| The first few years that they were parents, Gail and | | | | as possible. When they drop their kids off at the |
| Darin dreaded the stress of the Christmas season. | | | | designated baby-sitters' house, they also drop off food |
| The difficulty of shopping with a child in a stroller made | | | | or games for the kids to share, so everyone shares |
| an already arduous task even more tiring. The only | | | | the time and expense of the pool. |
| way to avoid taking their baby daughter with them | | | | The kids all love the plan because it means that three |
| was to do all of their shopping seperately, while one | | | | or four times a season, they go to "parties" with their |
| spouse stayed at home. They avoided Christmas | | | | friends, where they're much more comfortable than |
| parties, caroling with their friends, and many of the | | | | they would be at Dad's boss's house or running from |
| activities they would have loved to take part in. They | | | | mall to mall while Mom and Dad shop. The parents |
| weren't bitter or begrudging-they loved their daughter | | | | love the plan because their kids are being supervised |
| and loved being with her-they just found that the | | | | by other adults they trust. |
| constant attention a child requires prevented them | | | | And the parents who babysit always end up enjoying |
| from enjoying many of Christmas's traditions. | | | | their time as well. Besides the food that the other |
| By the time they had their second child, a son, their little | | | | parents drop off, they can rent videos to keep the kids |
| girl was in preschool, and Gail and Darin knew some of | | | | occupied, or supervise games with holiday themes. |
| the other school parents-parents with the same | | | | One family loves to have all the children help to trim |
| Christmas-time issues. But, along with the other | | | | their Christmas tree and decorate their house. |
| parents, they developed a solution, by forming a | | | | At the end of the season, Gail and Darin's group |
| babysitting pool. | | | | gather at one family's house for a New Year's Day |
| Around Thanksgiving, the parents share their planned | | | | party-they usually hire a babysitter for the day, and |
| schedules with each other via e-mail-which nights | | | | reserve a portion of the house for the children, while |
| they've been invited to parties or other holiday | | | | the parents gather together for a relaxing day of food, |
| functions which might not be enjoyable for their kids, | | | | friendship, and football. |
| etc. They also share the dates on which they're willing | | | | Many parents find themselves dreading all the hassles |
| to babysit each others' kids, including weekend days, | | | | of the holiday season each year, without realizing that |
| when most people do their shopping. Then someone in | | | | their friends-other parents-are in exactly the same |
| the group collates all the information and dates, and | | | | boat. With a little communication and cooperation, |
| draws up a calendar, with each set of parents' | | | | parents can work together to make sure everyone in |
| babysitting schedules. And usually, each household only | | | | their circle has as pleasant a Christmas as possible. |
| has one day or night for which they're responsible for | | | | Gail and Darin love Christmastime, now. They're able to |
| the other families' children. | | | | share the joy of the season with their children and |
| And the group, as a whole, strives to make each | | | | spend time alone together, as adults, in ways they |
| family's babysitting night or day as easy and effortless | | | | thought they never would-at least for another decade. |