Need babysitter advice for next fall

ceo

Thu, Jun 08 2006, 8:48 am

I work part time(mornings). Currently, I send my son 17 months to a lady who sits in her house. She is Israeli, very warm and loving and is very reliable. She takes off sometimes, but always with advance notice. She has a backup for when she takes off for an emergency (never) and has never cancelled on me at the last minute.
My son is one of the older kids there. He will be 20 months in September, and he is too little for any of the local playgroups.

Next year, my neighbor will be doing babysitting specifically for my son's age group- kids who are maybe a little too old for regular babysitting, but are too little for the two year old cutoff date. I was originally planning on sending my son to this neighbor, because I thought it would be better for him to be around children closer to his age than to be around babies. Also, this woman will be doing a bit more structure- story time, coloring, etc.

However, my neighbor just gave me her schedule for next year and she is missing SO MUCH, mostly because she is going out of town for pesach and succos and will be taking off an extra week at both ends (before and after). In addition, she has little kids at home, so if one gets sick then I would be stuck. Also, she told me that she has two siblings in shidduchim, so hopefully they will get married soon, and if she has to go back home for a chasuna......

The problem is around here, is that there are not al ot of "drop in" sitters, where I can just bring my son in when she takes off. This is worrisome to me, how I will find sitting at this these times. Especially- I know that the month of October- before and after Succos will be vry hectic at my job.

On the other hand, I don't really want him to continue at the sitter where he is now, just because he will be the oldest and I feel that he is not getting enough stimulation and activities.

Any thoughts? I have to make up my mind before shabbos, so I really need ideas.
thanks!