Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

Obviously you would meet the family in question 1st....if you hadnt already met (as quite a few of us already have) and satisfy yourself that they are nice people. But as I mentioned earlier its more about swapping services than paying for services ie I babysit yours one eve and you mine the next etc. It builds up a bond of mutual trust and friendship. I was NOT at all suggesting people should post on here thier teenage daughters details....how stupid would that be?:frown: I was merely suggesting something that worked well for me when I was back in the UK. I would hope that posters on here wouldnt choose a 40 something stay at home loner male to babysit thier precious treasures!:unsure:

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

Probably not if he was a stranger or just an acquaintance, but if you know him very well and trust him, there's nothing wrong with it.

I would be more worried about some crazy stay-at-home 30-something mums who call their 2 under 3-year-old girls Beans! :eek:

Mrs JTL

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

hehe. Beans.

I haven't met anyone off here yet actually, but I wouldn't dream of going to a stranger's house to spend a night, whether I thought they were there or not!

Mrs. JTL, when I say Taiwanese style I mean I skip all my 'h' ... 'zhong' as in 'zhongguo' becomes 'zong', 'shi' becomes 'si' etc. etc. I can speak proper Beijing Style but it takes far more effort for me, because I learnt the pronunciation but was never really in the environment to use it and make it natural (whereas I've been to Taiwan a few times and worked in a company full of Taiwanese Mandarin for a good year, which was fun).

My Taiwanese (min nan hua) consists of 'I don't know' and 'p***s' so that's no use to anyone XD

Thorneside Station isn't a problem to get to, and I think there are buses running from Wellington Point up the busway but I'm not too sure, I'd have to look into it. Message me if you do want me to come down at any point! :)

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

Hi

I'd be up for doing a babysitting swap with others too... great idea! Don't have any teenagers on offer... but would be happy to pay one who's prepared to come to Cleveland to babysit from time to time! How shall we swap details??

Polly

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

I understand what your saying and I wouldn't give my daughters details to just anyone I hadn't met. I only offered them to Shortlets as I've met her and her family a few times. I wasn't offering her services to just anyone.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

How old are your kids?

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

My daughter started babysitting here for someone that we had met already. She then recommended her to others, and we always went and met the family so they could reassure themselves that she was not some axe wielding murderer. She was 18 at the time and is now 20 and has met some wonderful people through babysitting.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

I think its a really good idea. I haven t got any teenagers but im interested in the i'll do one one for you and you do one for me thing.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

I'm up for the swapping as well. My husband and I would love to get out occasionally, even just once a month is nice.

I of course would have to get to know anyone who wants to swap. That definitely works both ways as I would want the other person to be comfortable with me too.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

just seen this thread and i actually thought about the same kind of thing when thinking of scenarios when we finally arrive in oz.......how to get out and enjoy our new life adult style..... then saw someone has had the idea already. :thumbsup:
I would definately be interested (next year) when we get visas but are going to adelaide area. my mum used to do this when we were younger with mums from school and they had a system with voucher type things that were passed on from what i remember (as there were quite a few people in the circle in the end) which you accrued for babysitting so the same people didn't go out all the time if you get me?
will keep checking this thread for more adelaideons...:thumbup:

kathx

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

Before I left Canada, and had my second child, my friends did a babysitting co-op. We were in an area that had really expensive, hard to get and unreliable child care. We all worked part time and wanted something better for the kids.

So we worked it out that we would watch each others kids while the others worked. There were 3 of us and our schedules lined up perfectly so that there was always someone to babysit. We used the coupon system to "pay" each other for babysitting. I think we started out with about 40 hours each. We needed that much because we were all needed childcare for about 10-30 hours a week.

We were all good friends before hand and our parenting styles were pretty similar so it worked out really well. We also had rules laid out just like a day care center. Might not work for everyone but it was great for us.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

I would be happy to do it as well - a friend of mine was part of a babysitting circle in the UK - they used vouchers and also had an occasional meetup so everyone could get to know everyone and the children etc - although I think most of us already know each other with the odd exception.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

My daughter is 2 and a bit... and I've got a baby on the way! How about yours?

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

My daughter will be turning 4 in just 9 days, and my son is 16 months old. So the kids wouldn't be too far off :D

If you ever want to meet up just PM me. We can get together and see where it goes from there. It'll be crazy here for the next 10 days. My mother in law (that I love) is visiting and will be headed back on the 28th. Plus, in the next 10 days we have my brithday, Christmas then my daughters birthday!!! Just crazy :D

Oh yah, and I'm not working so I'm generally available.

Re: EXPATS BABYSITTING CIRCLE
 

Hi I am moving to Perth in March with both of my teenage children aged 14 (nearly 15) and 16 (nearly 17). When we arrive and settle I will post on here again as we are all more then happy to babysit. I think a baby sitting circle is a great idea, i would never have coped without my friends when the children where younger, but as some of you have already mentioned it is a good idea to get to know the families first. I think it is a great way to make friends:)