Smart Mom’s Baby-Sitting Co-Op Handbook
By: Gary Myers, Patty Barthell Myers
Reviewed By: Tukwila Press
Sanity Coming Soon to a Family Near You...
Mothers of preschoolers are re-inventing the idea of neighborhood support--and they want to talk about it. Newsweek (11-27-2000, pg 89) reported news that Moms have been discovering for years--playgroups and baby-sitting co-ops have reshaped the world as moms know it. Small victories begin to add up--a little calm here, a little relief there, and pretty soon the never-ending job of caring for small children begins to find a peaceful balance.
"Moms all over have discovered how best friends make the best baby-sitters," says Gary Myers, author of the Smart Mom's Baby-sitting Co-op Handbook. Moms have a sitter for anything...and moms only sit when it works for them. It is a great system--the more Moms that join, the better it works. Start it in one hour with three friends. Co-op Moms will tell you, "it is less work not more... jobs are easy and they rotate."
Book Contents
Section 1: What is a Co-op And Why Do I Need One?
- The Least You Need to Know: Questions and Answers
- Famous Last Words: "But I Already Have a Few Sitters"
- A Safe And Caring Environment: Tips For Protective Moms
Section 2: How do I Start a Baby-sitting Co-op From Scratch?
- Time is Limited: Up and Running After One Meeting With Three Moms
- Special Startup Tips for Large Groups: Option A or Option B
Section 3: How Do I Get the Most From My Co-op?
- Date And Dine-out More Often: The Secret About Evening Sits
- Get Into Time out: Dial the Secretary
- Be a Sitter: Just Say When
- Success Together: Ground Rules That Work
- Making Their Day Successful: Kids With Special Needs
Section 4: What Do I Do as Secretary?
- The Key to Being Secretary: Customer Service
- How to Coordinate Sits: Do the Two-step
Section 5: What Do I Do as Leader?
- The Key to Being Leader: See the Big Picture
- Tips to Find Interested Moms: Get the Word Out
- A Special Way to Sign-up a New Mom: The Home Visit
- The September Meeting: Annual Registrations and Fees
Appendix A: Practice Before You Play: Follow the Flowchart