<p> Remember The Boy’s babysitter?&#0160; The one I was so grateful for that I wrote an entire <a href="http://diary.blogs.com/the_diary_of_a_reluctant_/2006/01/rock_n_roll_coo.html">post/love letter</a> about because I was so lucky to find her?&#0160; Well, luck has left us. Dumped us, really.&#0160; The air is warmer and the flowers are blooming, so now the baysitter wants to be outside all day (the nerve of some people!) and has decided to become a dog walker.&#0160; She has figured out that becoming a dog walker will not only only let her do that, but will also be more profitable since she can’t push 10 strollers like she can hold 10 leashes.&#0160; So due to weather and simple economics I’m back at square one:&#0160; alone - and pondering this imponderable:</p>

<p>Where can I find flexible, excellent and affordable childcare?</p>

<p>I know that I’m soo lucky to stay home with my son and blah, blah, blah.&#0160; That if I was a working single mother left without childcare then I would really be in trouble.&#0160; I know.&#0160; My sister’s a single mother, so I KNOW.&#0160; But when you live thousands of miles away from family you need to have dependable childcare, even if you get to stay home.&#0160; I need to get things done that can’t include a curious one year old.&#0160; Knowing that I have (make that “had”) four hours a week where I could schedule gynecologist appointments and do other self-indulgent things *snort* knowing that my son was in safe hands has proven to be a huge contributor to my happiness as a mother.&#0160; I can’t do it all.&#0160; Maybe you can (I’m sure you never use the microwave either, and that you never surf the internet instead of cleaning the house and that your perfect little offspring are on a perfect schedule and you so never, ever need a break- I’m sure), but me?&#0160; I’m no supermom.&#0160; I need a break.</p>
