That's What Friends Are For

I would like to thank the beautiful, talented and generous Aimee Deshayes for allowing me to attend my first audition back after having Phoenix.

I was so excited when I saw a Starbucks commercial audition in my inbox yesterday. It was for today @ 11am. And Callard was scheduled to audition @ the exact same time.

While we have gotten numerous offers for babysitting from people we trust, most people are unavailable during the weekday or last minute. Last week I met our neighbor Sonia, a Costa Rican nanny who watches kids on the block, and will work last minute-but "that's more per hour." I met her Friday and haven't checked her references.  As charming as she was--she talked our ears off for an hour, Phee went straight to sleep--she's a stranger, and the thought of leaving my sweet boy with a stranger is scary. But some day I'll have to get over that fear when I work or have some time to myself. So maybe we'll check her references and give it a go.

Luckily we were blessed with dear Aimee's on site nanny service. This looks like Aimee and I driving together to the audition, chatting, laughing, sipping our coffees. Then Aim keeping an eye on Phoenix while I'm in the room.



It got me thinking about an "on-site" nanny for actors. We often need someone to watch our munchkins just for 10 or 15 minutes. If we could have a nanny meet us @ the audition site and hold/comfort/entertain baby while momma auditions we'd save ourselves a lot of stress! I'm picturing a nanny who lives near Ocean Park or 200 S. La Brea or the other audition factories who we pay $5 for the 'quick sit.' It's the cost of most overpriced LA lattes.

When Phee is older I probably won't mind asking a fellow actor to keep an eye on him. I'm just grateful today that his Tante Aimee got to hang with him. And me. Thanks Aimee!