Babysitting Memories

Babysitting Memories

Babysitting memories usually bring up feelings of fun times, eating junk food, etc. Remember the first time your parents left you alone to watch your siblings, while they went out? What do you remember the most from your babysitting memories days?

In the past, there was no internet or social media. What did you do for fun while the babysitter was there? Did you like your older sibling watching you, or would you have preferred someone else? It was a time to party, possibly sneak friends over for a fun get-together, spend time in your parent’s hot tub, or play games and eat all the junk food in the house during these babysitting memories days.

I was the oldest of the three of us and there was a lot of responsibility placed on my shoulders as I watched my younger brothers. We usually watched a great movie, played games, sang songs like we were at a concert, and enjoyed our time together. We had a disposable or regular camera, but nothing like cell phones with cameras then. So, we did not think to take photos with a regular camera while our parents were gone. My how times have changed. Now we take photos of almost everything we do in our daily lives.

It is a time when you are playing parent during the babysitting memories days. When your younger sibling is feeling sick, you have to help the feel better and take care of them. When a thunderstorm comes, you have to help comfort your younger siblings. These babysitting memories are the beginning stages that makes you wonder what it is like being a real parent. You may even look at your parents differently, like I did, after babysitting. You learn a deeper respect for all they do, daily, to take care of you.

During these babysitting memories, it is fun to look back at old family albums, and reminisce about what life was like when you were younger. It is a great time to bond closer with your siblings. Do something fun at your next family reunion or get-together. Make a family time capsule together. Save some of your babysitting memories, photos, mementos, and other memorabilia from those times in a family time capsule.

What do you think is an appropriate age to let your oldest sibling to watch the younger siblings? It is a great time to share more stories with each other as siblings, that you would not want your parents to hear. It is a bonding moment that can test the oldest child as a role model. In fact, that is a great time to discuss responsibility and the advantages or disadvantages that comes with that role.

As you are filling the family time capsule, you could also write “message to the future” letters to yourself about predictions of the future. You, as the parents, could also write a letter to your children about what you think they will be doing when they grow up, along with a list of all their current accomplishments in life. Then, choose a date to open your family time capsule in the future. When the great day comes, invite everyone in the family over, and reminisce over your babysitting memories and other fun memorabilia you saved from that time in your life.

What do you remember the most about your babysitting memories? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie