LJI - HOME GAME - Season 9 - Week 4 - Nobody can ride your back if your back's not bent
While I'm sure they knew a thing or two about a thing or two, whoever said, "Nobody can ride your back if your back's not bent," either never spent much time with a 3-5 year old, or completely disregarded their climbing ability. As much as I love babysitting for James and Jackie, there were days when this human jungle gym was worn out sooner rather than later.
James' favorite activity, as always, is to climb up me until he has me "tackled" with his arms tight around my neck holding on while he is gently swung down into the couch cushions and tickled into defeat. Jackie joins in the tickling with gusto, but isn't quite adventurous enough yet, having just turned two, to mimic her five year old brother's wiry monkey climb.
After an hour of climbing, tickles, laughter, two potty breaks, and three accidental scratches to me from James, this babysitter is ready for a rest. Since it's almost 7:30, I send James off to pick out pjs and two books. Jackie and I head down to her bedroom to change diaper before getting her into a nightgown. She also picks out two books from her shelf, and we meet back up in the living room about five minutes later. James picks up the tv remote, and, with the seemingly inborn skill of a child of this current tech generation, got the fancy set-up and surround sound going, and the channel set to Sprout for one short show. While the kids watch, I get their evening snack ready and bring the green grapes and graham crackers into the living room along with their milk cups. James and Jackie sit on the floor at the coffee table and devour their snack while I sit back on the couch and enjoy the breather.
James finishes his snack first and joins me on the couch, snuggling close while we finish the show. Jackie abandons her grapes and brings her books and sippie cup up on the couch, too. When the credits start rolling, I send James to grab the remote he left under the table and his books. Jackie's turn to go first with a story tonight. I read them a story about a lost fairy and her search for a shoe, a lamp, and a button followed by James' favorite story about a red steam shovel, then came a battered copy of Disney's Cinderella from their mother's childhood, and finally we ended with a story about a farting dog.
We all head to Jackie's room first, and they brush their teeth in her bathroom. James uses the toilet while Jackie and I start the search for her blanket. With wet hands that he remembered to wash, but not dry, James comes running down the hall to the playroom with the blanket. He remembered that Jackie napped in Mommy and Daddy's room this afternoon, so he went to look there first. It's back to Jackie's room, and James and I tuck her in and make sure she has her nightlight and sound machine on. This weekend her crib is going to be converted to a toddler bed, so this is one of the last nights she'll be barred in. Monitor is on, and we say good night as I close the door behind me and James.
Down the hall to his Spiderman themed room we go, hand in hand until we reach James's doorway. He pulls away and does a running leap into bed, bouncing several times on the springy mattress before I toss his blanket over his head. Giggling, he pulls it off his head and settles down among his pillow while I tuck him in properly and give him a hug goodnight. He whispers in my ear before I pull away, and I wink as I tell him good night and remind him that I'll be in the living room, if he needs anything. I turn off James' light and close the door before padding back down the hallway.
In the living room, I pick up the plates with graham cracker crumbs and the rest of Jackie's grapes. I save the grapes in the fridge and put the plates in the dishwasher. A quick rinse for the milk cups and they join the plates. I wipe down the coffee table and wash my hands. I stretch as I head back to the couch with a book of my own. I'm going to be sore tomorrow, but James's words echo in my ears and make it all worthwhile.
"You're the best babysitter. I like it when you're here."
James' favorite activity, as always, is to climb up me until he has me "tackled" with his arms tight around my neck holding on while he is gently swung down into the couch cushions and tickled into defeat. Jackie joins in the tickling with gusto, but isn't quite adventurous enough yet, having just turned two, to mimic her five year old brother's wiry monkey climb.
After an hour of climbing, tickles, laughter, two potty breaks, and three accidental scratches to me from James, this babysitter is ready for a rest. Since it's almost 7:30, I send James off to pick out pjs and two books. Jackie and I head down to her bedroom to change diaper before getting her into a nightgown. She also picks out two books from her shelf, and we meet back up in the living room about five minutes later. James picks up the tv remote, and, with the seemingly inborn skill of a child of this current tech generation, got the fancy set-up and surround sound going, and the channel set to Sprout for one short show. While the kids watch, I get their evening snack ready and bring the green grapes and graham crackers into the living room along with their milk cups. James and Jackie sit on the floor at the coffee table and devour their snack while I sit back on the couch and enjoy the breather.
James finishes his snack first and joins me on the couch, snuggling close while we finish the show. Jackie abandons her grapes and brings her books and sippie cup up on the couch, too. When the credits start rolling, I send James to grab the remote he left under the table and his books. Jackie's turn to go first with a story tonight. I read them a story about a lost fairy and her search for a shoe, a lamp, and a button followed by James' favorite story about a red steam shovel, then came a battered copy of Disney's Cinderella from their mother's childhood, and finally we ended with a story about a farting dog.
We all head to Jackie's room first, and they brush their teeth in her bathroom. James uses the toilet while Jackie and I start the search for her blanket. With wet hands that he remembered to wash, but not dry, James comes running down the hall to the playroom with the blanket. He remembered that Jackie napped in Mommy and Daddy's room this afternoon, so he went to look there first. It's back to Jackie's room, and James and I tuck her in and make sure she has her nightlight and sound machine on. This weekend her crib is going to be converted to a toddler bed, so this is one of the last nights she'll be barred in. Monitor is on, and we say good night as I close the door behind me and James.
Down the hall to his Spiderman themed room we go, hand in hand until we reach James's doorway. He pulls away and does a running leap into bed, bouncing several times on the springy mattress before I toss his blanket over his head. Giggling, he pulls it off his head and settles down among his pillow while I tuck him in properly and give him a hug goodnight. He whispers in my ear before I pull away, and I wink as I tell him good night and remind him that I'll be in the living room, if he needs anything. I turn off James' light and close the door before padding back down the hallway.
In the living room, I pick up the plates with graham cracker crumbs and the rest of Jackie's grapes. I save the grapes in the fridge and put the plates in the dishwasher. A quick rinse for the milk cups and they join the plates. I wipe down the coffee table and wash my hands. I stretch as I head back to the couch with a book of my own. I'm going to be sore tomorrow, but James's words echo in my ears and make it all worthwhile.
"You're the best babysitter. I like it when you're here."