small things you have to, like, communicate on. But I think, like, don't assume they're going to like, clean after if you didn't say you need to. 100%. Yes. Okay. Okay.
00:29:05
Speaker
yes um okay going into some of the submissions. This becoming a babysitter tip episode. But honestly, like, I feel like this is stuff we've both had to learn being working moms. Yes. Kind like the hard way. Yeah.
00:29:16
Speaker
And I've actually, i will say, I've been so impressed with the like the nannies that we've had full time. And honestly, the babysitters too, of like how they really do want to do a good job. Yeah. Yeah. And I don't think every, I've had friends who have nannies that don't have that experience at all. And so I'm just like very grateful for that. Yeah. I do think communication is the way to go. This is so stupid, but my babysitter wouldn't let me have syrup on my waffles, and I've never forgotten it Honestly, this is me as a mom. Sometimes I'll let the kids have syrup, but, like, syrup, if we have it on our waffles or pancakes one day, like, I'm finding sticky things, like, for days. Yeah.
00:29:52
Speaker
like But bo honestly, yeah, justice. that's That sucks. I've never ever gone. One time I babysat someone in my ward before I could drive, and she drove me home and it was dark. She handed me a $1 barrel instead of a $20.
00:30:06
Speaker
I feel like we could say who this is because it's so I've never said anything. Wait, I can't see. I'll tell you. It's Lindsay. It is. Oh, my gosh. do you know what? Those things stick in your mind as a kid, though. That's another like really relatable. it's like a dollar. But also, that's so embarrassing. Like, can you imagine being the mom that like handed a dollar? Okay, I do have to say for my like, ah for for the LDS people, we, I have to ask you this too. Did you guys, the young men and young women on temple night, like ward temple night would have to babysit for free?
00:30:37
Speaker
Oh, really? Yes. Like, it was, like, our service. And, like, the temple was an hour away from us in San Diego. Like, it was far. And also people would, like, go to dinner before, go to dinner after. Like, it was a full, like, six-hour ordeal that we were expected to do for free.
00:30:51
Speaker
And I just want to say justice for that. Like, that – Yeah, that is a commitment. Also, like, who are these parents who just trust these teenagers being like, cool, we're going to go for a few hours? Like, it is – Well, they're not paying them. Yeah, I know. Exactly. but it's, like – I'm shocked. They're like so comfortable to go back an hour away, go out to dinner and like, they're like, good luck kids. Yeah. Yeah. It was a different time. i No, it wasn't. It was a different time. um when yeah And they didn't even have cameras.
00:31:16
Speaker
I know. Yeah, exactly. I was actually thinking that. I'm that's probably unique to us. and One time, might do you pay your sisters if they babysit for you? um Well, my only sister has a daughter, and so we switched. No, don't think i've ever paid her. But I think the expectation is like I've watched her daughter a few times, and before she had kids, she would watch mine. We used to do – if our siblings babysat, we would door-dash them dinner, okay whatever they wanted. Because like it did feel like a weird transaction to like pay family, yeah especially if they like asked, like, hey, do you guys like want to go on a date night?
00:31:48
Speaker
Yeah. I feel like my – older, like my sister close range, I probably wouldn't pay, but like I used to use my littlest sister like frequently. Like yeah she would come like a couple times a month and she loved babysitting, but I always paid her. Yeah. But I would always pay her like, I wouldn't pay her like 20 bucks an hour. I'd just give her like 50 or 75 bucks or something for the whole night. And like sometimes she would like stay over, but one time...
00:32:07
Speaker
One time I had like so much money in my Venmo account and I think it was like $10 or $5. Like it wasn't very much. Yeah. And so I sent her however much I had in my Venmo because I just like wanted to get rid of it. And then I sent her another transaction of like $50 in addition to that. And she thought I paid her like $5 or $10 because she only saw the first Venmo. And she's like, I honestly was so pissed about that. Like I never said anything, but I was pissed. And I'm like, no, dude, I sent you a second trans transaction. You just didn't notice that I sent it. But she and go she held that over my head. Mm-hmm.
00:32:36
Speaker
That's hilarious. I know. I do feel like it's just like different circumstances. Like, yeah, we would always ask our siblings when they were, we've only ever asked married siblings. so Like you guys can doordash whatever. Like the kids will be asleep. Like, I was like, if you're married or have like your own kids, like, you know, it's free. Like you're not, doing you're not getting paid. We'll pay you back. You guys, you're not gonna pay like 25 bucks to like a married couple. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, she was single and deserved it, honestly. Okay. Basically, had a babysitter for two hours, and when it was time to leave, her husband had a hundred, my husband, sorry, my husband only had a hundred dollar bill, and she said she didn't take Venmo, and she didn't have any change. So she didn't know what to do, so she literally just paid him the hundred dollars, and it was literally $50 an hour. It's haunted me ever since.
