I have babysitting jobs at least four times week, and I love them all. Whether they are blood family, or have become my "kiddos", I love all my families. From the stories each little one shares, to the loving parents, to the exciting games we play, being a sitter is not just a job, but a special occasion.
I open this blog for a few reasons. One, there are some things that make me laugh so much I have to share! Two, as a reminder of each an every special occasion I experience. And finally, a little bit of insight on how I watch kids. Maybe you too are becoming a super sitter and are looking for some new ideas.
Sitter Bio
I am the oldest child in my immediate family and extended family. Although most of us are close in age, I am still the oldest. Growing up I remember going over to a family member's or a close friend's house to visit the new addition. I was always ecstatic. The age where I was old enough to be a babysitter could not come sooner!
I remember turning 12 and enrolling in a summer babysitting safety class through the city. The class really taught me nothing! It mostly provided me with a folder packed full with pamphlets on emergency numbers, poison control, and the doctor offices. To this day I have it, and never use it. Most parents leave their cell numbers, a number of where they will be, and their own doctor. If I ever do have an emergency the only numbers I will be calling is 911, not looking up poison control or any other nonsense, and the parents. Luckily, I have never had to call 911, knock on wood.
After completing the class I was given my "Babysitter Certificate" and it was official, I could watch kids. ha!
My 1st job was to a family we knew from girls scouts. They had three children, one who was a year younger than me. The father was a fire fighter and the mother and girl my age were on a vacation. The father was called into work for something for the day and he was desperate for a babysitter to watch the other two girls, who were three and six years younger than me. It was the perfect first job. They lived only three streets over and were at great age to start watching. The day was easy and fun. It was a great first job, providing me with enough confidence to keep on sitting.
I never did have to watch those girls again, but I forever remember them as my first job! My Aunt started asking me to watch her boys. That too was a perfect way to start babysitting. Not only was it family and I was comfortable there, but my cousins are bit ... active. It was great way to learn how to deal with crazy little kids. To this day I still watch one of them. Although it's an entire different job now, I still remember those early days with all three of them.
I started getting a few more jobs, mostly for my cousins and church families. Each family provided me with new knowledge and ideas. Occasionally I would get "one night stands", where a random person would call for one night and never ask again. Those are the times that you ask yourself "did they not like me?". Now, after several experiences under my belt, I realize that there are some families out there who don't use babysitters very often. They either don't feel comfortable with the idea or have grandparents who cover for them on nights out. I've also realized that if they don't like me, that is okay. Every family has a different way of doing things, if I'm not the right babysitter, then good, don't call me. There is no reason to create an awkward or uneasy situation.
When turning 16, I started getting less and less calls. It really discouraged me, but because I was a new driver I didn't think about it very long. I was too busy making plans and driving there, ha! Eventually as things started to calm down and life turned into a new normal, I asked my mom why my Aunt had stopped calling me. She explained that some families stop asking for a sitter when you get your license or enter high school. Most kids start to get busy with school and social events. It annoyed me, but I moved on.
After a co-worker of my mom realized I had gotten my license, however, she was excited! She was one of those families that didn't like having to pick up and drop off the sitter. She preferred the sitter be able to drive to her. She also had days when she needed the sitter to drive her kids to and from activities. It was great. That really is when I went from a sitter to a super sitter. hah!
Three summer ago my Dad's childhood neighbor and close family friend asked if I would come over twice a week over the summer months to watch the kids all day while they worked at their home business in a barn on the property. I over course said yes. And every summer that has followed it. It was a unique job, being there 8 hours a day coming up with new activities and projects to make the summer days entertaining. It has an experience that has made me as a sitter step up my game.
The summer I turned 18 a family from my mom's preschool asked my mom if I babysit. My mom went on to give them my name and number. It didn't take long for that family to ask for me to come over once a week. That 1st family spread my name to other families that attend the preschool as well as lived in the neighborhood. Now more than a year later, I have 7 families from preschool! Most of them I see once a week, or a the least a few times a month.
As a college student, it has made me more available to babysit. Some may say that babysitting isn't a real job, that eventually I am going to have to grow up. That may be true, but let me say that I consistently have four jobs a week, the money is very real, and the commitment I have to it is also, very real, sounds like a real job to me. If I were to "grow up" and get a "real job" I would not have time to continue to babysit. I would lose the funny stories, the bedtime stories, the relationship I have with each and every family. And that to me is far more important than a "real job".
For all of you families out there reading this silly little {turning out long} thing, I would like to just thank you for every opportunity and thinking of me always. Being a babysitter has taught me a lot while growing up, but that's a subject for another blog.
until then...
No comments:
Post a Comment