Press Release Summary = Barbara Baldwin, a registered San Antonio nurse, establishes National Babysitter\'s Day to recognize and encourage acknowledgement of \"all the good, responsible youth\" in our society who perform the service of babysitting. She collected signatures from 45 states and then called on President Bush and Congress for three years before getting National Babysitter\'s Day listed on the official U.S. National Calendar of Events. National Babysitter\'s Day is observed on the Saturday before Mother\'s Day. This year it falls on May 13.
Registered Nurse Calls On President, Congress To Establish National Recognition of Babysitters
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (April 29, 2006). Bothered that too much media news focuses on “all the bad kids and the negative stuff they do,” Barbara Baldwin, a registered San Antonio nurse, decided in 1999 to give “all the good, responsible kids” some positive press by establishing National Babysitter\'s Day.
It wasn\'t easy.
She collected 2500 signatures representing 45 states, and then labored relentlessly for three years before convincing President Bush and Congress to establish National Babysitter\'s Day in recognition of “all the good kids.” Helping her push the measure through was San Antonio Congressman Henry Bonilla. The first National Babysitter\'s Day was observed on May 10, 2003.
National Babysitter\'s Day, listed in Chase\'s Calendar of Events, the official U.S. National Calendar of Events, is annually observed on the Saturday before the established Mother\'s Day. This year\'s observance of National Babysitter\'s Day is on Saturday, May 13.
“Having it before Mother\'s Day is fitting because both Mother\'s Day and National Babysitter\'s Day recognize those individuals who provide loving, responsible care of our children,” Baldwin says.
“There are many good and responsible youth in our society. I wanted to focus in a positive way on what these young people do, and to recognize them for something they could identify with and feel proud about,” she adds.
Baldwin urges the parents of babysitters and the families who hire them to do something special for them on May 13. “Acknowledge your babysitters by sending them a thank you card, taking them out to lunch, or just taking the time to tell them how much you appreciate what they\'re doing,” she remarks.
In an effort to educate babysitter\'s and prepare them to better handle potential problems, Baldwin established in 1989 a copyrighted Babysitter Training Program for youth ages 11-17 called Safety Whys. Treated as a not-for-profit franchise and coordinated with the San Antonio Emergency Nurses Association, Safety Whys covers various topics such as CPR and choking intervention, electrical and natural gas safety, first aid, fire safety, infection control, and safe marketing tips. # # # Contact: Barbara Baldwin Safety Whys 210-695-0838 bbaldwin@satx.rr.com
2012
