Every morning while waiting for the daughters' ride to school, there will be at least two or three cars drop by at a neighbour's house few metres away from mine. Alighting from their cars in a hurry motion, some parents can be seen carrying or holding hands with their tiny tots walking to their babysitter's place. I'm sure this familiar scenario is almost the same everywhere.
Has it ever occured to you that babysitters, the ones that took care of your children while you're at work considerably plays a major role in your life? They are like a second mom to your children. They took on the most pivotal roles during the formative years of a child. Despite being in demand these days, it is not a lucrative job. It is under-appreciated and has the lowest recognition as compared with other home based businesses.
As young as two months old, a child is already sent to a trusted babysitter by his/her parents' choice. You put your child's life in her hands. You would expect her to care greatly for your child as if he/she was hers. The child will spend his/her entire time with the babysitter from as earliest as dawn, as some parents are beating the early morning rush and pick him/her up later sometimes late in the evening.
A babysitter's typical job functions includes;
- Bathe them - and that includes cleanup after every poop, pee and throw-ups
- Prepare food and feed them
- Play with them
- Nurse them when they are sick
- Pacify them when they cry
- Lull them to sleep
- Wait with them for the school bus's arrival
- Check their school homeworks when time permits. Some babysitters will teach the children to recite Iqra and Quran during spare time
and so forth.
Due to the huge amount of time spent looking after them, they have become emotionally attached to your children and likewise. Many a time, I have seen babies throwing tantrums and not wanting to let go of their babysitters when their mommies come to collect them. Some will need gentle coaxing and when that happens, I could see the look of frustrations on the mother's face. Similarly, when the child is handed over to his/her babysitter, another scene of heart wrenching tugging can be expected.
With all the hard works of taking care little charges, one would think that babysitters are paid handsomely. Not quite in the case of my neighbour who happens to be an accidental babysitter. For all the sweat and blood she has poured in her job, she is paid peanuts. It is unbelievably astonishing to see the fact that not all parents appreciate a babysitter's job. Many took it for granted for assuming that it is a simple job to do. Try looking after a bunch of kids ranging from infants to toddlers to pre-schoolers with various personalities and behaviours in a disorderly house. And not all women are endowed with high degree of patience and capability of handling small kids.
A lot of parents don't realize that babysitters hardly have sick leave. Babysitters are human too, they are prone to sickness like everyone else. But still they have got to work come what may. And what about parents who simply drop/pick their charges at their convenient time or day? Please remember that babysitters have families too. They want to spend quality times with their loved ones just like we all do.
So to all working parents out there, do remember to pay adequate amount of upah (inclusive of overtime) to your babysitter as without them, your life will be in crumble.
