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i babysit this 8 year old...
i watch an 8 year old kid everyday after school for an hour, give or take 20 minutes. usually we (being my sister and i) start watching a movie to keep him occupied, but sometimes he wants to watch something on TV or have a snack. anyways, to the problem...
he's 8 years old. he's a boy. he's hyperactive and annoying, and knows that he is hyperactive and annoying. sometimes he's annoying on purpose. he'll bug my sister and me by throwing stuff at us, poking us, being gross, turning off the TV, and just, you know, plain out being a pain in the ass. i dont know what sick sense of humor this is, but it pisses me off and i yell at him, but it does no good. he thinks its funny. so, i try to ignore it, which makes him try harder. two weeks ago, i'd had enough to the point where i kicked him in the shin, really hard, and left a bruise. i told my dad, who told his parents, and when i apologized and explained that i'd just lost my head for a minute and it wouldnt happen again, they agreed to let me keep babysitting.
since then, the kid has learned not to be as obnoxious since he realizes i'm a hormonal depressed teenage girl. i don't want to hurt him again, i think of him as the little brother i never had because he can be a sweetie when he tries. its just that he also annoys me like a little brother would, which makes me act like an older sister would towards her little brother; hitting, screaming, kicking, etc. i know i'm not speaking for all older sisters here, i know that there are people out there with more patience than i have, surely. but i'm just not used to this kind of aggravation since i only had little sisters, never a brother.
some of you may be thinking all of this shouldn't annoy me so much, but it does. i have a very low tolerance for shit like this. so my question is, how can i keep my head on straight and not totally lose it again?
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Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Babysitting?
I am a great deal older than most of the advisers on this site, so my advice will be somewhat different from what you have received and may continue to receive from others.
All children, especially young children who have been cooped up in a class room all day you and your sister included, suffer from some form of hyperactivity; which is why you have a low tolerance for his pestering you. He needs to burn of some of the energy he has built up all day which is hard to do sitting in front of the television. You also need to teach him there is a right way and a wrong way to show you he is not happy with what you are doing together.
As a baby sister his parents trust you to care for him properly when they are not home. This includes teaching right from wrong as well as keeping him safe. Rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior is the best way to do this. Speak with his parents as to how they would like you to do this. They may have a special reward system that they use to encourage good behavior. You may have to do nothing more than to tell him you are going to report his bad behavior to his parents to keep him in line. Time outs for bad behavior are a popular form of correction for bad behavior and one his parents may use. Speaking with them will help you to decide when and how long a time out is to be utilized.
It is also important that after you have had your conversation with little Johnny’s parents that you, the parents and little Johnny sit down and have the parents explain to him just what your authority is when they are not home. What rewards he can expect for good behavior and what discipline he can expect if his behavior is not acceptable to you.
One other thing you need to discuss with his parents. Since you baby sit him for long periods of time you need to have a medical power of attorney that grants you specific limited medical powers should the child get sick or injured and you feel the need to call for medical assistance (911). The information in the Power of Attorney should also have the parents work and cell phone numbers as well as contact information for the grandparents. Long distance phone calls are not problems for hospitals; what’s important is that they be able to contact a parent or grandparent for permission to treat if needed beyond the limitations of the Power of Attorney. Copies of the Power of Attorney should be kept in an easily assessable place; on a bulletin board by the phone or in an envelope by the front door.
As their primary babysitter it is important for you to be a continuation of the family upbringing of the child your caring for. By going to the parents with what I have suggested you will not only solve the problem you presented but raise your image in the eyes of the boy’s parents. You should also learn a great deal about child rearing as well.
Good luck
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Oh boy. I know how you feel. It's so difficult to just try to ignore what going on and not get angry.
I would say that there can be thing you can do to make him act better. This way it'll reduce the times he acts annoying and makes it easier to keep your head on straight.
The weather is getting nicer so I would suggest taking him outside to play maybe in the backyard or a nearby park. If he is hyperactive then letting him run around if more effective then keeping him sitting watching TV. And little boys love playing catch (with a big or foam ball) and running. All you have to do is challege him to a race, etc. This will help tire him out so he doesn't think of ways to annoy you.
Try rewarding him. Maybe by some cheap toy cars (or anything he migth like) from the dollar store and tell him if he behaves (ex stops yelling) he can have one. This will give him a reason to act nicer because he probably thinks that you telling him is not enough.
This should help him act nicer because I think that's the only way to help you tolerate him. You can only ignore his behavior so much.
Well, I hope that helps. Best of luck!
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