My Mama Said, "When in doubt, take a time out."

In other words, don't rush into a decision if you're not entirely convinced it's the right one.  (Probably one of the reasons I got married after 30!)  The decision I'm currently faced with is whether or not to get help when I'm home with my son during the day (part of which I'm theoretically supposed to be working).  Thus far, it hasn't been an issue because my mother-in-law came to visit with us (she lives abroad) from the time he was three months old and did a stellar job looking after him while I got stuff done.  She left nearly three weeks ago, about four months after she arrived.

Because I work from home, this shouldn't be an issue, right?  Wrong.  Very rarely does my son nap on his own during the day, which means a significantly smaller window of opportunity in which I can get work accomplished.  But I'm not comfortable with a stranger caring for my child, even if I'm in the next room.  So I tried balancing things on my own the first few days after my mother-in-law left: one day, I got practically no work done, the following day, tons!  Which is to be expected, of course, depending on his mood, energy level, how much sleep he got the night before.  Still, there's no debating the fact that I could work more efficiently if I got some help - so, with an open mind, I put out a call for qualified nurses, and ended up with a name and a number.

The lady who answered the phone told me in a very ginger, uncertain voice, that she had already got a job and was no longer available.  I say, "Oh! Well, thanks anyway!" and hang up, finding it a bit curious that in the less-than-24-hours it took me to call her she'd been taken off the job market.  That afternoon, she calls back, saying that she's available again (what happened to the other job, I wonder?) and that she'd meet me in the Mall to discuss duties, etc.  By this point, every instinct I have is furiously waving a red flag, but I'm so stunned by the 180 degree turnabout that I agree to meet her.  A few hours later, when I've had some time to really consider how I feel about the entire exchange, I cancel. 

Miraculously, this little exchange happened at just about the time that my son is gaining more independence.  He's been asleep in his crib for the last hour, which has allowed me to finish up some writing projects, check email and write this post.  So far, so good.  No extra hands needed.  Yet.  (Just wait till he starts to walk...)