Babies In General
The truth be told, I don't know an awful lot about babies in general because I've never had one myself. I have been an aunt since I was 13 years old, however, so I know a little bit about babysitting. My niece was my first charge. I was left with her for a few hours while my brother and his wife went out to play. She left me a bottle of something clear so when the baby wet, I put it on her. I should have known with my sister-in-law that I was being set up for a prank because when the returned and the baby wet again she said, what is this? The baby had bubbles in her diaper and they all laughed that I had put shampoo on her bottom. I'd not read the bottle but assumed that it would have been baby oil. Why leave me shampoo? First of all they hadn't trusted to leave me with her at all in the first place. I knew it was a prompting from my Mother that afforded me this experience. That I would never live down the shampoo thing to this day is another matter. It didn't harm her one bit, my niece is now full grown with children of her own. Other than the shampoo incident, we went on to share some lovely times together with me as sitter auntie. I'd enjoyed my duties so much so that I later became a mothers helper and took on a paying situation doing it for more than a year. Erika would be the same age as my niece and is now full grown. I frequently wonder how she turned out. I've seen my other charges as I've kept in touch with their parents.
Being an aunt is not easy, I've a lot of nephews. So just to keep them in line, I've got the wrinkly baby pictures posted on my fridge. When they bring over a girlfriend I show her what he used to look like. I think I'll put those photos away this year. My nephews are starting to marry and I've got to prepare for the next generation.
They don't have to look too far for the baby needs. I try to cover everything right here. I see that finding babysitters and mothers helpers has gotten a bit more sophisticated than when I used to do it. You'd simply go down to the guidance counselor's office at the high school and put your name on a list. The inquiring families would get to interview you and determine if you were a fit. Now, as you will note on this page - there are agencies doing the screening. So, high school students wanting to babysit or work as a Mothers helper on weekends or during he summer have to apply to the agency. Plus, the agencies are now International. Can you imagine being an International babysitter?
Go figure!
