No matter how long you have watched children, the process for a simple night out is usually always the same. The look the child or children give you when you first meet them is very important. That will determine how the rest of the night and the future of watching them will go. It goes from the look to the clinging on to their parents as they try to leave even if you are the sweetest babysitter ever. There is always a solid fifteen minutes you will try to win them over and get them to talk to you depending on how shy they can be. Offering a dessert and/or candy to win their trust is always the way to go if they have eaten.

Once the trust is gained you have to see if they are super active or if they simply just want to watch a movie. Playing a game and/or watching a kid movie is always a great time because it will always have a youthful intent. The older I get the more I am insulted when the child says the 90s Disney movies are old-fashioned and Elsa is better. Finally telling them it is time to go to bed so you can actually watch the movie and sing along to it is the best feeling ever. Bath time is slippery; let’s just leave it at that. One of my favorite parts is telling bedtime stories, from reading a book to making up my own it is all about imagination. To make up the craziest bedtime story or just telling them the plot of the old fashion Disney movie is always my toughest decision. Finally, after 45 minutes of whining for more stories you finally turn the light off and head downstairs. A light bulb comes on in your head: snacks. Thinking to yourself, “I already ate dinner but I don’t have the dinosaur chicken nuggets at home,” always leads to eating half of the fridge but making it look like there is nothing missing is an easy task for a hungry college student. We usually do this over holiday breaks.

Now it is time for the movie with some juice. Oh no, I think the baby is crying. I will give it five minutes. Ahhh, she went back to bed. Wow, kids are really great birth control! I do not see how mom and dad did this for eighteen years; you know spending Friday nights at home with kids and not out with friends. Oh, that’s why I am here… duh. After, the movie ends you wonder: where could the parents be? Dang it! They're home. Make it look like you were watching an adult show instead of pretending to be five. After you leave the house you have this feeling that it is nice to have some money to buy something other than chicken nuggets, but the kids are the greatest part and why you love your job.