00:33:17
Speaker
Honestly, that sucks. Okay, but if you're a babysitter in 2025, you don't have Venmo. You need to take Venmo. Like, I'm sorry. Like, what? you don' That's how we pay. Like, who has cash? Who has cash? But I think, like, also assuming that they have changed is going be crazy.
00:33:31
Speaker
No, but I think that he just, like, that's all he had. Oh, he was going to pay her with that, though, but then he's like, I guess I'll give you this hundred. Is that how was? I guess so. Let me see it. Because I'm like, I don't feel like... i know how she would type it.
00:33:41
Speaker
I don't feel like assuming that a kid has cash is, like, normal. This is the best part. She said, I tried to see if I could talk to her about it, bringing it up, if um she had been paid or not. And she goes, yes, he did. He did with a little heart emoji. So there's nothing to be said. Like, she wasn't, like...
00:33:56
Speaker
$50 an hour? I also think oh the hard part about that is that's like your new commitment. So like if you pay your dog sitters like an extra 50 one time, it's like now they're like expecting that. You can't use her again. Because now like you can't go back. You can't be like, hey, I have like $50? That's so awkward. No, $50 an hour is wild though. That would bug me forever. No, it would. I'm just too cheap for that. Do you me to read the rest? Yes.
00:34:21
Speaker
Okay, time um our nanny had her period on my nice rocker, and I think she tried to clean it up, but it didn't work, so she just had a blanket over it, and it was probably like that for a couple days, and we had no idea because we went out of town that weekend, and I came back and there was blood all over the my nice rocker.
00:34:37
Speaker
This is a hard one because I honestly feel for the babysitter too. It's like so uncomfortable and like making a mess or like breaking someone in someone's house like would be like embarrassing to have to admit to.
00:34:48
Speaker
Yeah. No, it's true. But also just like Google how to get – like maybe try harder to get it out. like Like I just want to know the extent. Like did she just like blot it with a paper towel? Did she like Google – like did she door dash some Follex? The cover up with a blanket is crazy.
00:35:03
Speaker
But also, like, what else would you do? a glider, like a rocker, because this like a rocker glider. Those things are like $800. yeah dollars And the hard thing with, like, blood specifically is if you get it out immediately, it's fine. But if you don't, it's, like, it's not It's deep forever.
00:35:16
Speaker
Well, what would you do as a babysitter though? Like text after? my I'm like, I'm sorry. I would text my mom. If I was in that situation, I would text my mom and say, this is what just happened. What should I do? What should I do? And my mom would say, I'll be there with a full X and we're going to get this out. Or like Google how to get it out. You know, like I feel like she could have gotten it out.
00:35:33
Speaker
I do think if I was like telling a babysitter what to do, i think I would just text the parents because yeah also like different materials and stuff can like use different cleaners. So I just like, hey, like I know this is like so awkward, but started my period and got on your couch and Or like I've had babysitters before be like, hey, one of the kids threw off and I'll clean it when I get home. Like don't feel like you need to clean that. Yes. but it's nice to know. Yes. Or like peed their pants or something. like I would never make my babysitter clean that up. No, especially throw up. i I won't even clean that up. We all know about that video.
00:36:02
Speaker
Periods are just so awkward. Like it's just so uncomfortable. Okay. This one's crazy. Babysitter stole from us $100 for my husband's nightstand and earrings from my bathroom. Oh my gosh. Wow.
00:36:13
Speaker
That's ballsy. That is – and, like, you could never have them as a babysitter again, but I'm, like – But also, like, what are you going to do? Like, not press charges, but, like, are going ask them for it back? I just – what would you do in that situation? I would just move on. You would? I would never use them as a babysitter again. What if it was, like, a friend's kid that, like – Oh, gosh.
00:36:31
Speaker
I'm just thinking. Because we don't have really, like, friends that have kids old enough to babysit, but, like, in that situation – think I'd probably tell the parents. I think I'd probably, like, okay. Especially if you for sure knew. Like, because I'm bad, I, like, do keep – I shouldn't say that on the internet, but, like, I'll keep cash in my purse and not – I'm coming back Exactly. How much is in it.
00:36:50
Speaker
So, like, I feel like I would question myself. Like, would be like – Yeah. Like, I'd probably – no. Like, that happened to I'd probably be like – But if I knew for sure – Yeah, I think I would probably think I misplaced it. If I knew for sure, for sure. No, I still don't think I would say anything. I don't know. I'm so awkward like about talking to my friends about their kids. like if i just I probably would just let it go. Yeah. Depends on how much it was. If it was like thousands, then. Well, even if it was more – if it it was breaking 100, would say something.
00:37:16
Speaker
Because, ain't cheap. I need that $100. I work hard for that $100. I feel like I would assume it was, like, my kids and be like, where's my $100? You know, like, I don't think I would think it was a babysitter. Not so true. Okay, this – we said we weren't going to say anything creepy, but we do have to bring this up because it was a pinnacle of, like, our tween adulthood. yeah, This isn't too bad, though.
00:37:37
Speaker
I had watched One a Stranger Calls ah before I had an overnight job. I was miserable. The way that movie – Actually, that's why we all have anxiety. That's why millennials all need a lot of healing. It's true. It's because of that movie.
00:37:51
Speaker
That show, Taken. Taken, yes. And then Elizabeth Smart um kidnapping was like a really big thing in Utah. Yeah. And like those things like changed my childhood safety. No, we all – that's our trauma. Yeah.
00:38:04
Speaker
But When a Stranger Calls is a diabolical movie. Yeah. I actually have never seen the whole thing. I've only trailer. My hands are sweating just thinking about it. And I am 31 years old. I've seen Taken, though, and it's awful. Taken, like, isn't so much a horror movie. But it is, like – It's, like, anxiety-inducing. It's, like, you're going to get taken. Yeah.
00:38:21
Speaker
Yeah. No, it's true. One time I told my dad, after I watched up that movie, I said, Dad, I'm just – I was, like, crying. And I was like, Dad, I just don't think you'd be able to save me. Yeah.
Babysitter Expectations & Gratitude
00:38:30
Speaker
He was like – that's rude and i'm like i just don't think you could be like leonis and oh so funny really quick side note when um i had a business where we had to travel to other countries to get our product and like work with our artisans and designers we're going to guatemala and my grandpa was like not intimidating at all he thought so he came with us yeah because it was my aunt and i and so he was like i'll come and chaperone and like yes protect you guys yeah he thought he was leonis and on Taken on this trip. Like, the way he would stand there with his sunglasses on. Like, he's your bodyguard. Like, he was our bodyguard. oh it was just... That's so cute. Sometimes we'll think about that.
00:39:10
Speaker
And there's a longer story where, like, I didn't my passport and the Guatemalan police were trying to take me. And he was, like, really... Which is a whole story for another time. But he he thought he was... Is it Liam Neeson? Yeah. Am I saying it right? I think so. Yeah, that movie sticks with you. It is always, like, a little...
00:39:28
Speaker
Nerve-wracking, like being at home in a house alone after the kids are asleep as a babysitter. Oh, well that was my other question for you. Did you feel like if you fell asleep, like you were doing the worst thing when you were babysitting? But I did all the time. I almost felt worse watching TV though. It's like awkward. Like what am I going watch at their house?
00:39:43
Speaker
No, it's true. Sometimes my babysitters will watch like kind of scandalous shows. I'm like, oh. oh Like, oh, it's like – No, but this is the thing, the things that I was so worried about – Yeah. The things I was so worried about when I was a babysitter, like, one, falling asleep.
00:39:55
Speaker
Yeah. Two, watching a weird show. Three, like, eating their ice cream. all I had – Yeah. If I had a babysitter now who fell asleep, I would be like, oh my gosh, I'm so glad you felt comfortable enough to fall asleep. Like, that would not be awkward. Yes. Actually, I was looking at – they should. Like, you're staying out late. Yeah.
00:40:11
Speaker
I would feel bad falling asleep, but it would be like midnight like trying to stay awake. And I'd be like, but I was what, like 13? Yeah. Like it was past my bedtime. That is past my bedtime now. Like I would be falling asleep. So like if you are a younger babysitter listening to this, just know it's okay to fall asleep. Which there's tons of you. Yeah. Which like if you're listening to our podcast, what are you doing? One of our friends wrote Thank supporting. We're like, oh, should we not like say this because you don't want them to know something? She's like, she would never listen. I'm like, yeah, true. Yeah.
00:40:40
Speaker
Okay, this is one and then I have a few um that my friends texted me that we should talk about. um Set our microwave on fire and smoked up our entire upstairs, i think, they but doing bagel bites. They needed... um It needed... oh but I think she might have switched this. It needed one and a half minutes, but she did 11 and a half minutes. Oh, gosh. Hey, do you know we've all been there?
