Find a Real Babysitter

Our babysitter must have been related to Mary Poppins. She came to the house with a giant bag. We would get all our goodbyes said and check to make sure that things in the house were neat, tidy and taken care of and then we would sit with anticipation. It seemed like there was always something different and unexpected that came out of that bag. I have no idea where she got all her creative ideas, but they have become great activities for my children now.

It seems like there was always some kind of book in the bag and we would get to read it. Often she had a mask or a hat that we wore that matched something in the story. She made sure that the book was always available at our local library and left the title so Mom could check it out later.

Once she brought out sugar cookies and frosting. We did no cooking but she had everything possible to decorate those cookies with. Since they were master pieces she took pictures of them. The next time she came she had written a book about decorating day and included the pictures she had taken of the cookies. I still have the book she put together for us.

The indoor snowball fight was truly amazing. She took a very long piece of yarn and divided the room into halves. Then she opened several bags of cottons balls. We tossed cotton balls at each other and laughed till we cried. Then she would play the clean up song and we would put things back in order to get ready for the next activity.

This woman made Find the Thimble become an exciting game. Her enthusiasm was contagious. We made binoculars out of toilet paper rolls to help us search out the thimble.

Occasionally she would agree to a repeat activity, but not often. It had to be requested ahead of time. If it was not there was always something else in the bag.

She was very strict. If we didn't want to participate the optional activity was to draw a picture or write a story about what everyone else was doing. Or, we could sit very quietly and wait for the next chance to participate. She didn't seem disappointed if that was our choice, we just stuck with the choice.

One evening our parents came home early and I think they were horrified. She had purchased some boxes of straws that were covered with paper. Before she came she had cut the top of the paper off so the straws were ready to have the paper blown off. We had spent and great deal of time making our target out of the paper plates and staples from the bag. They walked in the middle of our frenzy of papers flying off the end of the straws in the general direction of the target. She simply smiled at our parents and we continued until we had used all the straws. She put on the clean up music and we went on about our routine.

Perhaps these will inspire someone to step in a creative mood. Reminiscing has been a joy. Now it's time to make a target.