I began to babysit daily for two young girls about a year ago. The girls are in fifth and second grade and like any other kids, they have their moments. For the most part they are adorable, smart, and loving kids, but like any other sisters, they bicker over craziness and give me a hard time. In the past year I have learned a lot from watching the kids, and these lessons have changed the person I am for the better. Here are the ways that babysitting has changed me:
1. I have learned the importance of patience.
I have never been an extremely patient person, but with kids you have to be. You have to be able to understand their world. There are plenty of times I try to explain things to them, they don't understand, and I get frustrated. But you cannot get frustrated, because they are probably trying their hardest to understand. It's all about patience and persistence.
2. Sometimes bribing kids is OK.
There are times when kids are in a mood and refuse to compromise. In this case it might be easier to bribe them. For example, if I'm having a hard time getting the kids to do their homework I will tell them they can watch TV when they're finished. In this case it is all about picking our battles, not everything is worth a fight, sometimes giving them something they want is the best way to get them to do what you need.
3. If a kid is irrationally upset with you, it probably has nothing to do with you.
As adults we are expected to have a pretty good control over our emotions. We know that if you are upset at one person, it is not helpful to take it out on everyone that cares about you. Yes, we still do it, but it is more restrained. This is even harder for kids. They do not understand who to and who not to get mad at a lot of the time. So next time you are with someone who seems to be irrationally angry, try to find the origin of this pain and stop it before it turns into more anger.
4 . You have a bigger impact on a child's life than you would think.
Kids are like little people who have the potential to be anything. They are not scarred by heartbreak, nor do they understand true betrayal. Due to this, they are typically very trusting and loving. They take in information like a sponge and are curious about all that you do. They look up to you and in many cases see you as a future them. Due to this, you can have a huge impact on a child's life, so make sure you're affecting them in a way you would be proud of.
