Stream it for our daughters: ‘The Baby-Sitter’s Club’ on Netflix

I’m not surprised a witch named Esme spices up the “The Baby-Sitter’s Club” on Netflix.

(And you better believe I noticed Esme’s layers and layers of witchy jewelry.)

When a frightened flower girl screams upon seeing Esme as she begins to officiate a wedding, she explains: 

“It’s OK. This little girl thinks I’m a witch. So, in front of this room full of witnesses, i would like to say that … she’s right. I am a spiritual practitioner. Now, historically the term witch has been used to describe people, primarily women, who refuse to conform to society’s expectations of who they should be. [Raised eyebrow] We got a lot of witches here … [Esme’s sister and niece snap their fingers in agreement]. When children tell you something, believe them.”

This progressive, feminist spirit infuses the entire show, which is based on the same “Baby-Sitter’s Club” books I read as a tween in the late 1980s in Roanoke, Virginia. 

I don’t remember many of the book plotlines — but I do remember cool, artsy, candy-loving Claudia was my favorite. 

And I *definitely* remember the books inspired my own babysitting business.

I distributed hand-drawn flyers in mailboxes and impressed parents with my “Kid Kits” full of fun activities, just like the book. I charged $2 per hour. Unfortunately, I was the only tween in my Roanoke County neighborhood old enough to babysit, so I was a solopreneur — no club for friendship and solidarity.

Sometimes I wonder if those books by Ann M. Martin planted bigger seeds — like, ultimately, my career in journalism, and this very blog.

Flash forward to 2021, and my daughter is almost 8. I wondered if she might be a little too young to enjoy this show about middle-schoolers. But we started streaming the 10, half-hour episodes this spring, and now we’re both hooked. 

“The Baby-Sitter’s Club” is everything I want to emulate for my daughter: These girls are exploring their own identities among a diverse group of friends who don’t always get along. They work through conflicts between themselves (and others), with some serious political topics driving the storylines. Most importantly, they take agency — as caregivers responsible for children, and as budding businesswomen of their club. 

I cry every time we watch Episode 4, when shy Mary Anne finds her voice and stands up for herself, and for a transgender girl she babysits. 

I also LOL-ed when the girls plugged in one of those clear, “vintage” phones from my teenhood that are now selling for $200 on Etsy.

I looked up some reviews and learned that eight out of the 10 episodes are directed by women, and all were written or co-written by women, including Black, Latina and Asian writers. 

Again, just like that witch scene, no big surprise. It shows.

Naia Cucukov, an executive producer, told the Washington Post:

“I cannot stress enough how vital it is to have support and representation in the rooms where decisions are made. We all held each other accountable and sometimes had tough conversations, but it was remarkable to be part of such a strong, creative group of women, and I think that spirit carries into our girls and their values, both on and off the screen.”

*Snap* *Snap* *Snap*

“The Baby-Sitter’s Club” has been renewed for a second season on Netflix, and we both can’t wait.