HappyNess, CrazyNess, SleepyNess, whatever applies

Gus Gus is HappyNess Ness

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Nightmare on Millpond Road

So I had my first babysitting job yesterday. I mean, first "real" one, apart from the glorified babysitting job I've been doing for four years.
scenario: Three kids. 1. Six-year-old boy with 10 year-old intelligence: Taylor. Smart kid. Very fun, very social. Likes to test your authority and patience.
2. Three-year-old boy who is entirely hard to understand: Wes. Speaks in one or two unintelligible words at a time. Taylor translates. Thanks, Taylor.
3. One-year-old girl running a fever: Olivia. Switches hours on and off between being entirely happy, and crying every five minutes over everything.
Diaper changing: Easy.
Reading new kids' personalities: Entirely hard.
So I was quite nervous and felt quite incompetent, although I didn't show it, for the first few hours. How much does a baby eat? How often do you change their diapers? How much structure do you plan for two young boys who are very very different?
Thought I must have done a horrible job, because the boys seemed disinterested in all the cool things I came up with doing.
After-math: Their mom said Taylor said I was fun and we got to do lots of cool stuff. Wes apparently pouted for some time after I left.
What have I learned? Some kids just are not as outwardly excitable as a classroom of five-year-old girls, but they still seem to think I'm cool.
So will I do it again? Heck yes. I love getting the experience of doing new things. It's only up-hill from here.
Verdict: Not a disaster after all.
*VictoriousNess!!

4 Comments:

  • At September 08, 2005 6:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

     
  • At September 08, 2005 7:24 PM, Blogger Ty said…

    Yes, children... they are interesting. Had to work with alot this summer in my youth drop in centre that occasionally turned into a babysitting centre... If I could sum up what I learned this summer I would have to say that it would be patience. Oh do you have to be patient with children. Some kids are hyper, others won't even talk. Some talk way to much and way to fast, others never talk and then some you can't understand at all. I had this cute little guy this summer that couldn't proncounce C's or K's. If he wanted a cup he would say Tup and if he saw a kitty he would say titty. Oh and his kitty's name was Tuddles (cuddles). Yeah it was a pretty good summer. Anyways I came over here to comment on your "HOT OFF THE PRESS" because it would not let me comment over there. I didn't really have much to say anyway other than "FREAKING AMAZING!!!" I loved it. Great writing. I really need to hear it sometime. Well I need to be off to my night class relatively soon so I should go. Catch you later!

     
  • At September 09, 2005 3:34 AM, Blogger Heather said…

    I love little kids. But how do you entertain two that like two different things at the same time. Thats a good question. Hope the next time goes better for ya. But I've had too much to drink.. gotta love back to school celebrations. Time for bed

     
  • At September 09, 2005 9:30 PM, Blogger Heather said…

    Yes bob Ther was at the branch... unfortunatly I don't recall reading Ness's post last night, nor commenting on it. WOW

     

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