Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Oh Goodness...

I just don't understand it. Why do kids fight sleep? As a professional self sufficient babysitter, it never fails... bed time or nap time, kids want to fight sleep! I often talk to my mom about my babysitting duties, and the fun I have had with with kids. She tells me that my own children won't have that problem, because I would/still will sleep anywhere. She said she used to find me sleeping under the table, beds, cement, grass, chair, blanket... I would sleep anywhere. Which is still true today. If I lay down for a minute, I can go to sleep with no problems, but it always blows my mind how for a good 20-30 minutes the littlest kids fight it! Do they think they are going to miss something? I usually tell them "It's okay, you're not going to miss anything while you're asleep. However, you're crabby and you need a nap." As I write this I have a 15 month old trying to sleep and I hear her talking away. She hasn't slept yet! I hate having to leave her to fall asleep on her own, but she is one of those independent -let me do it myself - type of kids. So I have to let her fight it out. Probably the biggest challenges of what I do, but it doesn't hurt them, and if it gets to the point, no worries, I take care of them and make sure they are okay!

However, I don't plan on being a babysitter for the rest of my life, I need to find a real job, and the search SUCKS! Just probably my new word, I am working C3 camp again this summer... super excited!! But alas, after camp I am moving back to Owensboro, Ky, to live with my Mom, Dad and Grandmother. BOO... I love my parents so so so much, but I don't like the idea of living with them when I am 25. I'm not looking forward to making friends, to finding a new church, to looking for a job... I want to stay in Tennessee, and I just pray that God grants the desires of my heart and provides them. I know whatever happens, it happens for a reason... AMEN. I gotta keep reminding myself that because I often become the 'woe is me' type of believer and God continues to show me that he, in fact, knows a whole lot more than I do.

So over a month left in my apartment, WAHOO! I'm so great full for how got worked all of that out. I mean really, my -annoying, motherly (in a bad way), always "sick", sneaky, manipulative, annoying, annoying, annoying, roommate signed the forms and was 100% wrong about getting out of our lease! Such a blessing... because that saved us over $600. When you're a broke duck like me, I will take what I can get. Hence the endless hours of babysitting.

Well the dishes are done, and the toys are picked up. The beautiful sleepy child is now asleep! Time for my lunch and to write some cover letters for my potential jobs. As well as search for some in Owensboro... Hmm... the joys of growing up! I believe there is a passage in the Bible that says "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" I need to keep HIM first, and the rest will fall into place, and the peace that passes all understanding will happen when I follow him. :)

"The joy of the Lord is my strength"
Oh How I love it!!!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Sometimes you just wanna scream!

I didn't make coffee this morning "Why?", I'm not applying to that school, I don't like their mission statement "Why", I think I might move back home after camp this summer "Why?", I made a decision on my own and didn't ask your opinion"Why?",  Why did they wait so long to tell you? Why did your family move? Why does she act like that, why did you sign a contract with them? WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY!?!?!?!?! SHUT UP!

I hate being asked why, and above all else, I hate being asked WHY by adults (by which I mean those my age and older) Children, I will excuse you because honestly you just don't know. However, I don't feel like I need to explain myself over every little thing! I mean honestly, let me choose, let ME pick, let ME do what I decide. Don't ask my why I procrastinated so much. Don't ask me why I did what I did, or why I can't find a job. Half the time... If I KNEW I would tell you!!!

And here's another thing. I graduated, and I can't find a job. I'm not a "certified teacher" but I have EVERYTHING EXCEPT STUDENT TEACHING... that's it!!! So, lets forget the fact that America needs 100 thousand teachers who can teach Science, English, MIDDLE SCHOOL... but no, let's not give Amanda a job. I don't want to fill out another application, and frankly my printer refuses!

Whatabout that roommate of mine that likes to keep EVERYTHING  a stinking secret, then gets mad when she finds out it's possible to get out of the rent situation! I'm so over her sneaking around. I'm out in May and if she wants the 810/month per rent all on her own... go for it! AND if she wants to find new roommates to control, she can go ahead and try to find them. I fell for her fake act last year, it's not happening again. So wake up and smell the roses please, and realize that a) you are not our mother b) go where you really want to go... and quit acting like school and work is holding you back because c) your other two roommates see through your fakeness.... Sign the papers, call it good, and let's go our separate ways please!!! UGH... 

Alright, rant is over. I apologize to my  faithful readers, for this post not being a "oh how i love it" type of post, but sometimes you just gotta vent! :)

Friday, March 4, 2011

What would the world be like if kids got to do whatever they wanted....

Today I spent the morning at a wonderful families house that I have been babysitting at since Benjamin was 6 weeks old. Now another child later, and a full grown 2 year old boy later... It hit me today that I have been babysitting since I was about 12 years old.

In my years of babysitting and many many many families later, I have won many fights with kids. Fights against nap, dinner time, bath, food, clothes,things that are unsafe to play with...and answered the "why" question more times than I can count. In all of this, usually when they are snuggled in bed and I have earned my mulah at the end of the night, when I am driving home, I think... What would the world be like if kids got to do whatever they wanted...

Think on that a minute... I constantly tell the kids not to eat something, not to climb on something, don't hit, don't scream, don't run in the house, put shoes on, leave their underwear on, don't throw a fit... and I have mastered the tuning out. I am currently a "nanny" (kinda, I watch her for 2 full days a week..) for a 15 month old who is the MOST STUBBORN CHILD I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. My favorite phrase is " I will win!" This girl will put up a fight, let me tell you... If I let her do whatever she wanted to do, she wouldn't eat anything... not a thing except oyster crackers, and only drink milk. She would never nap, and I would be covered in bruises because if she doesn't get her way she goes to hitting! She would run around naked, never wear a diaper, probably ride the dogs backward, and rip the cat's tails off. Here's the thing... she's so cute, I can't help but give her lots of hugs and laugh at her the majority of the time! Which is a good thing. However, she doesn't get her way... I do win! She gets dressed, eats food... eventually..., does not climb on the dogs, leaves the cat's alone, and other things... I just love their little minds and how they work. I cannot even begin to think what life would be like if I let her do whatever she wanted. LOL.... When I leave at the end of the night I always am greatful to sit down for the 5 minute drive home, or to the next house to babysit! I wonder what life will be life when I have my own?!?! kinda makes me laugh...

Funny thing is... I don't have kids, I'm no where near having a family of my own anytime soon. But one day, when God decides that it's my time to procreate, I don't know how much thought I will have to put into being a mom because basically I have been taking care of kids of all ages for the majority of my life! 

What would your life be like if you let the kids in your life do whatever they wanted? I have 4 other families, and a whole lot of kiddies in the urban ministries that I could write about, but I figure I have rambled long enough for one blog. :-)