My Day Job

I'm a full-time nanny for the next couple weeks for a 16-month old girl [Baby]. I usually only watch her 3 days a week, but Grandma is gone. I'm also watching a 3-year old boy at the same time 2 days a week for the month of May. Whew...never knew staying at home could be so exhausting! Some things I've learned [that stay-at-home Moms and Dads know very well, I'm sure] about Baby:


1. Sleep when Baby sleeps
I've heard this saying before and understood it from a theoretical perspective, but now I understand first-hand. The only time to rest is when Baby isn't constantly pulling books off the shelf, getting into the dog food, or playing 56-card pickup...and the only time Baby isn't doing those things is when she's sleeping. And I don't even experience the sleepless nights! I can't imagine having to get up every 2 hours to feed a newborn and THEN taking care of her all day.


2. No means no
Granted, I've learned a lot about this concept in my psychology and child development courses and have put it to practice in the classroom. However, when you're watching only 1 child who is the cutest thing on the planet, the temptation to give in to her "peese?" is a lot greater. BUT I know it's a lot easier to "say what you mean and mean what you say" rather than give in to Baby's manipulative fake cries. [That sounds a bit harsh, but you know what I mean!] Then they learn that no amount of crying or fussing is going to get them what they aren't supposed to have.  
Although I have to admit, when I'm on an important phone call trying to schedule an interview and Baby is fussing and crying because she wants my water-bottle, I give in. Oops.


3. Always eat before or after Baby eats
Otherwise, Baby inevitably wants what you're eating and won't eat her own food. [Tune-in the vigorous shake of the head, "NO!" when offered yummy vegetables.] One time I was eating pizza. Rather than giving her a "bite?" of the good part, I tore off a piece of over-microwaved, chew crust. That turned her off and she happily enjoyed the rest of her green beans. 


4. Clean up at the END of the day
If I was a neat-freak, I probably would have anxiety about the millions of toys littering the floor...and be constantly picking up after Baby, straining my already bad back [at only 26! ugh.] and testing my annoyance level. Thankfully, I'm definitely not. While that might not be the best non-quality to have for an office job or other of the sort, it's ideal for this sort of pseudo-parenting I'm doing! Clean up at the END of the day when I pass Baby off to Mom & Dad and it's time for me to go. 


5. It's all worth it
LOVE when Baby runs up to me and gives me a great, big baby hug. Enough said. :)