SaraBethBooked by 106 repeat families
138 reviewsSeattle
$30 per hour for 1 child
Booked by 196 families in Keyport, WA
Hi Everyone!
Whether you're a local family looking for a date night sitter or you're an out of town family seeking help while you're visiting Seattle, I'd love to hear more about your needs. We can chat by phone, in person, or virtually via FaceTime or Skype. I am comfortable in most any situation, have worked with children from different cultural backgrounds, and love meeting new clients. I'm professional yet personal, responsive, an active listener, respectful, and see myself as an easy plug and play provider. Whether your style is to give me four pages of directions (yes, I will read all of it and follow your lead) or no guidance at all, your child will be well cared for while you're away.
When I was in high school and college, I was a live in summer nanny for my fifth grade teacher. I love newborns, have lots of experience with toddlers and school age kids, and have been a mentor in the past to pre-teens/teens. I still keep in touch with the very first family I ever babysat for in Seattle. When we first met, their son was eight weeks old. He is now 13 and I attended his bar mitzvah this summer! Time flies.
I believe in a child care/parenting approach that is focused on kindness, compassion, empathy, patience and positive reward systems. Engaging kids in hands on activities is important to me. There are lots of ways to have frugal fun. I'm a rain or shine let's get outside kind of gal so bubbles, sidewalk chalk paint (I just discovered Rose Art makes giant markers that are activated by adding water), arts & crafts made with things collected from outside, nature walks, scavenger hunts, and trips to the Children's Museum//aquarium//zoo//bouncy house are all high on my list of fun.
A peaceful and happy household is my primary goal. I believe kids thrive when given appropriate autonomy and freedom. If putting on a jacket is required to go outside, I like to give choices. For example, "Would you like to wear the orange or yellow jacket today?" This empowers children to make their own choices within an established framework.
You may be reading this and wondering how I manage a full blown meltdown. For example, what if the child flat out refuses to wear any jacket? The reality is sometimes kids simply aren't in the mood to cooperate or they are feeling downright cantankerous. While it's the adult's role to mitigate potential causes of crankiness (need for food, water, sleep, or maybe a less stimulating environment) we aren't mind readers and there is no way to always accurately predict what's coming up next in the grab bag of moods//behavior. While we do our best to set kids up for a successful and pleasant day there are times in which the reality of the moment will be beyond our influence. And that's ok. Those are the times I take a step back, wait for the storm to pass, or actively try to distract or redirect energy to something new.
We all have days when we are not at our best. As adults, we have learned to regulate our moods but we all know what it feels like to have an off day. There are days when it seems like everything is annoying. We honk our horn out of utter disbelief when another driver does something we deem unacceptable. We roll our eyes when the person in front of us at the checkout line just can't seem to get it together or move fast enough. The reality is we all get frustrated. Emotional regulation is learned. None of us are true masters of it and it is a skill set that develops over time.
My goal is to coach your child through moments of upset and help to make him or her aware of the myriad of emotions he or she feels. I believe the way in which we react to outbursts is critical to their emotional and cognitive development. Responding with kindness and patience is key. Chastising or punishing a child for having a fit only increases the negative emotions of the moment. It is possible to be kind and firm at the same time. When meltdowns occur, the goal is to move beyond the initial upset into a calmer place. How we respond to our kids can either speed up or slow down that process. Once the child has settled down I like to have a conversation about what happened (name the emotion and also try to uncover the root cause). I will work with your child to strategize about how we can reach a different outcome in the future.
There's a saying that people will not remember what you said but they will remember how you made them feel. I want the kids I care for to feel loved and understood. My role as your child care provider is to be an extension of the framework you have created and the approach you take. To that end, I seek to work with families who share a value for empathetic and peaceful parenting. I will be your partner in creating and maintaining a positive and nurturing home. In order for us to be a compatible match, it is imperative your family is a no spanking household. No exceptions. I do think there are certain non-negotiables (i.e. things that are simply not acceptable forms of behavior) and I believe in certain age appropriate standards and boundaries. The key is to be consistent and clear. There is a place for consequences if the agreed upon house rules are not followed. I will look to you to tell me what those house rules are and to inform me of the consequences you use. Do things get taken away or do privileges get lost?
Why am I babysitting for extra income? In 2012 I fell on a sidewalk and despite having insurance, my out of pocket costs have exceeded $15,000. While I look like myself again (final crowns were placed May 2016) this whole ordeal has taken a great financial toll. I have a standard 8:30 - 5:00 job for Milliman Inc. in the Rainier Tower in downtown Seattle where I am a Benefits Associate on their employee benefits outsourcing team. Babysitting is helping me pay down my debt faster. I've done the math and will need to babysit for additional income through 2018. Therefore, I'd love to establish long term relationships with families who are seeking ongoing care.
I live in Phinney Ridge and am eager to connect with families who need help during evening/weekend hours. I drive a 1998 Volvo wagon (the safety first theme is a bit of a constant in my life) and have an accident/ticket free record. I am happy to use my vehicle for transportation but prefer to use yours.
In addition to basic evening and weekend care, I also provide special event care (think weddings & birthday parties) + overnights too. I've traveled with families and have also stayed behind with kids at home when parents are out of town for vacation or work. I am comfortable managing up to three toddlers/infants or up to five children in total.
Lastly, I am open to the idea of providing full-time nanny care. This would require me to resign from my current corporate role in order to transition to a nanny position. This is absolutely something I'd consider for the right opportunity. Please do not hesitate to get in touch!!
I look forward to meeting you!
βSaraBeth was delightful with our 5 month old baby. She sent me a detailed update of their day together while I was at work, and was a great communicator throughout the booking process, too. It was an easy decision to rehire her to care for our little one another time!β