[Emberbit]

I've watched my daughter for a few hours at my house alone while her parents go to a concert or have a quiet adult meal nearby. But it wasn't soemthing that just happened.

I used to panic if her mom walked away to use the restroom. What do I know about babies? But despite the panic, I wanted to be alone with her. If her mom is there, I talk to her mom but I feel self-concious just playing with Baby, you know? Of course, wanting to be alone with baby and knowing how to take care of her were two very different things...and it was nice to have her mom nearby if I got "stuck" or too emotional to handle it. Caring for Baby in a basic way like feeding and changingher while her mom is out of sight is significantly harder and more emotional for me than just playing with her under her mom's watchful eye. I never would have agreed to babysit while her parents were completely gone until I tackled those baby care skills and emotions while her parents were there to take over if necessary.

I love the above suggestions to maybe go to a different room in your house, or go settle in to read within sight but a little way away. My daughter's mom works from home and my best visits have been when she locks herself in her home office to get some work done.