Misadventures of Babysitting

Before reading...ask yourself, what could these tools be used for? Got an idea??? Okay, finish reading then!

I was given the opportunity of a lifetime...an entire evening with my baby girl! I jumped at the opportunity and then quickly realized, I wouldn't be able to sleep in Friday morning (hey, summer is winding down and I love my sleep in days).

After having the baby with me at my house to get items needed for the evening as well as meeting with another gentleman looking at my windows to give me a quote, I took the baby to the grocery store, picked up my items and headed to their house. She had fallen asleep in the car seat, so I just set her down in her room and made dinner while she cat napped.

The evening passed uneventfully. Dinner time, bath time, and play time. I finally gave her her evening bottle and off to bed she went. I shut the door and headed out to chill until it was my time to fall asleep. I had heard about the meteor shower, so I headed out to watch for some. I did see a few, but the thought of sleep was overpowering the urge to watch meteors, so I headed in and settled down on the couch around 10:30.

Two hours later, I heard her crying in the night. I headed to her room to put her pacifier back into her mouth and discovered the problem. I couldn't open the door. It was locked. I quickly woke up and tried not to panic. I had jiggled the handle just to make sure and then went looking for something to poke the lock out...thankfully I am familiar with the pop in and out locks. I found a toothpick and attempted it. Nothing...apparently those aren't strong enough.

With my stomach feeling like I was about to throw up, I called her mom and again, trying to not panic, explained the situation as calmly as possible. She told me that there was a key above the trim on the doors. I slid my hand along every door...nothing.

With my stomach becoming a roller coaster, she was going to call the neighbors and I was going to head to the garage to look for tools. My baby girl was crying even louder at this point. She heard the door trying to be opened, but no one was coming for her. I don't think I can even put into words how horrible I felt listening to her cry and knowing I couldn't get in there yet.

I raced back into the garage and found a long plastic thin tool and headed back to the door. Still nothing. Back into the garage I went and grabbed three different tools, hoping that just one of them might work.

I pushed one of the tools into the lock and heard the pop...I pushed the door wide open and went to hold the baby. As soon as she was calm, I called the mom again.

I waited a while before I laid her back down to sleep, put on her mobile, made sure the door was unlocked and headed back out to the couch. It definitely took a while for me to fall asleep again...and when she did awake at 6:30 for the day, it made for a very long day.

I'm glad it all worked out and I am inferring that the doorknob had become locked when we had been in the room earlier that night packing her bag. She had held onto the door as she was standing and if the door pushes all the way back into her closet doors, the lock will engage.

Lesson learned...always check the doorknob before closing it.

Misadventures of Babysitting

The people I babysit for have been buying some organic baby food made by another lady I know. I think it's a great idea! The food comes in pre-portioned frozen ice cube shaped food elements: peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peaches, apples, etc. To make life easier, the mom placed several cubes into plastic ziplock bags and we just scoop out what's needed for baby's lunch.

*** (time has passed mark)

I got out an orange and a yellow bag. I know the carrots (orange) are often thick and I've added squash (yellow) before. I decided to mix them again. After I had squeezed out quite a bit of the squash, I noticed the smell was strangely sweet. Hmmm...something doesn't seem right. I dipped my finger into the squash and tasted it. Yup, you might have guessed...peaches. I had already put both food items into the bowl and had swirled it a few times before I figured out my mistake. Wondering what would happen, I ended up feeding the entire bowl of carrots/peaches to the baby. She ate it...I guess that's a good thing. I've also learned my lesson to smell and possibly taste the food before I mix it.

Misadventures of Babysitting

Today I had sneezes, spit-up, nose liquid, and yes, bathroom solids on me at some point today while babysitting. Nevertheless (love that word), I'll be back tomorrow to love on her again!

Misadventures of Babysitting

Today was a full day. First, summer camp for the older one and a walk with friends for the baby and I. Later on a birthday party for the older one and a doctor appointment for me (and the baby got to tag along).

By the way, the birthday party was a Civil War theme. Apparently, this young one LOVES history, especially the Revolutionary and Civil War. Upon dropping off the older one, the child popped out in a Union getup. So fun. His house was the Appommatox Courthouse. I told him that I've visited there (one of the few places I've been). He was definitely impressed. When I picked up the older one, he had been Ulysses S. Grant in a reenactment. I smiled as each child received a tin cup and an American flag. It's always interesting to me when young ones show such an interest in certain topics.

Anyways, back to the misadventure today. While I was waiting to pick up the older one from the birthday party, the baby had fallen asleep in the car seat on the way back from the doctor. I left her in the car seat in the house and decided I'd close my eyes too. Sure enough...the doorbell rang not five minutes into my snooze. Unbelievable! I saw the little boy ride his bike away as I walked to open the door. He knew that the older one wasn't home yet. Ugh. How dare you ding dong ditch. I laid back down without opening the door since I had seen him ride away. If he did it again, I was going to have to have a talk with him...he is old enough to know better (six). Again...the doorbell rang. So help me, little one, I'm going to have to ask you not to come over...but there he was 20 feet away from the door. Turns out, it was another neighbor boy and I hadn't opened the door yet to see him. Whoops...that'd be my fault.

Just another day in the life of a babysitter.

Misadventures of Babysitting

I'm babysitting this summer...an actual baby! Plus a second grader (with an amazing vocabulary - right up my writing alley). In trying to help the family, I've been trying to wash dishes, laundry, and just help out with odd chores around the house. My thinking...if I do a little more work, they will have more time with their kids when they get home from work.

Well, sometimes my help isn't help. On Monday morning, I saw that their neighbors had their trash out and the parents weren't telling me when trash went out (so I wouldn't do more work than necessary). I heard the garbage truck coming (the baby was asleep) and I raced to drag their trash can and bags down in time.

The truck slowed and the guy had to ask the driver if they picked up their trash. I guess living in the "city" has dulled my senses of multiple garbage companies. Um, yeah...there are two companies that pick up trash if you're out of the "city" limits. Their trash company comes Wednesday morning. Sheepishly, I pulled the garbage can and bags back up...lesson learned.

Another perk of living in the "city" is free recycling. I just throw it into a bin and they pick it up. Woo hoo...it's almost too easy to be green. Unfortunately, if you're out of the "city" limits, you have to do your own recycling. Uh, I'm waiting for the day that the parents ask why I am sneaking cardboard, plastic water bottles, and baby food jars out of their house in my lunch box and bags. (Even the kids at school bring me cardboard from their classrooms because they know I recycle it.)