When our babies are young,
we watch them like hawks.
New mothers stare for hours at the faces,
of their newborn.
The idea of leaving them for even a short time,
fills us with angst.
Eventually we have to loosen the ties.
Initially we trust only our husbands for babysitting,
but in time we get the courage to move on.
We entrust our kids to grandparents,
or babysitters or a creche.
Much thought goes into our choice.
We carefully research our options,
and even when we make our choice,
we are watchful.
Are they doing a good job?
This is especially true for first and second children.
However, those of us who decide to have more children,
become a little lax to say the least.
It is a fact that the more children I had,
the less conscientious I became as a parent.
Eventually my choice of babysitter was my “free” eldest child.
Was she suitable? Who knows, but she was “free”.
My own parents had also had this attitude,
and as I was the fourth child,
the babysitting was done by one of my “free” older sisters.
I can remember one day my older “free” babysitter,
called myself and my always hungry younger brother in.
She was sitting in the kitchen,
with what seemed to be grated chocolate on a plate.
“Here try some”, she said.
I was no fool (and a very picky eater),
so I refused.
In a flash my brother had consumed a handful of “chocolate”,
which turned out to be tea leaves out of a tea bag.
She was highly amused.
But my favourite memory of her babysitting,
was the day my brother took his friend home to play after school.
They were about eight years old at the time.
My sister about sixteen.
Lunch was uneventful,
and the two little boys were playing happily.
They decided to make a den under the table.
Whilst settling themselves in,
our little visitor reversed himself into their den and sat on our dog!
Naturally our usually peaceful, child friendly dog snapped.
She turned quickly and in a flash,
had embedded her teeth into the arm of my brothers little pal!
He lost his reason.
Screaming as loud as was possible,
he began to roar.
My sister was horrified.
She did all in her power to shut him up comfort him.
To no avail.
The roaring wounded child,
raced out the front door,
and legged it in the direction of his home.
I can still remember the sight from my upstairs window,
A small crying boy running home,
being chased by my older sister shouting
“Come back, I’ll give you sweets!”.
So if you are reading this,
and are in the throes of trying to find a babysitter/childminder,
for your precious child,
don’t panic,
those of us who have been third and fourth children,
all survived the “free” babysitters,
with no long term side effects!
photo credit: Divine in the Daily via photopin cc
photo credit: loungerie via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
Just this past Saturday we left our three kids with a 13 year old girl we’d never met before. We figure Ace is old enough to tell us if things aren’t ok. Lol. Hey, when mom and dad need to get out for drinks, we’ll take what we can get!
Lol. Yes we get less picky as time passes! It will be a few years before you get to hear the truth. It is great though those first steps towards freedom!
I feel your pain. This was sweet; I love it.
Thank you. Well recovered and putting my children through “free” babysitting now!
I had a tough time leaving mine for any length of time when they were little. Not because I didn’t trust, just because I wanted to be with them. I was a stay at home mom and joined at the hip.
I wouldn’t even trust my mum initially but by the third child I was happier to go out at night occasionally. I have no bother now though using “free” sitters for my fourth.
It must have been quite a sight. I wonder if the babysitters had any trauma 😉
Never thought of that one! Maybe she did. Will ask her some day.
I’ll take your word for it….im sticking with 2 though !….already i am a different parent second time round to first. I should imagine by the 3 or 4 everything changes…..love the story of your older sister trying to bribe with sweets.
Thanks. There is a lot of truth to the saying “it is a well known fact, the second child is a lot less breakable than the first!”.
I was lucky enough to have my parents down the block during the “babysitter” years. That kind of free babysitter is priceless. I did adventure out once and hire a girl recommended to me by a good friend..she lasted one job with my brood..they were good, she was not! So, enjoy those “free” sitters!
We do thanks quite regularly!
Ha! My sister (11 years older than me) used to babysit my brother and I. She would hang me upside down over the trash can and threaten to send me to the dump to live if I didn’t do what she said. I was told mom and dad wouldn’t visit me because I would smell so bad. Being about 5 years old and really gullible, I believed every word and would inevitably break down crying. Gotta love “free” babysitters!
Lol. So many traumatized children round the world! At least we have stories to tell.