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Why Trusting Your Parental Intuition Truly Matters
Moms aren’t the only ones who should trust their guts
The first time my parental intuition was tested, my oldest son was a little over a year old. I’d been a stay-at-home mom pretty much since his birth but I needed to return to work for a bit. His father and I were in our very early twenties, barely married longer than my son had been alive, and money had gotten pretty tight.
Tight enough that we couldn’t afford daycare right off the bat — especially not for me to just go on unpaid interviews. But it was summer and the teenage girl next door was looking to make some money babysitting at a much more affordable rate than a daycare.
Her mother was a lovely woman and the girl seemed sweet as pie. When I watched her interact with my son, she was playful and fun, gentle and sweet and kind. All the traits you’d want in someone taking care of your child while you’re not there. So we hired her.
I started going out to put in applications and go on interviews. My son’s father, my mother, and I all called to check in on the sitter at various times.