By Jessica Booth

As a college student, there are certain scenarios that basically everyone can relate to. Here’s one that’s especially common-it’s the middle of the semester and you’re in desperate need of some cash.

The problem is, you’re sick of working in any of the usual places like serving food at restaurants, or doing retail, and there seem to be no other options. But, before you send out applications to all of these places, consider doing something different-babysitting.

It may sound strange to some people for a college student to be babysitting. After all, it sometimes seems like this job is reserved for young teenage girls who aren’t looking to make that much money. But babysitting has come a long way in the last few years, and it is now a great job where you can make the money you need and maybe even more. Now the only problem is how to find a family that needs a babysitter once in a while. That’s where MommyMixer comes in.

MommyMixer is a networking event company that connects college babysitters with moms. The company has recently launched a Long Island branch, and it offers a great solution to all of your money problems.

“College students are looking for money. They have odd schedules, moms have kind of odd schedules. It’s kind of a perfect mix,” said Kate Mikulasovich, the city manager for the Long Island MommyMixer.

The company originated in Austin, Texas, in 2003. It was founded by Mary Sullivan Cooper, who found that during her own college years spent babysitting, there were many families who couldn’t find a sitter. She came up with MommyMixer as a solution to the problem, and it has since been gaining recognition all over the country.

The way MommyMixer operates is simple: the company holds several mixers each year where moms and babysitters get together to meet each other. Prior to the mixers, the babysitters fill out resumes, and these resumes are placed in one big book. Each mom participating gets a copy of the book. During the mixer the moms can seek out the babysitters they liked and get to know them. Although the moms have to pay a $100 registration fee, the mixers are free for babysitters.

“When you’re a mom, the most important thing in your life is your child, so you want to meet who your babysitter is,” says Mikulasovich. “You kind of have a mother’s intuition.”

The mixers are great because the moms and babysitters are able to form a bond. While the moms get to pick and choose the babysitters they feel are most adequate, the babysitters get to see what each mom is looking for. In the end, everyone leaves happy.

If you babysat when you were younger, you may remember not making much money from it. However, this isn’t the case with MommyMixer.

“Babysitters are doing great,” says Mikulasovich. “Sitters determine how much they get paid-about $12 an hour off-the-books and the price can even go up to $20 an hour. And moms will pay for it.” $20 per hour for watching kids for one night? Sounds better then slaving away at a minimum wage job for hours, only to be left with what is usually an unsatisfactory paycheck.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be female to take care of kids. Guys make excellent babysitters, too.

“The guys can really form a connection with the younger boys, who look up to them,” says Mikulasovich. “And with the rates moms are paying babysitters, guys would be silly not to sign up.”

Besides the money, the best part about MommyMixer is that it is so easy to work around your schedule. With classes at different times each day and other activities a student has going on, it can be hard to work a steady job. Add in studying for tests, doing homework, getting your reading done, trying to make friends, and it can be nearly impossible. But with MommyMixer, you have a much more freedom. Since moms call you whenever they need you, you don’t have to be stuck to a strict schedule.

“One of the greatest benefits of MommyMixer is that you are able to easily go around your class schedule,” Mikulasovich says.

Even though there are some moms who are looking for a steady babysitter, there are also moms who are just looking for someone to watch their kids once or twice a week. You’re not obligated to do anything. When they call you, if you can’t make it that night, you can just say no.

You might even be able to make enough money babysitting so that you don’t have to work more than once a week. If you’re looking for some extra cash, MommyMixer can be a great solution to that problem.

Ayanna Stevenson, the campus representative for the University, is trying to get the word out there to students.

If you’re interested, you can sign up at www.mommymixer.com, and fill out a resume. Soon you can attend a mixer and you should have jobs, and money, rolling in to you in no time.