Preparing to Babysit a Grandchild

Just this past Mother’s Day weekend, I babysat for my almost two-year-old grandson while his parents went to a wedding. It was only for 9 hours, and Eli was asleep for 4 ½ of them, but I was pooped when he fell asleep. Truthfully, I barely outlasted him.

Here’s how I recommend preparing should you get an opportunity like this:

1. Run up and down the stairs of your house for a half hour every day.
2. Carry a 25 lb weight in one arm while you open and close the refrigerator with the other arm. Repeat 30 times with each arm.
3. Prepare food and present it attractively on little plates. Take one bite, spit it out, and throw the rest of the food on the plates away.
4. Open and close the door to the outside while touching your toes.
5. Go in and out of the porch 25 times.
6. Walk around the driveway, roll a ball into the street, and run after it.
7. Open and close the automatic garage door until you blow a fuse.
8. Lie down on a mattress on the floor, read a picture book out loud, get up off the mattress. Repeat 4 or 5 times until your legs are too rubbery to do it again.
9. Put a clean diaper and a pair of pajamas on a wiggly puppy.
10. Read the politically incorrect Story of Little Black Sambo out loud, putting everyone, including yourself, to sleep.

Now you are ready with the strength and stamina to take care of a two-year-old grandchild. (No wonder his mother is so slim.) Get ready to have fun!