Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)
- Dear Judgy Mothers on My Website… - June 15, 2013
- 10 Skills Every Mother Should Possess - June 10, 2013
- Perfection (Or pretty close) - June 3, 2013
A few weeks ago, Lily and Ben went to Jeff’s office for a “take your sons and daughters to work day.” The office interns planned a whole day of activities ranging from an ice cream sundae bar to a treasure hunt to various work presentations. It sounded like it was a blast of an event.
The best thing to come of the day, though, was an intern with no summer plans. She was moving to Baltimore and was desperate for money. She was CPR certified, experienced and enthusiastic. Jeff vouched for work ethic and maturity and she agreed on the spot to be our summer babysitter. The icing on the cake was that she was free the last week in July and excited by the notion of accompanying our family to the beach for the week. We’d been unsuccessful searching for someone for months and finally, we’d found the right person. We’d have help with the kids during the day! Be able to go out to dinner alone at night! It was all falling into place and I was ecstatic. She sounded perfect. Jeff passed her e-mail address on to me and I made plans for her to babysit all three kids together the following week.
Last Wednesday, she came over. I was in the midst of some time sensitive work that needed to get done, so I stuck her with the kids and retreated to the office to bang out a couple hours of writing. Two hours later, I returned to see how she managed all three of them. “Want to back out of that vacation?” I joked, “Did the kids scare you off?” She laughed nervously and accepted her payment. “We’ll talk later this week,” I called after her.”See you soon!”
I called Jeff and told him the kids all loved her. She was a go.
I e-mailed her immediately to follow up. “Thank you for coming,” I wrote. “Let’s talk about flight times for the beach!”
No response.
Jeff e-mailed.”The kids had a great time with you. Looking forward to the summer.”
Nothing.
I started to wonder if she was alright. Previously, she responded to my e-mails immediately– her prompt responses only made me love her more. Did she get in a car accident on the way home and never arrive? Had she suffered a horrible family emergency? Undergone a stroke or heart attack? Clearly, something was very, very wrong. I sent a final text asking her to please let me know that she was OK. I was getting worried.
Nada.
She must be dead.
Finally, a few days later, Jeff received the following message: “I’m sorry, Mr. Smokler, I’ve become busy and will be unable to work with you this summer. Take care.”
Clearly, she was abducted by aliens, brainwashed and ordered to return to their planet for the summer.
It’s simply the only explanation I can think of.
{ 88 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh no! Maybe she was taken in the rapture and just got her internet set up in heaven.
Mama to Baby J and Bean recently posted..Pittsburgh Walk for Williams Syndrome 2011
Hahaha. That is funny. Maybe it was the rapture.
Nicole recently posted..Hunger Queues – Breaking A Habit
Such a better explanation than Mars. The rapture– of course!!!
Ha Ha Ha HA! I am going to cross my fingers that someone even better comes along! Working for you would be a JOY!
Life with Kaishon recently posted..It was a week of-
I like what Mama to Baby J thinks!
But wow, really….what a horrible thing with which to deal. There are many more professional ways she could have handled it….maturity hopefully teach that.
Mama Bear recently posted..Biting Ballad of Both the Brilliant and Brainless Karate Parents
Oh no! That’s the worst. :( Crossing my fingers you find someone else ASAP!
I think she was kidnapped by another family desperate for a summer babysitter and forced to send that message.
Ok, your alien theory is way better.
Crap, hope you find an alternate soon!
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..I vlogged Yes- I did Crap
LOL that sucks. I hope you find someone soon!
Oh no! Hoping that you find someone soon. (And also crossing my fingers that the same doesn’t happen to us with our 2 terror monkeys.)
Lois recently posted..Random Haiku Thursday
Oh no! A babysitter on vacation is absolutely the best.thing.ever. We had one for 5 hours on Saturday at the beach and my tush spent that time in a beach chair sipping boat drinks instead of digging massive holes and dragging baby Violet out of the waves that wanted to eat her.
We use a service. We have always LOVED the girls they sent. Try to find one in the town you are going to. It makes it so easy and you do not have to pay for the flight.
Brittany {Mommy Words} recently posted..Excuse Me Ma’am- What Manners
I totally agree! We got a babysitter from a service when we were at an out of town wedding. It was expensive, but worth it. The babysitter could handle everything, 5 kids from 7 months to 14 (not all mine!), dinner, bedtime, etc.
Hmmmmm… I’ll look into that. It’s our 3 kids and our friend’s 2. We need someone amazing.
