What about finding a uni student who will take her to the park during the day for an hour or so for a bit of cash? DD only has uni for 3 days a week and I am sure a lot of other uni students are the same. Or a reliabel high schooler after school? Even pay a local child (say over 10yrs old) to come and play with her at home, I know of kids at school that do that to help mother's out and they are cheap!!
The ironic thing is that DSD is a high schooler but she's far from reliable. Annoying having someone in the house who you should be able to trust to take her sister to the park. Last time we left her for a couple of hours it ended in disaster with DSD conning the 96-year-old next-door neighbour into looking after her so she could go out for a coffee. Arrived back to find neighbours searching for old lady, her DIL heading across town to coordinate search and DD under her bed and screaming for half an hour.
Yep, I'm going to look at finding a babysitter for an hour or so each day. Not having DP the whole weekend is killing me today.
That's terrible about your DSD, my DD is great resource for this kind of thing (although now that she is 18 she is a lot busier) Even my 10 yr old is great for taking her brother outside to play or amusing him inside.
Yep, I appear to have drawn the short straw on a number of fronts. Rotten pelvis, useless DSD, a partner who is rarely home at weekends, no family and friends who appear to think that I'm exaggerating about the pelvis and on top of that I'm averaging 4 hours sleep.
Oh honey. I wish you were in Sydney near me, I'd be over like a shot (and DD2 is awesome with toddlers- ask anyone who has met her at a BB gathering!!)
Does DSD have any reliable friends you could use??
thanks mrsmac - I wouldn't trust any of DSD's friends but I've just quickly had a look at a website where you can find babysitters and there's heaps in our area - uni students, older women etc. etc. so I'm sure I'll find one. Just need to stop feeling guilty about it and do it!