I had to go out of town for a few days, so my Mom is taking care of the kids while I’m gone. I gave her a quick rundown of my daily responsibilities, but since I left I’ve been thinking of all the things I should’ve told her, the practical advice that would help any temporary caregiver survive a few hours or more in my shoes.
So I’ve decided to start a new blog feature, The Babysitter’s Guide to My Kids. That way, I’ll have a handy guide for the next time I leave my kids in someone else’s care… and any of my regular readers will be qualified to step in at a moment’s notice.
First up, a guide to the main set for Why Jerry Why the sitcom, our condo building.
Amenities. See that cement backlot covered in astroturf out our rear window? That’s where the building’s Jacuzzi used to be before homeless people started using it as a bathtub. Now, nobody uses it for anything. If it’s nice out, the kids can play down there. We’ve even set up a plastic slide and a big water toy that the kids love. None of our neighbors has complained yet about us squatting in the common area this way. If you are out there playing and one of them complains, just act like you don’t understand their thick Russian accent. If they don’t have a thick Russian accent, then pretend like you have one and they’ll go away.
Elevator. The kids love to push the elevator buttons, especially the “Emergency Only” button. You will tell them not to do this, but sometimes they’ll get away with it anyway. They may even team up. One will distract you while the other pushes the button. In this case, wait for the emergency operator to pick up, then let her know that Bennett or Sutton hit the button. You can use their names. I’m pretty sure they know our kids by now.
Our “backyard”. On days when it’s too cold or rainy to go outside, we use the hallway like a backyard. The kids can take their bikes, basketball hoop, shopping cart or whatever else they want and play there. They love this.
While in the hall, Bennett may try to get you to play Hide and Seek. There is only one hiding place in the hallway, the tiny alcove around the corner. But they are still delighted to find you there and will act surprised every time. Beware: if Bennett asks you to play Hide and Seek, it may be a trick. If he doesn’t find you within 10 seconds, he’s probably inside jumping on the couch. This means he never wanted to play Hide and Seek. He wanted to jump on the couch.
Neighbors. Our neighbors are all very friendly, and they love our kids. They are mostly older people who enjoy the carefree sounds of youth. In fact, when they hear the kids playing in the hall, they’ll often come out of their units to say hello.
The most enthusiastic is Auntie Ruthie. She likes to poke her head out and feed the kids cookies. I’m not crazy about them eating cookies between meals, but for Auntie Ruthie, I make an exception, because it makes her happy. Sometimes the kids will knock on her door and ask for cookies. If that happens, please make sure the kids stay and talk to Auntie Ruthie for a minute and not just run away once they score the goods. If they’re going to eat junk food, they at least have to earn it by talking to a nice older lady for a few minutes.
I don’t recommend taking the kids in the hall until after the View is over. That’s when Auntie Ruthie takes her morning shower. Before then, you run the risk of seeing Auntie Ruthie in her house dress.
You may also run into Uncle Ivan. Don’t let Uncle Ivan see the kids with cookies or he’ll get very judgmental about it. He’ll sometimes give them weird fruits from the Russian market.
Last week, Uncle Ivan asked the kids if they knew their letters. Again, I was feeling judged, but thankfully, they not only knew what the letters were but what sounds each one makes. Sometimes, they could even name a word that started with the letter.
I thought Uncle Ivan would be impressed, but instead he shook his head and warned me that they were learning too fast. He feared that when they got to school they would be bored and probably fail out.
Deliveries. Approximately 2-14 times a day, we will get some kind of delivery. Diapers, bulk boxes of baby food, video games from Amazon for Daddy. To buzz someone in, pick up the phone and press 9.
Note that this system is also helpful if you happen to get locked out of the building. Just use the intercom in the lobby to call a neighbor. It doesn’t matter which one. When they pick up, say the secret code: “UPS delivery!”. They’ll buzz you in right away. (Note: After 7PM, the secret code is “Chinese food!”)
Mini Mart. If you run out of milk or something essential, you may be tempted to use the convenience store next door to our building. I don’t recommend it. We’re pretty sure it’s a front for drug dealers and/or the mob. If you actually check the expiration dates in the store’s refrigerators, you’re likely to find milks from when Charmed was still on the air.
Don’t talk to anyone who’s idling in their car outside the mini mart or pacing back and forth nervously as if they’re waiting for someone to show up. They’re probably just waiting for the next milk delivery.