I will go to the beach and hang out with your kids! Time away from mine doing -anything- is a vacation for me! A commitment is a commitment. She needs to suck it up and do the job she agreed to.
She was no match for fun-loving kids. My best find a babysitter advice is to place an ad in your closest university newspaper, and then have prospective sitters come for bedtime for their interview. You get an extra set of hands at bedtime and also an “audition.”
Ugh, so sorry. That sucks! Good luck finding a new one!
I’ve never had a babysit other than my mom and this is why. I’m afraid they’d run out of here screaming. My mom, on the other hand, has to deal with them since she’s Grandma. But even she has her limits
C @ Kid Things recently posted..Broken Glass
Wow, something must’ve scared her off, or someone threw more cash at her, prison perhaps?! Just when people appear normal…goes to show you never know :(
Lotus Blu Mama recently posted..Man-Codes
I’m thinking it was Evan.
I suppose it could be worse. She could’ve been carrying your husband’s love child.
The Woman Formerly Known as Beautiful recently posted..Arnold Schwarzen-Ass
Hahahahahahha this is hilarious!!!!!!
Skinny Mom’s Kitchen recently posted..3 Tips to Help Control Calories
LOL. True.
Been there. sucks.
Oh my! On one hand not funny…but on the other completely hilarious… I completely relate that is for sure :) The only person that can handle my kids without looking like they just got beat up is my sister. Everyone else goes running for the hills as soon as I pick them up :) I can’t imagine why… ;)
Skinny Mom’s Kitchen recently posted..3 Tips to Help Control Calories
I am impressed! Your kids must have watched some awesome movies to know how to run a babysitter off like that.
Good luck finding someone else!
dysfunctional mom recently posted..Invisalign – A Great Alternative!
Poor thing. I hope they aliens let her go without too much probing. Or tying of the fallopian tubes.
Marinka recently posted..Mad Women
She was clearly abducted by aliens. There’s no other explanation. (I’m sorry it didn’t work out! That stinks!!)
Hahaha…it’s always a bitch to find someone to watch 3 kids. I’ve had my sitter since my 2nd was born. She’s 20 now and Carol is grandfathered into my life. Good luck finding someone.
Lynn MacDonald (All Fooked Up) recently posted..In which i suck as a mouse in a maze
Trump needs someone to watch Barron and pays more. That must be it.
Nota Supermom recently posted..Stella and Dot Earrings Giveaway
Oh no! What a cruel change of mind/heart/whatever!
Victoria KP recently posted..TRDC- A Light in the Fog
I can’t imagine what could have happened to make her change her mind.
Jennifer recently posted..Choosing to remember
This is my fear……
Necole recently posted..A Space of My Own
WOW thats not cool! I bet she didn’t know how to say no when she was asked and couldn’t figure out how to stop it once it started. I have a 16 almost 17 year old I could loan you for the Summer … I would pay you to take her off my hands. Hahaha! Good Luck!
Well that just plain bites! The only thing I can imagine is that she has had little to no experience with children and freaked out. She should have been honest. Not mature or not. Too bad for the kids but I hope you find some lovely sitter who will be there for you all. How disappointing.
Funny but not funny! She must have realized that she wasn’t getting an all expense paid vacation & that she really was going to have to work. Hope you find someone else!
Sarah G recently posted..Change of Tune-Plans
WHY oh WHY is it so hard to find a decent sitter?
Oh no! As a parent, I hate it when that happens. Then I remember the times I did similar things as a babysitter in my high school and college years. I apologize to every parent I ever let down or inconvenienced!
Oh god, whatever. She obviously wasn’t the right person for you and she totally needs to grow some balls.
Amanda recently posted..I dreamed you
As bad as it is that your babysitter fell through it’s probably better it happenend now rather than later. Ugh! Kids are kids so I can’t imagine what she was expecting? Good luck in finding a better fit for your vacation (so you actually can vacation)!
Perhaps she was just so taken aback by your awesomesauce that she didn’t feel she was worthy to be in your presence for a whole week.
Jessica recently posted..Potty training blues
Ahhhhh!! Totally must have been it!
That bites! I’m sure your children were absolute angels. Maybe she just freaked out about this whole end of the world thing and ran of to join one of those crazy cult caravans to spread the word about 2012. They are out there. Better she’s gone.
Good luck finding another sitter.
Cheers.
VB
Vinobaby recently posted..Wine Pairing Playlist for the Apocalypse
Forget about her. Someone that can’t handle awesome kids like yours isn’t cool to me.
