1. You spent many nights in high school with your little people friends.
Brownie making, pizza and movie nights, bed time stories, intense games of hide and go seek, you did it all while your friends were hanging out doing high schooler things. You may have been bummed that you weren't in attendance of yet another gathering with the crew but looking back, you wouldn't trade those nights for anything.
2. You sounded like your mother earlier than you ever thought you would.
"How was your day at school?" "Tie your shoes so you don't trip." "You have to put a coat on, it's freezing outside." "Alex, give your sister a turn." "Sarah, time to go brush your teeth."
3. Getting the kids to bed before the parents came home was something close to your greatest accomplishment.
You really felt for your parents daily fight having to put you to bed. One night of putting these kids to bed at a reasonable hour was something similar to the struggle of getting out of bed on time for your 8am.
4.If you are the youngest of your family like I am, by babysitting you now know what it feels like to have little siblings.
You pick out birthday presents, watch them at gymnastics, and let them play with your hair while watching Disney Channel. You literally have watched them grow up, from second graders to middle-schoolers. The little sisters (in my case) you never had.
5. Being surrounded by parents and children at one practice or another is completely and totally normal.
All the moms know you and which kids are "yours". You listen to their chatter, trying the best you can to relate but secretly having no clue, considering you are a good 15-20 years younger than them,
6. You take a walk down memory lane every time you are with your babysitting kids.
The kids you babysit bring you back to the days of sledding on snow days, waiting at the bus stop, stories of what happened that day at recess, and the routine of an after school sport. Shopping at Justice and the big deal the day you got a phone was, you relive it all again. You remember the days when you were their age.
7. Being home from college means the best reunion of all.
It's not like the reunions you have with your friends because you keep up with them through social media, texting, talking and so on. But with your babysitting kids, every time you see them it feels like years have passed. They grow way too much, they become way more big person like, and make you feel way too old. You just can't believe that before you know it they will be graduating high school and off to college, the little people you made lunch for and colored the days away with, hard to imagine.
8. You feel like a low key celebrity.
Those cute little people cheering and watching you play your high school sport, yep those are the kids you babysit. You get into college, oh my gosh, it is suddenly the best college in the world. You pick them up at the bus stop, you are tackled with endless hugs and excitement. You're the one they brag about to their friends and light up when you tell them you will watch them at gymnastics practice.
9.You feel personally responsible for them to have a smooth transition into the teen years.
Middle school, braces, boys, texting, been there done that. Are they going to be okay with all the change? How are they going to know how to put on make up, that doing well in school is really important, and picking good friends is a must?
10. You have a second family for life
They trusted you to care for their kids for years. They welcomed you into their home, left you extra ice cream money, came home early for you on that Saturday night, and attended your graduation party. You may have watched their children grow up but they have cheered you on through every exciting step that comes with high school, moving on to college, and everything in between.
11. You are fully aware you had the greatest high school job and you treasure the bond you have with the kids and family so much.
