I have been working for this one family for almost seven years as their babysitter. I have grown very close to this family, so much so that they took me on vacation with them to watch their girls. These are the most well-behaved intelligent children I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. The family is a heavy patron of the arts, so even when the girls were very young they were constantly listening to all kinds of music. They take private lessons, ballet class, piano, and audition for theaters in their local town.
Anyways, everytime I came to babysit, the girls would just light up and have an entire schedule of events and activites for us to do. Beading, coloring, braiding, hide and seek, baking, movies, etc. You name it and it was on that list. All for one evening! These girls keep me on my toes that is for sure. At this point we have developed our own traditions. For example, I always role their hair in foam culers before they go to sleep so they have curley hair for the next day.
When they were younger, I would sing to them before they went to sleep. It especially helped with the youngest when she was a baby. There were about 4 or 5 songs I would cycle through. One day, about 4 years ago, I was watching the girls, and it was time for them to go to bed. With their hair roled, teeth brushed, and stories read it was time for a song. The eldest proudly announced that she was too old for bed timed songs(which was a little dishearteneing because it was true). The youngest, who was two at the time looked up at me as if saying "aw it's ok, I'm still adorable and want to hear your songs". She crawled into bed and I started singing, but she stopped me. "I don't want to hear that one." "Ok", I said "which one would you like to hear". Instead of telling me, she started singing it! a Two year old! For the record it was "Pie Jesu", and very tricky to sing. Yet here she was, singing it in the most angelic voice I had ever heard. I let her sing the song all by herself, and sure enough she knew everyword.
Kids amaze me everyday. Their minds are constantly taking in information. Try singing with your kiddos, they love it! And it's a great way to bond with them.
-Rosey
That's so cute. It really is incredible how much kids absorb. It's a fascinating yet also daunting thing to realize, because we never know what they are seeing us do and what they are learning from us. They might be observing and mimicking certain behavior we rather they didn't. I don't know if you've heard the country song "I've Been Watching You", where a little boy reveals that he's been watching his father and is copying him, including bad things like swearing but also good things like praying to God like a friend.
ReplyDeleteI love that song! It's one of my favorites! And it is so true. It was more of the musical aspect of this instance that got me. The fact that she could sing this song and knew exactly how it went at such a young age was remarkable.
DeleteThis story touched my heart! Especially the part about putting the curlers in their hair, that's just so sweet. :) Those girls are lucky to have someone like you to look up to while growing up. Also, I'm sure hearing that sweet girl sing was amazing!
ReplyDeleteReading this made me think of my little two year old brother. Instead of singing to him he wants me to rub his feet. :) But I will take into account the singing business the next time I put him to bed.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute story. Kids are like sponges; they absorb everything. Two nights ago I was babysitting a 21 month old who mimicks everything. I was in the kitchen & dropped a chip on the floor but I didn't want to dirty my hands by picking up title chip so I tried using my toes. OMG she threw a chip on the floor and tried doing the same. It was so funny.
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