Anthony recently posted..Why CharismaticKid is going to change the world
See, this is why I’ve never hired a sitter.
tracy recently posted..I Heart Faces – Yellow
I know! She was so impressed with your three angels that she is in search of an opportunity to procreate immediately!
Yuliya recently posted..I’m not a photographer- I just play one on my blog
I am straight up PISSED at this chick!
And I’m super glad she bailed BEFORE you found out the hard way that she’s “just not that in to you.”
Clearly she’s not that hard up for cash!!! Hello – FREE WEEK AT THE BEACH?!?!?!? UMMMM HELL YES!!! Then, Now, Always – — – what on EARTH is more fun than playing with kids on the beach?
Babysitting is NOT easy and it’s not glamorous but it is SO FUN if you do it the right way!!!!
Anyone who could be run off that easily is NO GOOD -
Erin recently posted..Fertile Myrtle
Well that stinks! She could have at least given you an explanation!
Lindsay recently posted..I have Swimsuit Confidence
Yuck. What a bummer.
Perhaps she was offered a better deal such as more money… or she may have begun a relationship and decided she didn’t want to be hung up with kids all summer… or, she didn’t like your kids for some reason- which is most likely her own self-issue because babysitters should be able to handle children. Period.
You sure you didn’t look at her funny? When I’m under deadline I can make Joan Rivers look normal. Just saying.
HerMelness Speaks recently posted..Should Personal Blogs Be Open Books
Become busy you say…hmmmm. Well clearly she has something to hide and didn’t want to become Scary Mommy’s blog fodder. Perhaps some inappropriate Facebook photos or YouTube videos? Hmmm. Or maybe she got cold feet after realizing she’d be working for someone who is self-described as “scary.”
Such a bummer! Rapture? New boyfriend? Didn’t want her anyway, so there? XO
Galit Breen recently posted..The Red Dress Club- Sloth
That’s terrible! I would so babysit for you over the summer, she just doesn’t know what she’s missing. Try http://www.care.com they check the references of everyone on their site and you can find someone locally.
Jodi recently posted..Growing Up- Holding On
That’s wy my motto is never let your babysitter meet the kids until the contract is signed and notarized…
Lovin’ the blog
Eric @ I’ve Become My Parents recently posted..Thanks for stopping by…Please tell me what you thought
Oh, no! At least she backed out early instead of mid-summer.
Shell recently posted..Pour Your Heart Out- Doing It All
Way to man up and decline the job? I am worried when we will never find one that can handle the kids, and more importantly me.
Not Winning Mom of the Year recently posted..The English Patient
God, I HATE when that happens! It’s worse than waiting for a blind date who you really think you hit it off with to call back. Why can’t people just be up front and candid?
Sounds like it’s a good thing she didn’t sign up for the job in the first place! And also, totally leaves me wonder what happened…
Elaine recently posted..Meeting Bloggers is so Much Fun!
That is horrible. If she had a problem she should have been forthcoming with it and been an adult about it.
Hey, if I was single I would totally watch your kids for you all summer and go to the beach!
Sunday recently posted..Im sick of talking about poop
Does she know who you are? Maybe she didn’t want to wind up as the subject of a post. Which, of course, she did anyway….
Exurban Cowgirl recently posted..Lost Locks
You would think she would have thought it really cool to say she worked for you. There has to be some explanation!
April Queen recently posted..New Jewelry Pieces
Clearly she was intimidated by your brilliant children and astounding beauty.
Twinisms recently posted..Blind Leading The Blind
Clearly ya’ll are haunted by ghosts.
Imperfect Momma recently posted..The Other Version of Cant Take My Eyes Off of You
That is really funny! Light years ago my husbands son lived with us & whenever we would hire babysitters they would come once & never return my calls…Hmm….
Alexandria recently posted..Phoenix Vlogs- Episode 1
Oh, no! That happened to me one time when my kids were little. I was teaching middle school and I had a group of these really sweet 8th graders. I am from a small town so I knew their parents, one I even babsit when she was little! (I dated her uncle!). I would ask them at school and it got to the point that they would avoid me, then not look at me, and if I caught them by suprise and asked they just turned pale and looked sick. I was so upset. These girls were so sweet and I just made them hate me!
April Queen recently posted..New Jewelry Pieces
I bet she got a boyfriend.
Well, at least she told you she wasn’t interested before she just forgot to show up for ‘work’ meaning that she didn’t get your (my) kid off the bus on three different times.
Yeah.
Jen recently posted..So the Rapture- Huh
Oh! I had three babysitters and none of them stayed for long and I ended up taking care of my kids. It’s so hard to find a patient and loving nannies these days.sigh! I wonder what your kids do to her to make her vanish and decide to stay in mars?
gem recently posted..My diet starts again today!
