Tuesday, October 7, 2008

On: Screaming and Teething

Last week I started a babysitting job. I now watch three kids (a 4 year old, 2 year old, and baby) every Tuesday from 6:30am to 8:45am. Did you catch the "am" there? I'm not a morning person, but I love kids, and the love for the latter beat out the hatred for the former. But did you know that kids don't act sleepy when they wake up...even at 6:30 in the morning? On the contrary, they're fully ready to take on the day as soon as their little eyes open. And to celebrate, they shoot off pop guns and run around screaming. In fact, when I got there, the 2 year old was already doing somersaults in her ecstasy. Here's how the morning went:

Me: Please don't scream; you're brother's still sleeping.
2 year old: WHAT'S THIS?
Me: A steering wheel.
2 year old: I HAVE TO GET DRESSED NOW. CAN I PICK OUT MY OWN SHIRT?
Me: Okay, but we have to be quiet because your brother's still sleeping.
2 year old: I WANT TO WEAR THE BUTTERFLY SHIRT, BUT I CAN'T WEACH IT.
4 year old: SURPRISE!!
Me: Good morning.
2 year old: LET'S PLAY WITH MY TRAIN TRACK (as she points to a race track and holds up a little plastic car).
Me: Let's get dressed first, remember?

15 minutes later everyone's dressed (for the most part), diapers are changed, and the pop gun celebration begins...as does the crying.

Me: Okay, guys no guns until after breakfast.
4 year old: What if I shoot it like this?
Me: As long as it doesn't make any noise.
4 year old: HAHA. I GET TO SHOOT MINE LIKE THIS!
2 year old: Can I shoot mine like this?
Me: Nope. As long as it doesn't make any noise until after breakfast.
4 year old: I WANT FROSTED FLAKES!
Me: Ok, sounds good. What do you want?
2 year old: ME TOO! Can I maked it myself?
Me: Sure. Let's go into the kitchen.

Frosted Flakes for them and a giant bowl of yogurt for the baby.

4 year old: Can I have a poptart?
Me: If you finish your cereal and you're still hungry.
4 year old: I'M DONE WIF MY CEREAL!
2 year old: I want one too.
Me: Okay, let me finish feeding him and I'll make you some poptarts.
4 year old: Do you know where the cooker thing is that we put them in to cook them is?
Me: Yup.
4 year old: How do you know?
Me: Mom showed me.

Scene: I'm feeding the baby a massive amount of yogurt. Little children are climbing on counters in order to "help me." Someone's throwing her poptarts on the floor so we'll watch her.

Me: Okay, set your poptarts on the counter until I'm done feeding him. Please stay off of the counter. Why don't you go play in the living room until I'm done.
2 year old: I want orange juice.
4 year old: Me too!
2 year old: I don't want that orange juice.
Me: This is what you have.
2 year old: silent surrender

Alright, baby's fed, poptarts are passed out. It's after 8am and they're finally allowed to watch tv. Craziness subsides. I give the baby his bottle who doesn't really want it. Oh, he's teething and, therefore, drooling, and his favorite things to do are roll all over me and cry when I get up. The kids are being angels in front of the tv though.
8:45...I get to go to work...where there's coffee...*sigh*

I'm sure I'll get used to it as the weeks progress...right?

1 comment:

Jake Sinko said...

Ok, I know I shouldn't have, but I was cracking up sooo hard when I was reading this...I know you suffer in it, but it was too funny not to laugh...But if you would like, I'll pray you can do well in this job...Kids are nuts though, and when they warm up to you they may settle down some...They were excited to see a new face...