And Then There's Dad

I Want a Babysitter

by Gary Drevitch

I belong to that group of people known as husbands. I am a husband. And, not altogether incidentally, I am a father. And as a father, I frequently employ and observe babysitters. As I gave a set of instructions to one sitter recently, it suddenly occurred to me that there are times I, too, would like to have a babysitter.

I want someone to monitor me and help me maintain my focus as I finish any necessary tasks, someone strong enough to keep me from checking ESPN.com until I’ve paid the phone bill. On nights when my wife is traveling on business, I want someone to remind me that if I stay up until 2 a.m. watching “Rocky III,” I’ll have trouble waking up for work the next morning and that if I go to work tired, and fall asleep at my desk, I could get sent home.