opinion- using friend as babysitter

So DS is 10 months old and has only been watched by family and my best friend. She ADORES DS and has no kids yet (she is single), so she has offered to watch DS a couple of Saturdays a month so DH and I can go out alone. She is a HUGE part of Jameson's life- I would say she sees him once a week on average- more than some of his aunts & uncles. In any case, she has always refused to take money. I know she considers DS her nephew, and DH and I consider her family- but I just feel like I am "using" her. A bunch of our friends go out once a month so when we do I buy her a few drinks...but that's not enough. I really want to pay her! She says it's insulting that I offer because she considers it watching family. What do you suggest? Maybe a gift card to her favorite clothing store? Or should slip money into her purse when she is not looking? Or should I just stop feeling bad and feel lucky that I have such an awesome BFF who loves my son almost as much as we do?

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

When is her birthday? Why not get her a nice splurgy gift, something she would love but not get herself. I would tell you to get it for her now and not wait for her bday but since she gets offended when you offer her $$ she might not like getting it for no reason kwim?

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

The drinks are good, the birthday present is good too, make it from DS so she can't refuse it.

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

i have this kinda relationship with my best friends kids and I would never ever take money, I wouldn't want anything, I love their kids, they are my neices and nephews. Just say thanks! If you really must an extra special bday and xmas gift couldn't hurt

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

That's SOOO nice of her!!

I think it would be sweet if maybe your DH watched your LO on saturday afternoon and you treated her to a girls day. Maybe a spa treatment and lunch?

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

Thanks everyone!! She definitely is awesome, she means the world to me. We leave on a family vacation to San Diego on Friday- maybe I will bring something back extra nice for her. I also like the birthday idea and the girls day out! I know DH would stay with DS on a Saturday if I decided to do this. Thanks again ladies!

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

Those are all great ideas & I like your idea of bringing her back something nice from CA as well. My 1st cousin used to watch ds a lot for us & refused payment as well saying that she'd be insulted. So, similar to the bday idea, we've always gotten her something for Xmas from ds. She's a little hard to shop for, so last year we got her a big gift certificate to the movies since I know that she goes with her friends a lot. She was able to buy herself tickets to a bunch of different shows with it and seemed to really like it. Maybe something like that or a gc to a restaurant for her bday would work?

Re: opinion- using friend as babysitter

I am in a similar situation - our back-up babysitter is a very good friend - and the last time I did push the money on her but she ended up buying the baby a gift with that money.

I think that the next time I'm going to mail her a thank you card and gift card. That way it can't be returned to me.