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Friday, August 31, 2007

Goldilocks, don’t let the bears win

I ensure that I have a full hour to devote to the babysitter prior to our departure. This enables me to run over the rules and remind her of where everything is. I am determined that this shall be a successful relationship for all of us.

“So there’s just one last thing that I wanted to draw your attention to.”
“Yes?”
“The boys sleep in the same room in separate beds. She’s next door in her own bed. Both the boys wear pull-ups and I’ve left them here on the side for you.”
“O.k. No problem.”
“Great, it’s just that a while back we came home to find that they were all in the same bed. The boys didn’t have pull ups on which meant we had to give everyone a bath and change the sheets, which wasn’t much fun at 11 at night, if you know what I mean?”
“How did that happen?”
“I’m really not sure, but they managed to convince the sitter that they all slept in the same bed and that they didn’t need pull-ups!”
“How strange! Did you tell the sitter that they slept in separate beds and that the boys wear pull-ups?” I look at her for a moment, uncertain how to proceed.
“You know to tell the truth, I showed her the bedrooms and the beds and the pull ups, but I can’t be certain that I made myself understood. That’s why I’m telling you now, just so that there can’t be any misunderstandings.” I smile, in what I hope is a warm and sincere manner.
“Well, you know, everyone knows that boys and girls don’t sleep in the same bed!” This was not the response I was expecting. We live in the Western world, where it is less common for children to share a bed. There are three children and three beds. Is it wise to leave an adult in charge who has no matching skills?
“Indeed.”

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

A mother (or father) knows her (or his) kids the best. I guess I should go out more.

Crystal xx

dgibbs said...

The one that was "fooled" into letting them all sleep in the same, was she the one that also let them into the electronic cabinet?

Oh and your poor daughter to wake up at 11 at night and ...eww.

GClef1970 said...

Oddly enough, I was just thinking last night about how parents of special needs kids have to be so diligent about planning and explaining and organizing. We, too, spend an hour prepping the sitter. We cannot even go to church each Sunday without making sure that someone is there to be a 1:1 for Conor. Heaven forbid one of us has to serve in a ministry that runs into another service because who will know what to do with our child? Sigh!

Laura said...

Too funny! Glad you found a sitter, and I hope you didn't come home to 3 in a wet bed!

Our babysitter made pancakes with the boys when she came. It was weird since it was 7 at night, but hey, they asked to make pancakes, so she did it, and even remembered not to give any to Hutton since he couldn't eat them. Works for me!

 
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