stay-a-home parents: who babysits while you interview?

ACK! My babysitters (the grandparents) are out of town on a road trip and DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL BE HOME. Ack! Retired people!

I've got a sticky situation...an editor I haven't worked with yet responded to an old query with just a "is this still availble?" It wasn't a solid offer, no deadline or anything. I responded that is the story was still available, and I'd love to work with them. Or something like that...

That was Monday. I haven't heard back from him with any details, so I don't know if I should start interviewing and writing yet.

I'd love to go visit my subject in person and see his work. This is a business story, and I offered to supply photos of the factory to the editor.

BUT I can't make an appointment without knowing if I can get a sitter. It's a two hour drive, so this would take at least 5 hours. I can't dump my toddler on my girlfriend for that long, she's got a business at home too. My hubby said he'd take off work if he had to, but I don't want to take away from his work. If I just knew if I could wait until my mom gets back from wandering Route 66 everything would be cool.

So what do you guys do for babysitting back up?

Yep, my kid is playing with trains right now. I've got Shaun the Sheep (by the Wallace and Grommet people) on the DVD. Shaun doesn't talk, so its much better to work to than Sesame Street. Elmo's voice can pierce though solid steel. Ick!

I try to get focus during nap time, which comes later in day now that he's a toddler.

When I try to work while the kid is playing, he keeps bringing me things. (Yesterday he brought me the memory stick out of my camera. I have to store that higher!) Sometimes I have to kick a path clear from my chair to get out. But at least he's stopped wanting to play with the disk drive doors. That was a pain.

Still no word from my folks if they're going to get back. Worse comes to worse, I'll do a phone interview. No, worse case scenario, I strap the toddler to my hip with a baby sling and take him with me.

I am tempted to bring him. The toddler is actually a customer of the product (they make wooden toys). I'm still waiting to hear from the editor for a solid offer and deadline, so I don't have to decide yet.

I haven't gone to my friend yet because I haven't gotten a solid offer on the gig. It might be that by the time this editor officially gives me the assignment, my folks will be back home from vacation and can babysit.

My friend has watched the baby before during emergencies, just never that long. I'm sure she'd do it. I landed a same day interview with a cop once and she didn't bat an eye when I asked for help watching the kiddo.

Plus, I am tempted to take my boys. Now that this week is nearly over, my oldest will be back from summer camp when I set up this interview. It might be interesting to see his take on the factory for a pitch to a children's magazine. My older kid is 10 and is used to me asking him to act as a baby wrangler. He even insists on pushing the stroller when we all go out.