Do not use the alley that separates the mini mart from our building and especially do not use the entrance to our building off that alley. Those areas are frequented by homeless people and spiders, respectively.
We really do have a wonderful building, and the kids love living here.
Whenever possible, though, you’ll probably just want to stay inside.
jerry-mahoney.com 
I just love your blog!
You’re my favorite person in the history of ever.
LOL… I wish I had thought of writing a babysitter’s guide to my daughter, especially for when we lived in Montreal. It would have been very helpful and probably weed out the unwanted sitters before I even called them for an interview. Can’t wait to see your next installment. Don’t forget a section on what will happen to any sitters that let the kids do whatever they d@#n well please.
Love the idea, but that section will be very short – “G’bye, don’t ask for a reference!” 🙂
Ohhhh, do I ever wish I’d had this when I was still babysitting…
Great post again, very entertaining and true. I love your attitude towards cookies, and teaching your kids social manners. Well-done!
Thanks, Sandra! Just to be clear, I’m not totally against cookies, but if I’m going to give them to my kids, I want the credit for giving them! 🙂
Ooh, you might want to tell that to my mother-in-law. Once she is finished feeding my little monster cookies he is usually already way beyond my approval threshold, so I rarely get the credit. Oh well, at least I get to feed him icecream which, by the way, has never been an issue 😉
Yeah, it’s not fair when other people get to feed our kids junk food, and the thanks we get is when they throw up on us later. 🙂
Love this!.. reminds me of bringing up my daughter in Brooklyn….. limited space, lotsa crazed tenants, all nestled inside little Odessa……
Then we moved to a the Ponderosa in CA…. after second child ; followed up with a spread in PA……
as the children grow..mom needs more space…..Go Big or don’t wanna Go Home….
Absolutely agree. We’re outgrowing our 2 bedroom condo very fast. Looking forward to our next home. 🙂
Oh, kids are so wonderful. I love kids–babies, toddlers, young children. They’re so adorable. So full of the most mysterious mixture of mischief and innocence. And they’re so loving too.
Yeah, kids are the best. I love getting to spend time with mine.
Great post! I love reading your blog and getting a mid-day laugh! 🙂
Thanks – I love when people write just to share a compliment. I really appreciate it.
This is great!
Served as a very good lunch time laugh. 🙂
I love the guide! And I love your writing! It would have been so great to babysit those two cuties 🙂
Thanks… and we’re always looking for sitters if you know anyone. (Looks like you’re outside the US, so maybe not…)
Great post! And, I can feel your pain. Just last night my mother in law told me she’s worried our son is “learning too fast.”
Your kids are adorable!
Thanks! It’s like some people insist on finding things wrong with how you raise your kids, even when your kids are smart, polite and happy. One more reason not to listen to anyone!
If only all children came with a guide like this! It would make my job *so* much easier!
You should print these out when you write all of them, put ’em in a binder, and leave it on the counter for every babysitter you hire- word will get around, and if you pay well, you’ll never be in a pinch to find a sitter!
Hmm… do you think sitters would like having these instructions? I figure they’d all tell each other to avoid that crazy dad who hands them volumes of reading material before he leaves them alone with his kids. 🙂
Well, keep it as a guide, don’t make it into a novel. 😉
And on the first page? All possible emergency numbers- Both dad’s phone number, nearest family member, nearest friendly neighbor, your town’s police department non-emergency number, poison control center (1-800-222-1222)… And your children’s allergy information, if there are any known.
And maybe not *all* sitters would like having instructions. But the *good* ones will ask for all this info, and then some, within the first few times they babysit anyway. (pssst, I’m one of the good ones. Hit me up if you’re ever in Massachusetts…)
The good ones *want* to know about people in your apartment building. Otherwise, “Who is this crazy lady trying to give these kids cookies? Better go back inside without talking to her.” And then poor Auntie Ruthie is left offended and confused. No one wants Auntie Ruthie to be offended or confused. And judging from your post, I’m going to assume no one wants to see her in her pre-shower house dress either.
The tip about the code for getting back in the building? Priceless. It would definitely cut down on the hyperventilated “whatdoidowhatdoidowhatdoido”s that would otherwise ensue. Seriously.
A guide like this for *any* child would be useful. A guide like this for ‘dealing with’ multiples? I don’t think there’s a word for the awesomeness.
Besides, it will cut down on the number of times the sitter calls you while you’re out. 🙂
Great ideas! And anything to cut down on phone calls, right? 🙂
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