Hen and Chicks: Welcome to the Babysitting Relay Race

In my last posting, I mentioned that children were not permitted to come to the travel meeting that I need to attend in Philly on Saturday. I, therefore, had to get a babysitter for Little Zo Peep for Saturday and a little bit of Sunday.

Just completed this task. What a day!!!!

Welcome to the Childcare Olympics -- a celebration testing the Single Mom's skills in planning, creativity and resilience. It doesn't get more exciting than this, folks.

So here's the scoop -- I'm planning to leave at about 5am on Saturday to make the trip to the City of Brotherly Love. I plan to return either very late Saturday or Sunday morning. I needed someone to watch Zo Peep during that time.

But here's the twist -- Since Zo Peep was now going to be home on Saturday, I thought she should follow a regular Saturday schedule. For this Saturday she has dance class (usually on Sunday) from 9:45 to 11:15; Chinese language class from 11:45 to 12:45; and a birthday party from Noon to 2.

I knew that one of these event needed to be cancelled-- since language and the party overlapped. I decided to have Zo Peep skip language class and attend the dance class and the party. So I needed to get someone to watch her AND taxi her to these 2 events.

Here are the steps I took to find childcare:

First, I called my sister. I had pre-sold her on the idea of sitting for Zo Peep for the weekend. In fact, I asked her to hold the dates -- just in case. When I talked to her yesterday, she told me that she would be happy to watch Z-- but that she was booked for Saturday morning.

YIKES! Can't leave my 5 yr. old home alone from 5 am till noon.

Second, I called her 21 yr old daughter (my niece) to see if she could cover in the morning. She was committed to working on Saturday morn -- so she couldn't help.

Third, I asked my regular babysitter. She reminded me that she is away for the weekend.

But Fourth -- My babysitter offered to talk to her room mate about filling in. Her room mate said that she could cover for the morning -- but wanted me to deliver Zo Peep to her house to sleep there on Friday.

Tara (aka the room mate) also was very concerned about getting Zo Peep to dance class, but thought she could handle it because she had been to the location once with my sitter Kristen.

Given Tara's concern about taking Zo Peep to places she had never been herself, I thought it was too much to ask Tara to shuttle the Peep from dance class to the birthday party. So. . .

Fifth, I called my ex-husband (who is NOT the father of Zo Peep -- I adopted her after our divorce) to see if he could pick up Zo Peep from Dance, bring her to my house where she could change, pick up the birthday gift and then drive her to the birthday party which is about 6 blocks away from our house. He said yes. He is the BEST Ex-husband a girl could ever have.

Sixth, I called my sister back to let her know that she could pick up Zo Peep from the Birthday party at 2 and keep her until I come home. WHEW!!! Now do you have that straight?

Let's review:

So . . .

On your Mark

Get Set

GOOOOO for the Zo Peep babysitting relay

Friday night -- I deliver Zo Peep to the baby sitter's room mate (Tara) for a sleep over.
Sat morn till 9:45 AM -- Tara watches the Peep and delivers her to dance class.
Sat 9:45 AM to 11:15AM -- Dance class
11:15 AM to Noon -- Ex husband picks up Zo Peep from class, takes to my house to change and get gift. Delivers Zo Peep to party
Noon to 2 PM -- Zo Peep at party
2PM to my return -- Sister picks up Zo Peep at party. Takes the Peep to her house.
Sunday morning -- I pick up Zo Peep at my sister's house.