Funny Like That

I find it interesting the way in which kids adapt to the adults they are around.  They know what they can get away with with certain people.  Whereas with others they would NEVER pull that same thing.  For example, the kids that I am watching now are a certain way with one of their parents and with the other they are completely different.  And it sucks because one parent s so much "easier" than the other and clearly breaks from the routine which makes everything harder.
The sad part is that I remember pulling that same stuff with my mom and dad.  I would never have defied my dad or push his boundaries.  My mom, on the other hand, was so much easier and would cave at the slightest sign of tears because she felt bad.  it's not just with parents either, it's with any adult authority figure.

I guess people do it in their jobs and lives too.  Act a certain way with certain people.  Why is it so hard for us to be ourselves?  I just think it's weird that it starts at such a young age that it becomes part of our nature.  I guess people are just funny like that.

Summah, Summah, Summah Time

After coming to the realization that preschool wasn't for me, I took the initiative to actively begin looking for a job which I could enjoy during the summer. I came across a camp job and, low and behold, three months later I am working in Belgrade, Maine for the summer.  GORGEOUS.  Obviously a camp job entails working with kids, but for this job I am also working with two kids who are younger than I normally would have expected.  I am nannying for the summer.  I figured two kids are better than fifteen out of control ones.  Right? Right. Definitely.

Anywhooo. Coming into this I was informed that the little girl I am watching would be shy and hard to warm up.  FABULOUS.  But also, this was wrong.  She is defnitely the more confident of the two when I am around.  The little boy is too cute though.  He's 4 1/2 (His sister is going to be 6 this summer), but he is SOOOO hard to tear away from his mom.  It's funny because he'll have moments where he's my little buddy and is ready to go out and play and do whatever.  THEN he has complete 360 turn arounds where he wants nothing to do with me and I am the evil witch who have come to take him away from mommy.

Now, if anyone knows anything about me, it's that I hate being considered the "bad guy."  So for the first few days, and many more to come I'm sure, this made me really anxious and upset.  I'm soooo used to kids being excited to see me and looking up to me.  And while this little boy does sometimes, it appears that most of the time he thinks I'm either going to eat him or steal him from home.  Weird.  Kids are cute butttttt I'll hold off for a while.  Please and thank you.  No desire to steal him what-so-ever.

So.  how do I convey to him that I am a safe person to be around.  I've tried sooo many tricks in my book that I've run out.  The only thing that even remotely works with him is horse-play.  Which ends up biting me in the butt in the end because he gets wired.  I do have to say that he is able to entertain himself for HOURS and that my boss is really lax about stuff and understand that I am not wonder woman coming into this. So, while it's stressful to be in this position, it's also funny to look at it from an outsiders point of view.

Here's a story.  So.... Mom is handing said little boy over to me explaining how she needs to go work.  The little boy is fussing and screaming and kicking trying to get back to his mom.  So, I get to walk away with the screaming child. (AWESOME...NAAAAAAAAAHT).  Anyways.  I try tickling and everything to distract him.  NOTHING.  Sooooo... I flip him upside down. OBVIOUSLY THIS WORKS.  But it's only a one time deal, as I tried it again and he started crying louder.  Oy.  I wish kids came with an instruction manual sometimes.  But I chose this so the only person whose but I can kick is my own.....although he seems to be doing a pretty good job already.:)