Babysitting is the only job you'll ever need.
I remember taking a certification course for babysitting through Girl Scouts when I was younger. I thought it was the coolest thing! I learned what to do if an emergency happened – this was before I drove (I think I was 12 or 13) and I felt prepared to face whatever kind of emergency I might have to face.
Knock on wood, nothing bad has happened while I've been babysitting other than maybe a scraped knee.
So, babysitting teaches you a little bit of emergency preparedness and first aid and teaches you the importance of staying cool under pressure.
Depending on the age of the kid(s) that you watch, babysitting can teach you how to communicate with kids that can't quite talk in full sentences yet. Obviously Mom and Dad will know what they're trying to say, but once they leave, you're on your own.
It might take a bit to fully understand the speech patterns of younger kids, but once you do, it's easier to understand little kids.
It teaches you multitasking like no other. If you're watching more than one kid, you have to navigate between two different routines, schedules, and different activities.
If you're making dinner, you have to split your attention between not burning the mac and cheese and making sure the child stays out of harm's way. You have to make sure you keep an eye on the time so you don't miss bedtime.
Seeing kids and how they interact with other people teaches me about parenting. It's not easy – I'm learning tips and tricks from parents on how to parent should I one day have kids of my own.
Babysitting teaches you so much about the human experience. Every child is different, every situation is different, and it's a blessing to be a part of so many different experiences for different kids. I've been the first babysitter, I've been the last babysitter, and I've been in the middle.
I absolutely love babysitting. I want to teach young kids, so getting to hang out with young kids is great experience that I can apply to classroom management and lesson planning. I have experience with kids of all ages, so I've seen the different stages of development.
Babysitting is the only job you will ever need because it teaches you how to take care of another human being. It's rewarding, it's humbling, and it's like no other job because it inserts you into a daily life routine. I'm proud to do what I do, and I'm blessed to be able to do it.
