Would you feel comfortable with summer college age sitter?

[Anonymous]

DH and I have been pretty careful with our social distancing the past few months and have not seen anyone or left our property - all groceries and supplies are delivered and we wipe everything down. Without camp feeling like it will be impossible to continue working from home, given how hard it is already and the kids at least have some activity with school.

I was able to find a college age sitter who could come help us entertain the kids during the week and am strongly considering hiring her, but am really worried about introducing someone from the “outside” we have no control over. She is living with her parents and says she has been extremely careful, but has been to a grocery store a few times (which is reasonable). I am worried that as summer unfolds people are going to be more relaxed in general and then there will be more risk.

How are others feeling about this? I really want to make it work since it would be so helpful but also don’t want to do something irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

This is my conflict as well. I am being asked to go back into the office soon and we need to hire someone to help. However, I don't like the idea of someone we don't know very well coming into our house several times a week. I can sort of get past the idea now, because we're still under a stay-at-home order and, although that gets implemented differently by different people, most are not going on unnecessary trips. What happens when we enter Phase 1, and a few weeks later Phase 2? The options are both bad. One is that I stay home and take a leave of absence from work, which would be a huge financial burden. The other option is taking a much bigger risk than I was prepared to do. I'm sorry that I don't have advice to offer. But I'm in the same boat and really torn.

[Anonymous]

You simply can't live in a complete bubble and she sounds like a responsible person. We've been living in a bubble but I've hired a young teacher who I hope is responsible. I didn't hire one person who would have had an evening job in a restaurant because of the exposure risk.

[Anonymous]

We are in the exact same situation, OP. We have not been to a store or seen anyone outside our household in nine weeks. All of our groceries are delivered and we wipe them down wearing gloves, we are taking all the precautions! I feel strongly that there will be a second wave this summer and while we do have a college age option to be a sitter to entertain the kids, I am increasingly thinking it’s not worth the risk. While I know she is a pragmatic girl, I have no control over where she goes, who is coming into her home, etc. so even though I would welcome the extra set of helping hands we are just going to battle through the summer as we have been doing the past 2+ months. That is my recommendation to anyone who asks but I am definitely on the far conservative side of this pandemic. Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

No.

But I am not desperate and you maybe. Your choices are going to be driven by your needs and wants.

Scientifically and for health reasons - I would not get anyone in my bubble without they quarantining strictly for 14 days first, and once they are cleared and in my bubble they should continue to quarantine with us till the time they are working for us.

[Anonymous]

My short term goal for next 2 years for entire family is that we survive first.

If you think that you are going to need to go back to work in a month and need childcare you are in a hard place. Hope you find someone who is also strict about quarantining.

[Anonymous]

It sounds she’s reasonable, so you could give it a try.

Older teens and young adults who advertise they take precautions, will make good money babysitting this summer!

[Anonymous]

I would do this no question, but my alternatives are day care (much more exposure!) and my parents coming to help (risky for them, and very short term since they have their own work and family responsibilities). What's your alternative, OP?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you have younger children, which means you are probably late 30's or early 40's.

You are not in a high risk category. Your kids are not in a high risk category. Your college age sitter is not in a high risk category. You need a college age sitter to go back to work. These are all factual statements.

What is your specific worry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My short term goal for next 2 years for entire family is that we survive first.

If you think that you are going to need to go back to work in a month and need childcare you are in a hard place. Hope you find someone who is also strict about quarantining.

99 percent of the people who get COVID survive it.

Why is your thinking so out of whack with reality?

[Anonymous]

Ha, if I was looking for a job and had some strict family that paid enough I’d just lie and say, sure I’m in my 20s or 30s and will have no life for your for months at a time! Of course! Then do whatever I wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you have younger children, which means you are probably late 30's or early 40's.

You are not in a high risk category. Your kids are not in a high risk category. Your college age sitter is not in a high risk category. You need a college age sitter to go back to work. These are all factual statements.

What is your specific worry?

+1

I agree. Look, it’s going to open you to risk. You won’t be able to control her or where she goes. You will be very anxious with this arrangement. So, you either need to let go of some of your worry (you are low risk so catching covid is *likely* not terrible for your family), or just not do it.

[Anonymous]

You will have to be ok with not worrying and not expecting any particular self-imposed social distancing from her on her off hours. What you don't know might hurt you, it's a slight risk. But you will be in a position of not being able to ask as I don't think you will receive completely accurate information.

[Anonymous]

Honest question and for the record, I don’t live in the DC area. I am in Western PA where our Covid numbers are quite low. I go to the grocery store every 8-10 days with a mask and Clorox wipes and Purel. Come home and scrub myself like I am heading to surgery. Our Governor has never said “Don’t leave your home”, just instructions regarding masks and social distancing. So, I assume you would probably think I am taking a big risk. I don’t know how, mentally speaking, you can consider staying inside your home for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

I think a win-win for everyone involved. Opportunities to do resume building things (internships, jobs relevant to their major) don't exist for college-aged kids, and babysitting for a family puts her parents at whole lot less risk than other jobs available (like working in a grocery store). At the same time, you don't need to worry about exposing someone high risk group to children who could be carriers. Working even at home without any childcare isn't long term sustainable, and one person coming in contact with kids is less risk than a camp or daycare. You have to weigh the risk benefit analysis, but you can never eliminate risk.