By: Sittercity.com
A child's first words, first steps, first smile, first crawl, first anything can happen while a babysitter is on the job.
It's one reason why some parents are so reluctant to leave their children with someone else (babysitter or otherwise). Missing those "firsts" is a difficult thing to come to terms with, as we see with one sitter's story...
The Common Parental Struggle: Missing "Firsts"
A babysitter we know once sat for an 18-month-old boy while his parents went to a wedding. It was the third or fourth time she cared for the child, but it was the first time he was actually awake for more than a few minutes during the job.
Throughout the evening, the little boy kept saying, "Dad-DEEE, dad-DEEE," over and over again. Adorable, right?
When the parents returned, the babysitter said, "I just can't believe how much he's grown even since I last saw him! He's bigger now, he's talking--"
"What!?" the parents said.
The babysitter froze. "Um, he's talking..." she repeated carefully.
"HE SAID HIS FIRST WORD?" The parents were shocked, thrilled, devastated, guilty and proud all at once.
Things for Parents to Remember About Missing Firsts
Missing a "first" brings with it a complex mix of emotions. This is something that sitters and nannies need to be aware of and be sensitive to when they're on the job. It's also something that parents could use some help coping with.
SITTERCITY'S TIPS
Redefine "firsts."
If it's the first time you've seen it, it's a first. Period. Don't obsess over who "really saw it first," since all that does is stir up those negative emotions. Enjoy the experience, live in the moment and celebrate the fact that you're getting to witness such an amazing milestone.
Don't be quick to assume your caregiver truly saw a "first."
In reality, "firsts" are hard to pinpoint. The nanny may swear that she just saw your baby's first smile, but was that really the first time he ever cracked a grin or was it just gas? Did he really say his first word or did he babble something close to a real word? Since you can't be sure, it's all the more reason to celebrate a "first" when YOU see it for yourself.
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