Lessons Learned From Magical Fictional Babysitters
With summer comes the inevitable need for a summer job and one go-to option that will always be in high demand is babysitting. If you’re new to the line of work, you probably could use a few pointers from the pros. And who better to turn to than the magic fictional nannies from our childhood? Here are some tips for being a great babysitter, or just an awesome person, from the folks who made child-care seem magically easy.
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins taught us that every problem needn’t be a problem at all. Turn challenges into games, and turn chores into pure pleasure. That may mean simply singing a song to make the time pass faster or turning a clean-up session into a scavenger hunt. And if the children still refuse to see the light and whistle as they work, force them to watch you sing to a bird and then just get magic to put all their toys away.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire taught us that posing as a stranger to reconnect with your family strangely doesn’t work out the way you had hoped. But she did teach us the beauty of improvisation. Robin Williams basically claimed to be a supernanny with a crazy amazing skill set. This came back to bite him right in the butt when he attempted to make a gourmet dinner. Yes, he may have set himself on fire, but he didn’t let that ruin his whole day. Instead of admitting defeat he got creative. He ordered takeout from a fancy restaurant and pretended he cooked the whole thing. And it worked like a charm! If you’re faced with an obstacle, don’t freeze up and panic. Think on your feet, or heels, as the case may be.
The Babysitters Club
The BSC taught us everything is better when your friends help you out. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends for help or to share what might be a crazy idea. When friends work together wonderful things can happen. Just imagine what the world and Stonybrook would’ve missed out on had Kristy not had her great idea! Support each other and be there for each other. You might not have the same time to devote to your pals as you did when you were younger, but always be there to listen and lend support when you’re needed.
Maria related to the Von Trapp children by bonding with them and not talking down to them. Don’t just boss people around and bulldoze your opinions into a conversation. Listen to what’s really going on and give your true heartfelt advice. Maria never ignored Liesel’s teenage worries or cast them off as stupid thoughts, but instead kindly addressed her issues and harmonized beautifully while doing so.
The Nanny
Fran Fine was an amazing nanny who taught us that by being true to yourself and standing up for your beliefs, you can accomplish great things. Sure, Fran didn’t quite fit Maxwell’s idea of what a perfect nanny should be, but she still brought the Sheffield family back together by being her naturally off-beat self. She did this from the get-go in the pilot episode when Maxwell brought his oldest daughter, Maggie, to tears by yelling at her for getting her first kiss from a waiter at a party he’d thrown. Fran, with her trademark humor and bluntness, told Maxwell he was wrong to do that and that he basically ruined an important moment in Maggie’s life. Maxwell fired Fran when she doesn’t backdown but, of course, eventually rehired her when he realized he overreacted. From then on Fran helped the Sheffield family rediscover their happiness and become fulfilled individuals by saying what’s on her mind and opening the channels of communication within the family. So when in doubt, stand up for what you believe in. You won’t regret it.
