Eight years ago, my parents made the brave decision to finally let me stay home alone and babysit my two younger siblings. Growing up, my younger siblings and I had a few babysitters over the years but they were either my older cousins or my parents closest friend's children. Watching them make up all the rules, giving up their free time to watch my siblings and myself, and playing ridiculously childish games will us made me want to be a babysitter when I got bigger. But that one night, eight years ago my parents thought I was old enough and smart enough to take care of my siblings by myself. After an hour or two, everything became pretty easy for me and honestly, it was like I was just hanging out and playing games with my siblings like I would do any other day of the week. But little did I know that, eight long years ago, my life as the town babysitter begun.
First let me tell you about my babysitting experience.
Madison and Zachary- They were my first ever children to babysit (well besides my siblings.) They were my next door neighbors at the time so that meant if anything bad were to happen while I was babysitting I could call my parents and they could walk across the yard to help me. Babysitting Madison and Zach taught me literally everything ever needed to know when it came to babysitting and I am extremely thankful your parents left in my care while trying to figure out this crazy thing called babysitting.
Leah and Devin- They were my second group of little kids to babysit for a summer. You lived walking distance from my house and we did so much together that summer. From watching classic Disney movies to walking to the local playground playing there and then getting ice cream afterwards, it was one of my favorite summers that I can really remember.
My Fire Department Children- I do not even know where to start with this one because there is so many of you but hopefully I will not forget someone. First, let me start off with Skyler. You were my first little one to babysit that was from the fire department. You were so little and now you are excelling in sports and school and I could not be more proud of you. David, Kaden, and Steven, you three boys I never really babysat you but I did watch you grow over the years more so David and Kaden than Steven. David and Kaden, ever since you were little, I have watched you both grow into these weird but yet pretty funny and entertaining boys. Steven, you been around the fire department for a few years now and I have watched you grow from this little shy boy who know now is one of the more talkative boys in the group. Kayla, Kate, and little Miss Rhyleigh. You girls literally crack me up with your sense of style and your sense of humor. I did get to really babysit you three but just like the three older boys, I was blessed to watch you grow up into these three creative, smart, beautiful, and sassy wannabe teenagers. Jack and Carter, my lovely green and blue five year old twins that are full of jokes and have a better sense of humor that most people in the world. These two are not your average five year old twins, trust me on this. Their imagination is out of this world and I would die to have their imagination again. But do not let their cuteness fool you, they have their days just like any other person. On an average day while babysitting Jack and Carter, their mom can tell them, "Jack and Carter, let's not be assholes to Tia today," and as soon as she shuts the door they will reply while rolling their eyes, "Yes Mom, we will not be assholes today." Last but not least, my little boyfriend Connor. I can remember the day you were born, almost three years ago. I left for college before you turned one and when I came back you had turned one, and started walking and talking before I knew it. All of my fire department loves all mean more than anything to me, and even though I do not exactly babysit all of them, I still get to watch them grow up and it is basically like the same thing to me. I have somehow managed to change some of their diapers, help potty train them, help them walk, teach them new words, help them with their homework, and everything in between.
Being a babysitter is seriously one of the greatest jobs you could ever think about having and I highly recommend that you encourage your children to be a babysitter for a few years before letting them go into the "adult world" and get a "real" job. Do not get me wrong, being a babysitter has is pros and cons, and I am here to let you know what those pros and cons are.
Pros Of Being A Babysitter:
The Pay- Being a babysitter you get to decide how much you get paid. You can pick either to get paid hourly or how much would want to get paid for the whole day instead. Or if you are anything like me, I usually just tell the people I babysit for to pay me how much they think I should get paid because I really don't have a price that I charge.
Nap Time- Who does not love nap time? Oh right, usually the little kids. But as soon as you finally get them to fall asleep, there is nothing better than taking a small little nap with them. My favorite is when you and the little kids are watching a movie on the couch on a cold rainy day, and they cuddle right up to you, ask if you want to take a nap with them, then they fall asleep.
Watching Them Grow Up- It’s all fun and games when you become a babysitter but as soon as you start seeing all the little kids you currently babysit or had previously babysat start to grow up, it secretly breaks your heart. And it is not just seeing the kids you babysit grow up that kills you, it is the kids that you have been around since they were in the womb that kills you the most.
Play Time- It is the one place where being a kid again is socially acceptable. To be an amazing babysitter the number one thing you must have is your imagination, because who wants to just play with a stick when you can pretend is a sword or a gun while you are battling a bunch of dragons.
Pre-Children Practice- As little kids, you image that one day you will be married with a bunch of kids. But once you get around twenty years old, babysitting will sometimes be the best form of birth control you can get. On the other hand, it helps you prepare for being a parent in the future. If it was not for babysitting, I never learned how to properly hold and feed a two-month baby, change diapers, or even teaching little one how to use the big kid potty.
Cons Of Being A Babysitter:
Dirty Work- Poop duty, nothing grosses me out more than cleaning a poopy diaper that exploded everywhere, like to the point where you really think about if throwing the whole child in the bathtub would be an easier clean up than just giving the child a new diaper. The smelly poop isn’t even the worse, the vomit is the worse. Everything is going along great, you are watching a movie on the couch with the little ones and BAM, you have vomit literally in your lap and all over the child, so into the bathtub you go.
Long Shifts- Do not get me wrong, I absolutely love being a babysitter. But there comes a day where I would much rather be spending all day sleeping and watching Netflix or out at the beach with friends enjoying my summer vacation especially after a hell of a semester at college than babysitting kids for hours and hours.
Now that I have pretty much rambled on for what seems like hours about babysitting and my little ones that I babysit, I would like to thank those parents that are actually willing to let me basically practice being a single mom and taking care of your kids. I hope that I have taught your kids more than they have taught me things. I could not be more blessed to have all these little ones always asking where and when I am coming home whenever I am away at college, and running up to me to give me hugs, kisses, and telling me that they love me whenever they see me or right before I leave. If I could tell you anything from this, it is you should most definitely become a babysitter whether you are my age, fifty, or even twelve because one day you will thank yourself for doing so.
Love Yours Truly,
The Billy-Town Babysitter
