about

I am 48 years old (yes that's old compared to some of you).


I have worked in nursing and/or healthcare management positions for 24 years. Primarily OB, Neonatal, Mental Health, Occupational Health and Geriatrics. In Jan 2008 I started my own business to board horses and do equine/human education. I am also a certified dog trainer.


I've been around the block so to speak and seem to be always helping others. I've been told that the reason people seek me out for advice is that I am approachable and caring. But on the same token even though I consider the person's feelings. I tell it like I see it. I've dealt with people in trouble with the law, dysfunctional families such as those with abuse & marriage problems. Not to mention problems with employees and employers.


I don't ever claim to know it all, and always keep an open mind.

advice

okay well i'm 14/f and i babysit for my neighbors who have two girls who are 4 & 2. now thats its summer and i don't have school, i've been babysitting A LOT. it feels like they are overworking me! i'm always so stressed out when i have to go there. the girls can not share togother and then it ends up with the youngest girl crying. and when she crys she SCREAMS! i can't stand it. i'm always babysitting for hours and they are always late when they come home. they also aren't very considerate about me missing meals. like they will have me work from 4-7 and that is like right in the middle of when i would eat dinner, and all they have at their house is junk food. like over the weekend i was babysitting from 9:30 - 3:30. also i'm always worrying that the dad will get mad at me if one of the kids falls asleep. i mean they pay me good ( 8 dollars and hour ), and the kids love me, but i always stress out about going over there.

i don't want to stop babysitting for them, because that would also leave them without a babysitter. but i need ways to help me not stress out as much about babysitting. like this week they only told me that they will need me to babysit thursday from 5-6, but then today i saw the mom and she said that their oldest daughter who is 16 will be going on vacation this whole week and that they will need me to babysit tuesday, thursday, and friday from 9-1! omg and i'm already stressing out about it! HELP!!

Two year olds do not typically interact and share with other kids. They do what is called parallel play, meaning they may sit beside another child and play..but will not completely join in and play in a constructive manner. Four year olds on the other hand like to roll play, and are sometimes a bit bossy. So really, part of the challenge is the age of the kids. What I would do is get the kids on some kind of schedule, and especially the two year old should be taking an afternoon nap. Check out some books at the library on child development, and when you understand what they should be doing for their age..it will make your job eaiser.

You may have to come up with individual activities to occupy the kids which will keep them busy and limit the screaming.

Tell the parents you are studying child development (part of that will be nutrition) ask if you can plan meals on the days you need to cook for the kids. Write up a menu and give it to the parents ahead of time, maybe they can buy some of those items that you plan to use as a nutritious meal. These things don't have to be expensive, or difficult to make. Maybe you can even bring your own lunch and eat after you feed the kids. Of course they might want your food, but if you bring them a special treat..that will help.

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(Rating: 5) thanks you're a lot of help!
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