Babysitting*

by Brittany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, July 2006~Volume 6, Number 4

​Dear Sisters,
 
The Bible says, “young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands that that word of God be not blasphemed.”—Titus 2:4–5
 
How can we apply to these verses? We can apply to part of these verses by babysitting. Babysitting does not only mean that you babysit children when the parents are gone. You can babysit children when the parents are there too. I know probably some of you girls aren’t allowed to babysit when your parents are away from home, and I'm not allowed to either...

With the twins, it’s a lot of fun to take care of them. Sometimes I babysit Gideon and Ethan while Mommy is busy in the house. You can help older brothers and sisters babysit too. By babysitting, you can prepare for being a mother someday, Lord willing. When you babysit, if you babysit younger brothers or sisters, or someone else’s kids, remember those little children are looking up to you and they are usually going to try to be like you. You need to set a good example for them. Here are some tips on babysitting:
 
If you are babysitting little children, there are some things that you should not feed them without their parents’ permission. Peanut butter and hot dogs are very easy to choke on for toddlers and babies.
 
If there is an argument between children you are babysitting, you need to ask your parents before-hand what to do about it if an argument comes up.
 
You can help your older brothers and sisters who are babysitting by doing things like watching the little children and being there for assistance. When you are helping babysit, or babysitting, sometimes it’s fun to make something that the younger children will enjoy doing.
Several years ago, I think it was about the first time Tiffany babysat with Mommy and Daddy a good while away, she was very excited. She printed up pictures of little cats on the computer, cut them out, and glued them on popsicle sticks for a puppet show.
 
One of the most important things about babysitting is that you’re a good example to others and that you help out in any way you can.