Danielle Cordon wasn't sure she'd even get a kiss goodbye from her son, Oliver Lohrentz, 2-½, as she dropped him at the YMCA before heading to Fremont for sushi with her husband.
"He barely even knows I'm leaving," she said. "He's too excited."
That was true for most of the toddlers and preschoolers at the University Family YMCA's recent parents' night out, all distracted by friends, padded blocks to climb on and the impending arrival of pizza. School-age kids got an overnighter with swimming, crafts, games and a movie.
"It's one of the best things we do," said branch executive director Christine Stoffels, who also takes advantage of the sitting for son Diego, 3. "As a parent, it's reassuring to have a safe and fun place for kids to go."
Many local YMCAs, community centers and Little Gyms offer occasional nighttime child care for parents who feel group settings are safer or can't find neighborhood baby-sitters. With some baby-sitters charging $10 an hour, many parents say fees — ranging from free to $30 for an evening — can be a bargain.
"It's been a lifesaver for us," said Adrienne Perkins, who, with her husband, Gary, uses the West Seattle YMCA's parent night nearly every month for Connor, 4, and Austin, 2.
"We don't have family in town, and we didn't know anyone we trusted to watch him," explained Perkins, who started dropping Connor off as a baby. "It's fabulous — they have friends to play with and we get to go out and have alone time as a couple."
Plus, the kids really look forward to it, she said. "When we pick them up, they don't want to leave. They have more fun there than they do at home with a sitter."
 JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Ella Schattenkerk, 2, gets a goodbye kiss from her mom, Liza, at the University Family YMCA. |
Parents do have to search for the right program; some serve infants on up, while others only accept children who are potty trained. Parents are advised to check into caregivers' qualifications and experience as some programs use child-care staff while others rely on high-school or college students. Some fill up, so reservations are recommended.
Parents of older children said the programs help avoid kids balking at "baby"-sitters.
Jane Thiemens and her family moved to Auburn this fall but haven't found a local sitter yet — instead, she and her husband, Doug, rely on the Y's twice-monthly events. "It works out really well to have the kids playing and getting their energy out," said Thiemens, whose children, Sasha and Inessa, are 10 and 8.
Woodinville residents Dave and Diane Bishop opt for a grown-up flick while their 10-year-old son Jim plays at the Northshore Y. "Otherwise, we don't have a chance to see anything but animated movies," said Dave Bishop. "It's sort of impossible to find baby-sitters these days."
Cordon, who also uses the Y's child care to work out during the week, swaps baby-sitting with friends but doesn't have family in town for cheap child care. "It's Oliver's happiest thing," she said. "It doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And it gives us a chance to get out. You gotta love that."
And in the end, she did get her smooch — plus a wave and "bye-bye Mama."
StephanieDunnewind: sdunnewind@seattletimes.com or 206-464-2091.
Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company
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