I've joined the Babysitter's Club

Even though I had plans last night, I canceled them so I could babysit—you know I can't turn down money these days! The girls I babysat were a 1 1/2-year-old baby and a 4-year-old. Nine to 12-year-old boys are my area of expertise, so the thought of taking care of two very young girls sent me straight into panic mode. I called my mom right away. Her advice for the 4-year-old was:

-Wear something cute (little girls like pretty things)

-Make her think everything you do is her idea

-Smile a lot and be upbeat, even when she gets grumpy

Isn't it interesting that babysitting a 4 year-old is so similar to dating a 29 year-old? I've got this DOWN. (I joke, I joke). Even though I'm certain that babies can smell my fear from miles away (I've seen it happen), I wasn't as worried about the baby. You should have seen me in my apartment practicing all the nursery rhymes and bedtime stories I know before I left. I even rehearsed the hand movements to the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Pathetic. I had one bedtime song up my sleeve that I knew would be fail-proof. It's a song my dad used to sing to us when we were little—we LOVED it and never got sick of it, not even when we got older. Here it is:

                                              

Sorry the video is so dark, the lighting in Luke's apartment is horrible. And I just realized I got the first line of the song wrong. It should be: "When I go to sleep, I never count sheep, I count all my stars for..." Just FYI. 

It turned out that all my preparation wasn't needed because both girls were asleep when I arrived. Phew. The 4-year-old ran out of her room crying for mommy and tried to unlock the front door at the end of the night, but after a few seconds of rubbing her back and reassuring her that mommy would be home soon, she calmed down. 

However, tonight I am babysitting for six and nine-year-old girls. More girls. The lady that referred me to the family called to give me the lowdown and said: "They are Dutch, but speak great English and are very sweet and well-behaved." Sounds easy enough, I thought. Wrong. Then she said: "And I don't know how smart you are, but they are definitely smarter than I am!" Perfect. We all know my insecurities about being smart; I don't need someone a quarter of my age making me feel like an idiot. I have a feeling that the fact that I've met Hannah Montana aka Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Demi Lavato and Selena Gomez will mean nothing to these girls. That is usually my saving grace with young girls. Argh. (I must also confess that I watched Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader last night to "prepare" for tonight. Guys, I don't think I am smarter than a fifth grader. Phooey.) Ohh well. I'll survive, I always do.

I know that every is away for the holiday weekend, but if anyone out there is reading and can give me advice on how to handle these two little girl geniuses, I would love you forever!