|
stressed out
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!!
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Babysitting?
well,
ask them some questions about babysitting. if you don't feel comfortable ask your mom to ask them . ask simple ones like what time will they need to go to bed or should they....... bring a meal with you wrapped in plastic wrap. set it on the counter and wait til you get hungry. you can warm it up. i really dont think that they would mind if you do that. if the two little ones dont share then put them in different parts of the room and play a game like who can guess what this is or one of them draws a girrafe and another draws a zebra. print out coloring sheets from the computer. i would recomend google. they have nice sheets. just type in coloring sheets or disney world or looney toons and pics will come up of them. while they are coloring bring a good book with oyu!! Best of luck!
]
Ya well this seems to be causing you alot of stress and it shouldn't... For the meal problem either bring like a PB&J sandwich or something micorwaveable to eat while you are there OR don't accept jobs that overlap on your meal time.....As for the parents getting home late in the night set like a special time/curfew that you "say" you have to be home at...also say that you don't babysit on a specific day example:thursday But if this job is really getting you stressed tell the family that you feel that you need some time to relax and you will only work a maximum of like 2 or 3 days a week....Also if you are really getting stressed out just say no thanks when they call to offer a job...They can find a new babysitter through the paper or you could refer a friend.......................AS for the kids set up like movies for them to watch and puzzles that they can do by thereselves.........AND DONT WORRY about them falling asleep it is nature that they do
]
Obviously this is too much for you to handle, so tell them you can on do it on certain day (i.e. monday- thursdays) or certain hours (I can NOT come until 3 and MUST leave by 7) and bring your own food to eat. Or quit and find another family that is more calm (and pays you more, that really doesn't seem like enough). Don't worry about leaving them with a sitter, they are grown people who can take care of themselves.
]
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.
]
While you are babysitting, listen to some calm music to help you not get stressed. Writing a letter or talking to the neighbors is one way. Telling them that they are overworking you. Just tell them exactly how you feel. you still want to work for them, but are stressed, tell them that! Medatation, spa treatments and deep breaths are also really good stress releivers.
I hope I helped!
-volleyball2150
]
you should sit them down on the couch and camly say that they are over working you. tell them taht you wanna enjoy the rest of your summer and only wanna work like 2 days a week or somthing. also tell them that you like their kids and you like working for them but this is just becoming to stressful for you.
hope i helped
harts bigboy13
]
More Questions: |