Ever since we began the search for a babysitter, this is how the few leads we’ve gotten are delivered. Hushed tones, eyes darting around like there’s some ninja babysitter network assassin hiding around every corner, waiting for you to share that name before you’re finished using them.

We don’t have family living close enough that we can just call and drop Miss O off. In an emergency, we’d probably be ok, but we have got to get someone we can call for date nights and for anything else that one might need a sitter.

Just getting someone to engage in the conversation is a clandestine act where both parties leave feeling slightly dirty and knowing what they’ve done is just a little to far on this side of wrong somehow. It’s never couples either. It’s always one of them praying their partner doesn’t find out it was them who sold them out. I have seen grown men sweat over the thought of defying the rules and uttering that one tiny name that could unlock a world of possibilities for a new parent like me.

Not even the secret ingredient in my mother’s pasta sauce was this hard to find.

So what do you do?

If you’re us, you ask around, then wait. And wait. And wait. And beg. Find a perfect sitter! Move to a different side of town. Ask around again. Search online. And beg.

So what do you do when your friends have no leads and others just aren’t sharing (can you blame them?!)?

We asked around the neighborhood for a middle or high school kid who’s great with other kids. And waited. Someone suggested contacting the local middle school, but I don’t know if they would be allowed to do anything about that. It can’t hurt to ask, right?

When I worked at a local university, faculty and staff were able to post requests through the School of Education, which would have been super helpful if I had stayed there long enough. I don’t know if you could do that as non-staff, but it’s worth a shot. They’re already studying to work with kids and most of them have personal experience. You’ll have to keep their class schedule in mind and they may not have transportation, but they probably need the money.

We were lucky enough to get a lead on a girl in our neighborhood within a week of asking. We have amazing neighbors. Now I just have to get off my duff and call this girl. Well, text her. Right? Do teenagers even know you can talk on phones anymore? Without video?

I am so old!!

So don’t give up. Keep asking. Keep pestering. You will find someone, it may happen a tad longer than you hoped, but it will happen!

Featured Image Photo Credit: Yasmeen