Oh no! I agree with Mama to Baby J! Good luck finding a new sitter!
A Mommy in the City recently posted..Interview with Rosie Pope & Pampers Limited Edition Print Diapers
Well, any intern organizing icecream-sundaes-at-work days must be a little strange – what do they thing they’re doing, making the kids believe that we enjoy ourselves at the office?
Alison Golden recently posted..3 Keys To A Happy Relationship And Avoiding Abuse
Maybe she isn’t ready for the bikini season. It cannot possibly be you or the kids.
Stasha recently posted..Monday listicle
Oh, no! Find another sitter.
Who wouldn’t love your wonderful kids! Hope that you find a more enthusiastic sitter soon! At least it was an intern, sometimes the sitter who doesn’t want to return is a family member. Now that is awkward moment.
Autherine@BoysRising recently posted..Reading the Happiest Mom- Join Me!
I am dying to know what the kids did or said. I am thinking they revealed some horrible family secret/idiosyncracy and that had her running for the hills. Goodness it sounds like she had to work up the courage just to email Jeff back.
Now you know you will run into her like 5 times in the next week – just to be all awkward.
Wait, in the USA it is not considered snobish and bad-mothery to hire sitters for summer, to go on holiday with you? People think this is normal?
I’m packing the bags and grabbing the kids and immegrating like my great-uncle Charles did in 1925!
Wow. That sucks SO hard to lose the summer babysitter AND the vacation help! Yes. She was abducted by aliens. Three adorable little aliens. :)
The Flying Chalupa recently posted..Bump ‘N Grind- Spandex Style
ha! that’s a fantastic story…I love it…
and if your kids really loved her that much I’d personally try to bribe her with more money…
Not a Perfect Mom recently posted..Im Not a Princess- But
Oh my gosh that’s such a bummer. I hope you find someone even more wonderful before your vacation.
What? Three adorable Kids? Awesome boss? The beach? Cash in hand?
Youth today! What are they thinking passing up such a clutch job?
Hope you find another-have you checked local colleges?
Kelly recently posted..A Letter to Spam
Can I go on vacation with you? I’ll totally entertain the kids if it means I can get a break from my own life. LOL
The Mommyologist recently posted..Surviving Retinoblastoma- Justin’s Story
What a let down! So frustrating. And I am with you…she probably was kidnapped by aliens. There can be no other reasonable explanation. :)
That’s my absolute biggest nightmare! Should’ve bribbed your kids to be on extra special behaviour, at least until your beach holiday!!!
Naomi recently posted..diaper on- diaper off
I hate to be “that girl” to say it…But some of the stories you’ve put up about your kids and I’m not really surprised a sitter would ditch. Especially if the girl went home & read your blog.
definitely not a good news!
:O
mominrome recently posted..You are pregnant if…
I found one of our best babysitters at our gym’s kids’ club. She works part time at kids’ club, taking care of several children from babies to older kids. Do you have a resource like that? Its a great way to get to know someone before they work for you – and for the kids to get to know her as well.
I’m a firm believer parents and sitters should never be total strangers… its why I developed Sitter Pals, where parents can create a network of their trusted sitters – share, search, book online!
Some of my best sitters were from a family of 9 kids and all the oldest ones worked in the babysitting at the gym we belonged to. My kids love them and they had TONS of childcare experience both within their own family and also with the kids at the gym.
Linda Szmulewitz recently posted..You are not alone
Babysitter communication skills really make me crazy sometimes. Following how they care for my kids, my #1 way that I judge a babysitter is by how she responds to my emails and how quickly. I once interviewed a babysitter who told me that she had no other plans besides babysitting and was widely available and then after a week of not responding to me, informed me she had found a full time job. She then became defensive when I remarked how she completely lied to me when I asked her what her future plans and availability were like. I just wish they could be more honest and up front. I would value and respect this much more.
Linda Szmulewitz recently posted..You are not alone
Maybe she didn’t lie. Maybe her she was open & available b/c she didn’t have a job…but got a job in between your interview & your email. Do you interview for just one job at a time? I have interviewed for 2 or 3 jobs in the same day. I have also interviewed applicants for something back to back. So they go in & out knowing they may not get the position b/c it could go to someone else.
Yeah, I pretty much told her she had the job outside of checking her references. She flat out told me that she was planning on just babysitting for the next year or so and then got an office job a day or so later. I just wish that she had mentioned that she was considering other things that would prohibit her from taking the job I was offering.