As any former babysitter torcherer and pain in the ass knows, bed time is not the golden hour of the day, assuming its only an hour. Tonight getting these kids into bed was like nothing I have ever seen and makes me deeply apologetic if my sister and I ever behaved this way to any of our babysitters. Maybe this was karma, but maybe this is just purely normal nighttime nonsense. Either way, it's not as much fun as I remember when I was a kid.
But really, who can blame any child for behaving like an utter lunatic on a night when their parents are out? You get to stay up a little later, watch a movie, read two books instead of one. It's a big night for a kid! You're excited, not tired, not trying to fall asleep at all even and ultimately just trying to get away with as much as humanly possible to add minutes to the clock of torturing the babysitter and to your day. For any kid, anywhere in the world, this former kid as well, parents night out is huge and apparently doesn't stop until you have your own place.
Tonight, we all watched a nice Disney film which I love and appreciated watching it in another language other than English. We were all laughing when people fell and their hair gets blown funny or on fire. It's cool to laugh with them in other languages. Half way through we took an intermission for toilet time only to discover that one young lad missed his cue and went in his trousers instead. Here is where the clock starts running....
After changing and getting everyone back into movie position we finished the tale which was immediately followed by insistent begging to watch another film, which of course was not in the itinerary. A film or tele or five films or a game was okay they said. Sorry guys, time for bed.
Here, I would like to say congratulations and send respect to all parents out there who try to put not just one, but three active kids down on a daily basis. It is no easy task. And to you single parents, bless you and your challenges....its really hard!!!
Maybe it's part of the "fun" when babysitters are over, but the running from room to room, jumping on the beds, blasting the scratchy damn radio, flicking the lights on and off in a two against one game of cat and mouse. Ridiculous. So after a few minutes I got smart and realized I was doing exactly what they wanted me to do. Chase them. So I stopped and just sat there. Well wouldn't you know this only causes them to step it up and move twice as fast and be twice as annoying and defiant because you're ignoring the antics...I thought they would wear themselves out eventually. Ha! Erin, you have much to learn. Once they are in that mood, there is only one thing left to do....and it's not let it continue or loose your cool. You simply fake dial and have an imaginary call with the parents. Period.
Now, I don't know if there are young parents, or parents of kids I babysit for or other babysitters reading this, but if you want to avoid getting your blood pressure up to your hairline and kids on their instant best behavior, bust out the fake dial and use the parents name in the conversation and be amazed.
Kids don't want to have a bad report. They dont want to get in trouble but kids are kids and parents know their child's behaviors. As the babysitter it's not your job to get them in trouble but you certainly dont want to get walked all over. So, when things are off the fricken richter and it's already been 25 minutes plus of no use counting to three, a fake update and household status is a great card to play. Trust me.
They hear your conversation and they want to hear it so as an indirect result they are perfectly tucked in and quieting down. You "ask" what you should do and are thrilled to know that it's okay that they each get one bed time story and that dad or mom said the next one out of bed gets no tele the next day and that they are on their way home. Brilliant. All of a sudden you have angels.
So, I gave two out of three a soothing back rub and told them a story. The pants pee-er was already falling asleep in his huggies nighttimes and the one on one time with the other two was really good. Before I was able to get back to the first one with a second story she was passed out. And after seeing she was passed out and checking on the other one who unconvincingly tried to tell me he wasn't tired behind a series of huge yawns, he was out too.
The house is quiet now. I just wrote half of this blog in the bathroom with the lights on like a creep in case I needed to be a hall monitor. There wasn't a peep.
I think some parents think that their kids aren't as wild as a babysitter could or they simply don't know what they are capable of. I think that they expect that their children will do as they are told and respect the babysitter. I think 9/10 times I am extremely fortunate with that being the case. But on nights like tonight it's hard to know where to draw the line and feel in control.
If anyone has tips or suggestions, please share. I have a few friends getting ready to have babies and I just want them to know what they have to look forward to. I am also always open for suggestions as a babysitter as well as happy to share more little gems like the fake dial.
Night all, time to call my boyyyyfriend!
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