Once a babysitter, now a parent

Natalie was one of our first Angels and is now booking an Angel herself

Once a babysitter, now a parent

Natalie was one of our first Angels and is now booking an Angel herself

Yes, Charly Cares turns 10! We’re celebrating by looking back with Natalie: she was one of our very first Babysitting Angels, and now, ten years later, she’s on the other side: booking an Angel herself for her daughter, Bodi. The circle is complete!

"Your perspective really changes."

Ten years ago, Natalie (32) was a Psychology student when she walked into our office for her introduction interview to become a Babysitting Angel at Charly Cares. “As a babysitter, I actually thought the onboarding process was pretty extensive: I had to come by in person, have a photo taken, and so on. But now that I’m on the parent side, I think: it makes total sense that it’s done so carefully. You’re letting someone into your home to care for your child. Your perspective really changes once you become a parent. As a student, you want it to be easy, just a fun side job. As a parent, you mainly want it to be reliable.”

"Your perspective really changes."

A serious 17-year-old babysitter

Natalie started babysitting early. “Basically from the age of twelve. By seventeen, I had one regular family I went to three times a week. Now I think: wow, people actually trusted a 17-year-old to watch their kids! Now, that feels so young to mee. But then I remember what I was like back then: I was actually very responsible and experienced.”

From babysitter to mother

What does Natalie look for now? “Age does play a role; I can’t help feeling something about that. But I try not to be too strict, I remind myself of how I was as a babysitter. What’s more important to me is what someone writes in their profile. That gives me a quick sense of whether they’d be a good fit for our family, and how seriously they take babysitting. That’s key for me, especially with a one-year-old. I also really enjoy reading reviews from other parents.”

She laughs: “I really try not to be that helicopter mom, because that’s not me at all!”

A serious 17-year-old babysitter

From babysitter to mother

She laughs: “I really try not to be that helicopter mom, because that’s not me at all!”

De eerste keer een Angel boeken

“I was quite nervous about booking for the first time, so I postponed it for a bit. In the beginning, I could often rely on friends and family. But at some point, I thought: there are times when they can’t help, are you really going to cancel your plans then? That makes no sense. Especially since I used to babysit myself, I know it’s totally fine to book someone. And honestly, it gives such a sense of freedom and flexibility. That need for flexibility eventually outweighed the nerves I had.”

What worried her the most? “I was mainly afraid she wouldn’t sleep; she’s not the best sleeper. But funnily enough, I’ve since learned that she actually sleeps better with others! Maybe she thinks: ‘I don’t know you, so I’d better just go to bed,’ haha.”

“I noticed it quickly got easier. Bedtime went fine, and the Angels are such lovely girls. When I see Bodi playing happily with them, I’m completely at ease.”

De eerste keer een Angel boeken

“I noticed it quickly got easier. Bedtime went fine, and the Angels are such lovely girls. When I see Bodi playing happily with them, I’m completely at ease.”

From caring to professional

For Natalie, babysitting was always more than just a side job. “What stuck with me most from my time as a Babysitting Angel was a family with two young daughters I used to visit every week. Now that I’m a parent myself, I know how nice it is to have a familiar face for your child. But even as a babysitter, I loved that: having a regular routine every Friday, building a real bond with the kids. I felt completely at home in that family.”

“I think that caring instinct was always part of me, because I started babysitting so young. I was very responsible, even as a teenager. But babysitting really strengthened that, especially with families you saw often, you learned so much.”

And that experience still comes in handy. “I realize now that all those years of babysitting taught me so much about kids. Many of my friends are now thinking about having children, and I notice that things that feel obvious to me, like changing a diaper or setting a good routine, are totally new to them. That’s really thanks to all those years of babysitting.”

From caring to professional

Natalie used to be a babysitter, now a mother herself

Mother Natalie blog about booking babysitters

A new generation of Angels

Now that Natalie is booking Angels herself, she smiles at the girls who come to her home. “I look for someone who has experience with my daughter’s age, but character and reliability matter even more. And I want to give these girls a chance to gain experience too. I know from my own time as a babysitter that you have to start somewhere. If the connection feels right, that’s enough.”

“It’s so nice that we have one regular Angel who comes every week. For evenings out, the babysitters rotate more. At first, I found that difficult, but now I think it’s actually good. My daughter should learn to be comfortable with different people caring for her.”

A new generation of Angels

A full-circle moment

When asked if it feels like a full-circle moment, Natalie says: “Yes! Ten years ago, I was standing at the Charly Cares office applying to be a babysitter, and now I use the same app as a parent. It also feels like two completely different worlds, because I experience it so differently. But it’s beautiful that I’ve gotten to see both sides over these 10 years."

Thank you, Natalie!