Today was surprisingly quiet considering the fact that we have two boys 6 and under in our household. At one point I looked at Rich and said, "Are we living in some parallel universe today?". That is...a parallel universe where our children play quietly and cooperatively WITH each other for an extended period of time.
Very strange, indeed.
I think it may have been their penance for traumatizing a rookie babysitter last night. We had planned an evening out with friends and (like usual) we were at the last minute looking for a babysitter. Rich finally convinced a sweet girl, who has babysat for us once before, to agree to babysit our children along with two others the same age. Now, the last time she sat for us it went fairly well, but I did say to Rich as we were leaving, "Is it just me or does she look scared?". And every parent knows that children (like wild animals) SMELL FEAR. During the course of the evening, she called a couple of times with slight problems. I talked to her once and was convinced she was about to have a nervous breakdown, but Rich assured me that she was fine so we proceeded with our evening as planned.
You guys, there are no words to explain the look on this girl's face when we returned home from our evening. I'm really not exaggerating when I say she was traumatized. While I'm all for using a few hours of babysitting young children as a form of birth control for young college students, I hope and pray our children didn't singlehandedly ruin her on children for life.
In all honesty, I don't think they were that bad, nothing a Mom or experienced babysitter couldn't handle, but clearly this particular young lady was not quite ready for the chaos that is 4 children under the age of 7.
Of course, our children were duly punished, but I can't help but wonder if I should send her flowers or a sympathy...I mean thank you card to further apologize.
Oh well, I'm sure someday, if she ever has children of her own, she'll look back on this day and laugh.
At least that is what I'm telling myself.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
The Rookie
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22 comments:
Poor thing. You will have to check in on her every few weeks to get a read on her stability. Young rambunctious boys and a young girl can be overwhelming at best. Yeah. This chick is not having premarital sex - that's for sure! :-)
Oh goodness! Well, I think you're right, someday she'll laugh about it...someday! Make sure, if I ever ask you for babysitter recomendations, that you don't give me her name. If those four kids traumatized her, imagine what my three would do to her!
Ask her in a couple of weeks if she can babysit and if she says no then she's probably done! :)
Its all good. Kids are kids. I'm sure it wasn't that bad. And, remember...kids are resiliant. She's bounced back!
Hey....and I'm praying for ya. I mean it. I want you to feel better soon. Keep me posted. I'm taking my computer with me.
Hugs~
Fran
Why teach abstinence in school? Just assign two (or four) young children to a teen for a day. I wouldn't have had postmarital sex until I was 30 if I knew what the result may be. I had no idea what children were really like until I gave birth to my first.
This post is too funny.
This post hits... ah... very close to home. Last summer hubby and I went on a double date with some friends to go bowling. In trying to explain what bowling was, I told my 5 year old that it was a game, kind of like baseball.
Well. this particular night after we left, a storm came in that was pretty strong. Lots of rain, thunder, lightning, the works. I recieved a call while we were eating dinner from my daughter, screaming screaming screaming, she was having a full blown meltdown because she thought we were bowling OUTSIDE (it's like baseball, mom!).
She was so distraught, I couldn't convince her that we were inside a building and safe. We had to leave early, didn't even get to bowl at all. The "deer in the headlights" look was very clear on that dear babysitter's face, although she has since babysat for us. Just not on a stormy night. :)
Sorry for the long comment. :) Haven't thought about that night for a while.
We hired a sitter some time back to keep an eye on the kids while the adults had a game night. All the parents were here at the house, but we segregated the kids to the playroom and living room so we could have some peace and quiet.
There were 5 kids from 3-5 years old, and when the evening was over, she refused to keep more than just my kids again!
LOL! Now that she's been broken in, maybe she'll be ok with just your two!
Xandra
Oh my. She will be fine. Ask her for round two. Maybe just your two and see what happens. During the day is also better too. The sitter and kids are not as worn out. If she is new to babysitting, it will jsut take a few more times and she'll be fine with it.
Oh goodness! I remember those days of babysitting in high school. I actually started when I was in middle school. Can you believe people left their precious children with me when I was 12? Wow!
Anyway, I know a girl that was tied to a chair and then squirted with a water gun for 15 minutes before she finally escaped the apparently strong 6 year old's knot. And no, it wasn't while watching my children, thankfully!
Ok, so I just have to chuckle because I have this babysitter who loves to watch my older two, but the times we've mentioned watching all 3 & there's also this look that comes over her face & then this hesitate tone that comes out in..."o..k.." Ahh....you got to love it.
Oh you know she is thinking, "MY children will NEVER act like that!" Oh, but they will. One day she will realize that last night was completely normal.
Does she need the pep talk from me? I feel compelled to "give her my sage advice." You know what I am talking about!
I hope you paid her well or at least had good snacks in the fridge. I remember being in her position. It's a wonder I have children considering some of the things I was put through. I once watched 7 children, 5 of whom were under 4 years old. One was three months old and I was only 14. What were those parents thinking?
the first time I hired a siter when my boys were 2 and 3 my oldest bit her on the bottom and ran out the door! she babysat for us after that... once. now we have a new sitter who never knew of the incident LOL!
We had a similar experience-with a friend's daughter! This friend keeps offering her daughter's services...how do I tactfully decline without acknowledging that our foursome is just too much for her? You are SO right about the smell of fear!!
I WAS the traumatized babysitter. I once watched a pack of wild boys and it cured me of babysitting for life. I love being a mama, an auntie, a sunday school teacher, and the like, but I still don't like to babysit.
Welcome to my world!
I have 4 children that are 5 years old and under! You should see the look on my face some days. :)
I am sure there is nothing like seeing a few faces on some green paper money that won't cheer her countenance!
Now if only I could get some of those.....
I was a camp counselor for the summer when I was 18.
I didn't have kids until I was almost 30.
It was great birth control.
that is hilarious alana!!!
Yes, I know this look. We asked two, yes two, young English students to watch our kids and their cousins last November when we went to England. 5 kids 6 and under. Wow. I felt like giving them combat pay. I hope they don't think any less of Americans.
Just think how easy it will be for her just to watch your 2 after watching 4 - that is if she ever picks up her phone again. Too funny!
once we combined kids and hired a babysitter... the next day, her mom called and DEMANDED we pay her more. she said it just wasn't enough!
is that crazy or what? she wanted TEN dollars an HOUR!!!
i used to babysit a whole week for that kinda cash, not an hour!
great post! missing you ;)
Oh that poor brave girl. Never again for her, huh?
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