WHY BABYSITTER MONEY MIGHT BE YOUR GREATEST INVESTMENT IN YOU

Alo leggings | black top similar |   Image: NIcolle Clawson 

Last weekend I did yoga with some of my best friends followed by Champagne and tomato mozzarella salad, followed by more champagne and hours of conversation with friends and no children around. I don’t know about you, but that sounds kind of like a dream vacation. 

Am I right? I mean, the kind of relaxed I was in an oversized arm chair with blankets, cold white wine, and my girlfriends, it was kind of not real. And kind of a big deal. And an investment. An important one if you will.

Image: Nicolle Clawson

I’ve spoken of friendship. You guys know that part of my heart is sacred. It holds friends dear and it’s protective of friendship and for good reason. Because friends are the best. They're medicine. And when your friend throws a birthday party (for herself) by pampering all her friends with yoga and champagne followed by the yummiest lunch, big little lies gossip and not a child in sight, you not only realize you’ve picked the greatest friends on earth, but that money you’re paying for a sitter (while you’re in heaven on earth), is more than legit. It’s religion. It’s an investment. And p.s. you’re worth it.

alo leggings | mesh jacket | image: Sydney Clawson |

I don’t have family in town. Most people know I’m from California. All my family is from California. And my in-laws are in Georgia. Which basically means that we pay for all the help. All of it. For dinner out, for work schedules, for sanity. And as much as we loathe writing those big checks, this is an investment worth investing in.

Some people invest in real estate. (us) Some people invest in the stock market. (us-a little). Some people invest in hired help for the children (100% us). And although this 3rd investment seems not likely to be in those terms by your business manager/accountant, here’s 3 reasons why I believe in the babysitter investment.

1. For me. I work part time. I have twins. Period. End of story.

2. My sanity is weighed largely in part on the balance of motherhood. For the record, there is no perfect balance, but to me, this is how I see balance: get out with friends often, go to work half the week and the other half kiss your babies as much as possible, exercise as often as possible, eat decently, and date your husband often (outside the home, like a real dinner: take out doesn’t count) In our case, this requires outside help. This is a huge investment. 

3. Health. I truly believe there are sacrifices we must make in order to feel mentally happy and stable. If that means, the babysitter investment trumps vacations, then so be it. If babysitter money trumps another financial investment, so be it. If that means, the babysitter investment trumps new furniture in your (still not fully decorated newly built home), then so be it. The upside to having a sitter be available to you to experience life outside the home is crucial. I remember my mom telling me her sisters or mother would  help out when she needed help and man I wish that was the case. And when family is in town, they do help. But on a normal yearly basis they're far away. And help is a Godsend. It’s key to a happy home, a happy marriage, and a happy you. And yes, I understand I'm lucky to have the ability to hire help. Very lucky. And I don't take it for granted. But it's an investment. And when I say investment, yes I mean you. You are worth it. And so is your marriage. And in these baby days when it seems more than impossible to survive, it’s important to realize it’s not forever. And neither are those amounts of checks you’re writing weekly. My Mom always says to live life while you have it. So, yeah, the babysitter investment, 100% worth investing.