BY LISA PERKINS
TRAVERSE CITY -- Face-to-face meetings help take the anxiety out of hiring a new baby sitter.
That's why The Moms Club of Traverse Bay Area organized its second annual Great Babysitter Swap Saturday, drawing in more than 60 parents and sitters looking to make a connection.
"It can be uncomfortable to have someone come to your home, both for the baby sitter and for the parent, when you are looking for someone to take care of your child," said event organizer and mother-of-two Angeline Piotrowski.
Piotrowski, a member of The Moms Club, helped organize last year's event as a parent who was new to the area and found it difficult to know who to trust when looking for an occasional sitter.
"Meeting people face to face, you get a sense of someone that you can't get otherwise," Piotrowski said.
Heather Grant, of Lake Ann, came to the event held at Old Town Coffee in downtown Traverse City looking for an occasional sitter for her two young children.
"All of my family is downstate. This is a great way to meet people and actually see who might be available in my area," said Grant, who was able to ask for references and inquire about the experience of prospective sitters.
Full-time licensed daycare provider Mindy Rosenberg liked the face-to-face contact she was able to make with prospective youngsters and their parents.
"This gives a very personal quality to the process, something that sometimes gets lost when parents are answering ads or looking on the Internet," she said.
For more information on The Moms Club of the Traverse Bay Area, visit www.themomsclub.net.
