why don't you just swap 1 nights babysitting for another, then you don't have to add 30e to yr night out.

I would if i could, but the only 2 friends I have who have children are the ones I want to go out with!!

so who is looking after their kids??

could your daughter not have just gone for a sleepover

You will be coming home at some time won't you? The babysitter is not going to be responsible all night long?

I use my neighbour's 18yr daughter sometimes and usually just slip her 10 or 15 euro for two to three hours.

One night I let her sleep at my house because I knew I wouldn't be home until about 2am and I didn't want her to feel as if she had to wait up for me and then go home at that time.

I gave her 20 euro. Her mum sent her back next day with 10 euro saying I'd given her too much and she was doing me a favour. I told her to keep it. She was still in her last year of high school then and I know she didn't have any money .... and I told her I'd feel bad about asking her again if she didn't accept the money.

Like a lot of mums I don't often get the chance to get out and stay out late so it was worth it.

Enjoy your night out.

One of them sends her son to his dads for the night, the other sends her daughter to her parents for the night. The parents have minded my daughter a few times, but I don't want to take advantage. Plus they live over an hour away and it's awkward for me. Since my daughter is ill she has to have certain medications and inhaled treatments at certain times so I need her to be at home so they can get done. Otherwise it would be a great solution!

Oh yes, Ill be home at some stage! (Though I can't guarantee what time since the bars here stay open till 6am! ) I think I will offer €30 and see what she makes of that! Thanks

Just because the bars stay open until 6am doesn't mean you have to stay until then.
I used to try but it just got too much and passed out long before then.

haha, yes i know that!! But my friends stay out very late here so I just go with the flow. I found it hard to believe when i moved here (in Ireland it's pub at 10pm, club at 12am, home at 3am), but here it's pub at 12am, late bar at 1am, club at 3am, and home at 5/6am!! I don't get out often, so when I do I try to make the most of it!!

You'll be dead in the morning if you have to get up to get daughter off to school.

I can manage a late night if I can sleep it off the next morning.

It's ok, night out has been changed to Friday night, so I have Saturday morning to sleep it off!!

Please stop to think that unless you remain "teetotal" the babysitter is the only "responsible" person (19 years old is an adult/ is it different in Spain?) looking after your daughter. Shouldn't she be paid for this? Just a thought.

She will be getting paid. At least 30 euros.
And surely everybody is allowed one drink and doesn't have to be teetotal to be responsible.

I don't understand your comment...obviously she will be getting paid! I said in earlier posts I would offer her €30 and be prepared for her to want more. Maybe you should read through before commenting....just a thought.

Thank you Lorna, I think I deserve to have a drink or 2 since i'm 25 years old and get out once every 6 months if im lucky, and thats when I have family that come to visit. This will be my first ever time using a babysitter.

My OH gets sent away to various countries for work quite often ...... and I used to have to turn down every invite to dinner from ex work mates and the village mummies etc. if he wasn't home to babysit.

Then when the neighbour got older I asked her if she'd mind sitting a few times. Italian girls in this village are not like many UK teenagers drowning themselves in vodka and trying to look 18 at 15 to get into clubs so I knew she wouldn't be on the phone all night or sneaking boys into the house. To tell the truth she even brought her school books with her the first time. She was grateful for the peace to study as she has 3 younger siblings. She was more responsible than me !!!!!

I always made sure that I had a lift home just so that I could have a drink or two or three and not drive.

I hope you have a great time. I was older than you and wanted a bit of me time so I can appreciate that at 25 you do too. Have a bloody ball.

Thanks Lorna! But the bloody babysitter cancelled so looks like another night in for me...whoopee! Oh well, I have family coming in June, maybe I'll get a night out then!