Nannying: The Most Effective Form Of Birth Control
Much like abortion and America’s current political system, children are a polarizing subject. Some people love ’em, others would prefer to never be around them ever. It seems like you’re either a “kid person” or you’re not. But there’s no wrong way to be.
I like to think that I had no choice but to be a “kid person.” I grew up with four younger siblings, and was blessed with a baby sister at age ten. So by the time I got to college, I felt like I’d already raised a child. I’d been changing diapers since I was in fifth grade, and I’d been extorted as free child care service by my parents for even longer. I could break up fights, dole out punishment, and was an expert at getting gum out of hair by the time I hit middle school.
But friends, that is not even close to the same thing as being a parent.
Like many college students, my goal this summer was to scrape together as much money as I could by working a job that I could land before I got my degree. Paid internships proved to be as elusive as four-leaf clovers or matching socks. So I was a nanny to four awesome kids. I was part stand-in older sister, part whiffle-ball referee, and part mom. I made lunches and wiped tears. I spent forty hours a week with these kids, and that was still an abridged version of parenting. That blew my mind. I got to punch out at the end of the day! I’d get in my car, roll the windows down and peel out, free until the next morning.
Now it’s not like I was planning on having a kid anytime soon, but people told me that this job was going to be great birth control. And it totally was. I loved every day of it, but I gained some respect for the parents of the world. You all deserve some type of cookie. I also gained some wisdom from being a part time mom. And here I thought I knew it all.
Part-Time Mom Wisdom:
- It is impossible to please everyone at once.
- Kid’s shows are undeniably the worst. Especially ones with singing.
- Whoever invented the game “yellow car” was an evil person.
- Kids will eat Ramen noodles for every meal forever, if you let them.
- Razor scooters still rock.
- Going to the beach with five kids makes the beach alarmingly less relaxing.
Below are some highlights.
Quick photo shoot with this purple bush.
