If this image sends a thrill of fear through your heart, then you probably spent your evening the same way I did mine.
Babysitting.
Yes, I agreed, rather rashly I admit, to babysit some children while their parents enjoyed a dinner prepared by some of our youth group. There were only three children. Two of them are master escape artists. The other one is my little brother, who generally requires at least one and a half babysitters all by himself.
The night went something like this:
6:30 PM:
Arrive at church. Enter nursery armed with little brother and additional babysitters. Entertain little brother.
6:35 PM: Other children arrive. Several babysitters pop in and out, but only one stays.
6:40 PM: Fellow babysitter called away. Does not return. Rugrats begin making escape attemps.
6:45 PM: Floor recarpeted in toys. Children play more or less contentedly, if not entirely peacefully.
7:04 PM: Cub scouts begins. Rugrats attempt to sneak out under cover of 8-year-old boys. Recover rugrats and return to nursery.
7:10-7:45 PM: Largely peaceful playtime. Snacks distributed. Children grow restless and resume escapes.
7:46 PM: One child, having reconnoitered the gym during escape attempt #57, suggests that "we should go play in there."
7:46:10: Babysitter considers.
7:46:12: Babysitter recalls her own childhood and confinement to nurseries.
7:46:15: Babysitter makes executive decision. Orders cleanup.
7:50 PM: Toys cleaned up. Babysitter and rugrats proceed to gym.
8:05 PM: Having enjoyed brief games of soccer and freeze tag with the children, babysitter congratulates herself on wise decision.
8:05:30: Young men finish activity early and proceed to gym for weekly basketball game.
8:06 PM: Babysitter readies children for a second round of soccer.
8:06:05: Young men enter gym.
8:06:06: Babysitter briefly welcomes the company and help. Children attach themselves to young mens' feet. Young men attempt to extricate themselves.
8:06:07: Young men are unsuccessful. Situation descends into chaos. Children are having a wonderful time. Babysitter revises her opinion of young mens' childcare skills. Shepherds rugrats back into gym and observes spectacle.
8:08 PM: Babysitter relinquishes idealism and begins to enjoy herself. Shrieks of laughter echo from the gym. Babysitter accepts ice cream sandwich from sympathetic Young Mens leader. Hopes that dinner guests are having a nice time.
8:17 PM: Minutes have lengthened themselves into hours. 107 hours after commencement of duties, babysitter is released. All children and young men have survived.
8:20 PM: Babysitter recalls rash promise to serve similar duty tomorrow night.
Babysitting.
Yes, I agreed, rather rashly I admit, to babysit some children while their parents enjoyed a dinner prepared by some of our youth group. There were only three children. Two of them are master escape artists. The other one is my little brother, who generally requires at least one and a half babysitters all by himself.
The night went something like this:
6:30 PM:
Arrive at church. Enter nursery armed with little brother and additional babysitters. Entertain little brother.
6:35 PM: Other children arrive. Several babysitters pop in and out, but only one stays.
6:40 PM: Fellow babysitter called away. Does not return. Rugrats begin making escape attemps.
6:45 PM: Floor recarpeted in toys. Children play more or less contentedly, if not entirely peacefully.
7:04 PM: Cub scouts begins. Rugrats attempt to sneak out under cover of 8-year-old boys. Recover rugrats and return to nursery.
7:10-7:45 PM: Largely peaceful playtime. Snacks distributed. Children grow restless and resume escapes.
7:46 PM: One child, having reconnoitered the gym during escape attempt #57, suggests that "we should go play in there."
7:46:10: Babysitter considers.
7:46:12: Babysitter recalls her own childhood and confinement to nurseries.
7:46:15: Babysitter makes executive decision. Orders cleanup.
7:50 PM: Toys cleaned up. Babysitter and rugrats proceed to gym.
8:05 PM: Having enjoyed brief games of soccer and freeze tag with the children, babysitter congratulates herself on wise decision.
8:05:30: Young men finish activity early and proceed to gym for weekly basketball game.
8:06 PM: Babysitter readies children for a second round of soccer.
8:06:05: Young men enter gym.
8:06:06: Babysitter briefly welcomes the company and help. Children attach themselves to young mens' feet. Young men attempt to extricate themselves.
8:06:07: Young men are unsuccessful. Situation descends into chaos. Children are having a wonderful time. Babysitter revises her opinion of young mens' childcare skills. Shepherds rugrats back into gym and observes spectacle.
8:08 PM: Babysitter relinquishes idealism and begins to enjoy herself. Shrieks of laughter echo from the gym. Babysitter accepts ice cream sandwich from sympathetic Young Mens leader. Hopes that dinner guests are having a nice time.
8:17 PM: Minutes have lengthened themselves into hours. 107 hours after commencement of duties, babysitter is released. All children and young men have survived.
8:20 PM: Babysitter recalls rash promise to serve similar duty tomorrow night.
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