A really good friend of mine decided to go back to work full-time and asked me to watch her kids, a 4 month old and a 4 year old. I reluctantly agreed to do so because she helped me out after my grandmother passed and watched Mikaela for me while I went to school 2 days a week for 4 hours. However, after watching them this past week I have realized that this is not for me right now. Here are the few problems I have with it:
1) I am going back to school in 3 weeks, 2 days a week for 8 hours a day. On top of that, I have a 2 hour commute each way to school because I am living with my grandfather and helping him out while I finish school and my mom is going to pick Mikaela up from daycare when she gets off work. If I continue watching my friends children, I will have those 2 days of school, plus 30 hours of babysitting. This makes me feel like I am neglecting Mikaela because I already feel like I will be missing out on so much while I'm in school that I don't want to miss anything unless I have to.
2) I have to watch the kids at her house. If her or her husband were willing to bring them over to me then I'd be more ok with it. But every morning I have to get up and take Mikaela over there, which would be ok if I didn't have so much to do where I live. I babysit for 10 hours a day, then come home and do the stuff that needs done around here. I just don't feel like I am productive at all.
So, what should I do? I already told her that I wouldn't be able to babysit the 2 days I'm in school. But I just got my course load for one class, and for that one class I have 9 books to read plus multiple essays and other things to read. And for my 3 other classes I know it will be the same or worse because they are all advanced level history courses which require a lot of reading.
So, should I tell her that when school starts I can't watch them anymore because of my workload with school and wanting to spend as much time with Mikaela as I can, or should I just continue to do it? I need advice because I don't want this to ruin our friendship but I just have a feeling it may be overwhelming. It is already kind of overwhelming caring for a 4 month old, along with my 3 month old.
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Comments: 28
ask her to bring the children to u.
i went back 2 work full time 12 wks after having my child. i always made sure there was time for just us. it was usually saturday mornings. my hsb worked until noon. and to this day our time is saturday morning.
if this babysitting is helping u financially and also becaue she helped u out. talk to her. aobut 2 days of sch no babysiting those days/ and having the children brought to u.
and keep one of the remaining 5 days just for u and your child.
Or telling her if she can't accommodate your schedule, then you just can't watch her kids.
You are doing her a favor, and she needs to do something that will make it easier for you.
Just until you can get yourself together.
That's my advice.
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