Adventures in Babysitting

This past Friday we were privileged to celebrate a friend's birthday with boat-loads of sushi and great conversation. However, having such a dinner in peace would require a babysitter. Not a problem, we have gotten many babysitters here and have been happy with them all. I asked Abby who her top pick was and called her. She was not available, nor was her second or third pick. Upon being rejected by Abby's third pick, the mother (of third pick) suggested the girl's older sister for the job. "Great," I responded and the deal was done. The babysitter would be caring for three children because our birthday friend was also going to leave her child (son who is two years old) with the babysitter while we were away.



Friday night came and I picked up the babysitter (we'll call her "C" for identification purposes). As I brought C into the house, a frozen pizza was going in the oven for the children to eat. C upon seeing the pizza declared that she could just order a pizza. I was a little confused and said that the pizza had just gone in the oven for the children but if she didn't want any, she could order herself a pizza or have anything else she'd like in the house. C replied that she would order the pizza in case the children wanted more to eat. Hmmm.... I don't know about other two and four year olds but mine only eat about a slice (if that) each. Therefore, the frozen pizza that was now in the oven baking was MORE than enough. Whatever! Before leaving we gave the babysitter the simplest of instructions: Put all the children in their pajamas around 7pm and put my two girls in their beds by eight o'clock. Then lie down with the two year old boy until he too falls asleep on the couch. After that, we left.



After a truly indulgent meal of gobbs of sushi, seaweed salad, miso soup, gyoza, edamame, vegetable tempura, sashimi and specialty rolls, all by the boat-load, we returned home. I was floating on a cloud I was in such heaven after such glorious food! I walk in the door to find Abby and our friend's two year old boy on the couch asleep in front of the t.v. showing Nemo. Ok I thought, perhaps Abby fell asleep early. Upon closer inspection, I realize she is not in her pajamas but still in her clothes. Hmmmm.... not too thrilled about that but I can deal with it. As I go further into the house, I see every child cup and plate we own on the counter as well as rags, crackers, cookies, juice and who knows what else. A complete mess! I hear talking upstairs and immediately go up to Sammy's room to find the babysitter reading her stories and Sammy intently listening and not asleep at 10pm! I return back downstairs with C and Sammy. C declares that she was "forced" to order pizza since she dropped the frozen one when she took it out of the oven. Upon entering the kitchen, I see for myself that yes indeed she dropped the pizza as I almost slip on the grease still slopped all over the floor as well as pizza crumbs, bits of sauce and crust, cookies, crackers and who knows what else. I then see the kitchen towel that she must have used to mop up the whole thing covered with red sauce and cheese lying in a crumpled mess along with all the other garbage on the counter.



I usher C out the door and take her home quickly so I can return and see what other damage has been done. My birthday friend finds her two year old son on the couch also still in his clothes with the worst diaper mess all over him evening going up his back. He was sleeping comfortably in this disgusting mess. It looks like C never managed to change his diaper or his clothes.



Our friends leave and Charles and I spend the next hour sweeping and mopping the entire kitchen and dining area floor. Charles declares that we can no longer even call her sister (the good babysitter) to babysit for fear that if she can't do it again, they will recommend C. That's ok. We have plenty of others to try. The children were not in any danger and probably had a great time running around like wild indians licking up scraps from the floor and munching on this or that. I guess I just expect my babysitters to at least follow ONE thing I ask of them and not to come home to a house in complete disarray. It makes me miss the Brazilians we used to have babysit in London. Not only would they babysit but they cleaned your house for you as well....those were the days....