00:41:05
Speaker
Have we? I feel like I've definitely made a mistake on like something like that. Cooking um like cooking is like stressful when you're babysitter. like No, it is stressful. I like to stick to the basics. Mac and cheese. I mean, bagel bites are basic. in a That's true, but like microwaves are scary. like You can literally blow up a whole house.
00:41:22
Speaker
Did you like cook for the people you babysit for? I think mac and cheese. Yeah. mac and cheese. Also, have you seen, this is random, but like it's going around on TikTok. People are going like microwave-less because it's like bad i'm not for you.
00:41:35
Speaker
I just like, I like the idea of it because I do think microwaves are kind of like scary and toxic. But how do you live without a microwave? Do you use a microwave a lot? Yeah. And when we moved into this house, there wasn't a microwave. We didn't realize that when we walked through the house and I was like, wait, you need like even heating up a drink. Yeah.
00:41:52
Speaker
Like how do you heat up a drink? You're going to pour it in a pot? Yeah. You're going to pour your coffee in a pot and heat it up? Like that's crazy. Drink it when it's hot. Yep. Like you can't drink it when it's hot. You're a mom. Anyways. I do a microwave. I have a few in my text messages. I babysat for a family. My mom told me to go to the wrong neighbor's house to go to. So I went over to their house and let myself in it and sat there talking to me. And I sat there talking to them for like 15 minutes before we ended up realizing they didn't need me to babysit. And I was just, I wasn't just hanging out for a friendly visit. It was so embarrassing. That's like a dog sitter one.
00:42:23
Speaker
Yeah. and She's just like, so like, when are you guys leaving? Like, so where are you going tonight? The other family's like, where is she? And she's just chatting it up. Like, okay. Oh, that's a good one. So funny. um Okay. This one is crazy.
00:42:38
Speaker
um so she had a babysitter. I'm reading it. It's my text. It's text from friends. And I just asked them some like stories that she rated the babysitter. Wrote a note and rated each kid. Like, a rating on how they did.
00:42:55
Speaker
Oh my gosh, I like feel like i should read these. Okay, this funny. So like this is their two-year-old. The babysitter wrote, wouldn't go to sleep though, so he just kept playing with toys.
00:43:08
Speaker
Overall, really good. Five of ten.
00:43:14
Speaker
I think he ready make was like one and and a half when this happened. Well, just like picturing this kid like being like, okay, I'm going rate all the kids now. That's like very type it get A babysitters.
00:43:28
Speaker
Wait, is that the paper? Like she saved the paper? oh my gosh. I love it. um I don't want to like give away their names, but like the best part is you can tell this girl's young. so like everything is kind of spelled wrong.
00:43:43
Speaker
Like, one kid got a 10 out of 10. What did the vet kid do? and What? What did the 10 out of 10 kid do? It just said, like, listen to me. Awesome. eat all This is funny. This is for the baby. um Woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep.
00:44:02
Speaker
But she's a baby, so yay. But she's a baby, so yay like Like, she just overall, 8 out of 10. She's a baby.
00:44:14
Speaker
Next time we have a babysitter, we're going ask them to rank our kids. Oh, my gosh. I don't know why that's so funny to be me. That's hilarious. um Okay. Those are some good stories. Honestly, babysitting is a tough job. It really is. And, like, I think, like, I'm sure that, like, babysitting or names, they probably like are annoyed sometimes. Like, kids can be hard. Yes. And it's like, I'm, like, just giving them so much gratitude because I'm like, okay. like They're just like teachers. Yes.
00:44:42
Speaker
And another thankless job. So thank you. just Thank you, babysitters. Thank you, babysitters. Also, again, to the people who babysat me, I'm so sorry. Okay, guys.
00:44:53
Speaker
Everyone, hopefully you can get through this next week. I think this is probably coming out the week of Christmas. So if you are just like in the trenches trying to get through Christmas with your little kids, just like – Try to take some time to yourself and also remember that everyone else is having a shit show too. It's true. And like listen you hear this episode, have some humor with it. and Take a walk. Yeah. Do a hot mom walk for Do a hot mom walk. Take a mom cigarette break, which is like a Diet Coke outside on the porch if you need one. i love those trends. Yeah. If you take a cigarette break too, respect. yeah Honestly. Do what you need to do. Do what you need to do. No judgment here. Okay. Bye guys. Bye.
00:45:32
Speaker
but