#112: Kristy and the Sister War, Chapters 1-3

[gimere]

My first snark! Ooh, I'm tingling inside...OK, that sounded kinda wrong. Anyway, on to the snarking!

Comments

[author_by_night]

Anyway, Shanny runs (skates?) off, Kristy thinks it's a "shame" to be busy on "such a beautiful day."

Come again, Kristin Amanda? When I think of all the characters who'd be bothered by someone being super busy, Kristy is the last one I'd think of. She's the one who runs her own club, babysits, has her own softball league, plays a few sports herself (I think?) and takes care of younger siblings/step-siblings. Oh right, all of her things are fun, Shannon's aren't...

Also? There's nothing wrong with watching a little TV with your babysitting charge. It keeps the kid from getting too bored and you don't have to worry about him or her getting lost.

I have to agree. And most kids shows had some sort of message, so at the very least there's that. They don't need to watch hours and hours of television, or see something more appropriate for thirteen year olds than eight year olds, but one half hour show isn't going to fry their brains. I had very few shows I liked, but I liked what I did watch and always got something out of it.

[heymalice]

in ann's joke of a biography she had a bit of a rant about tv&too much tv beng bad for kids, even "wholesome" shows. but she seems to take that to a bit of an extreme in the books: ANY tv is bad for kids. *rolls eyes*

[author_by_night]

Except for the BSC TV shows that came out. And I Love Lucy. :P

I mean, these days I cringe whenever a kid skips over a toy for an iTouch, which may be similar, but I at least acknowledge that even some of the games for kids are actually valuable, and I don't think it rots anyone's brains in moderation. Same with TV. If the kid doesn't know how to play with a non-tech toy or do anything that's not watching television, on the other hand...

[heymalice]

re kids playing with devices instead of toys: oh i know! especially at such young ages! its okay if they use them in moderation&still play with toys&read, etc, but kids parked in front of devices all day is some sad shit. they have their adult years for that shit! lol. kidding. but its weird, very weird seeing these young kids with cell phones&ipads&whatever else all the time. i feel very old now, generation gap is showing.

[masterdivinity]

I think I'd be really annoyed if everytime a babysitter came over I had to entertain them instead of being able to do my own thing. I think it's amazing how the BSC must never allow charges to be left alone for even five seconds because thats what good baby-sitters do, yet parents will leave their child alone to play/do homework- does that make them bad parents?

How many dances do these schools need, jeez

[author_by_night]

I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. I can kind of understand older clients, because they're close enough in age that it's more like having a friend over - that's how it was with me, only I called her a mentor, not a sitter. But even then we'd do our own thing, we just hung out in between. Kids sometimes find teenagers as annoying as teenagers sometimes find kids.

[road_baby]

I always found that playing videos games was a great way to babysit. Even when I was the only one playing, the kids were more than happy to just sit and watch. Of course my favorite game to play with kids was 'Silent Hill'...but hey! It worked great! They sat down very quietly and paid attention. Sure they wouldn't go to the bathroom without leaving the door open but eh.
I also had a pretty good time watching 'Metalocalypse' with my little cousins. That's how I came up with a sliding scale of awesomeness to judge them by and make them behave. Now it's all 'My Little Pony' with one of them. And I'm perfectly okay with that. I can't even imagine a babysitter trying to keep Matt away from his ponies.

[kakeochi_umai]

Your cousin is a brony? Tell him he is right up the top end of my sliding scale of awesomeness.

[road_baby]

Will do. Knowing him he'll do a victory dance. He came over the other day bursting with pride over his new Rainbow Dash brony shirt. He's like the only kid in the world I can stand.

[kakeochi_umai]

Ooh, is this the book where Shanny's sisters try to annoy her by using her name randomly in sentences like "Could you pass the Shannon?" and "Shannon it out? Why?" That amused me.

Karen is a "live wire." I'd spell and pronounce that "annoying little brat," but, y'know, semantics and all.
I spell and pronounce it "Karen needs to touch a live wire while wet", but hey, tomayto, tomahto.

Mrs. Kilbourne calls, needing a sitter for Tiffany and Maria for several afternoons (She's joining the dance committee, you see).
Cue Shanny failing another test in a fit of the sulks?

[sloth_in_a_box]

How many dances do they have in a year? o.O Cripes.....