Today, I’m linking up to Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop. The prompt I chose was to write about a memorable high school job.
My hometown consisted of an intersection, three little country stores (one of which was actually the “beer joint”), a dairy, a cemetery and the Baptist church. And of course, several homes. So, as I was growing up, the prospects for a high school job when the time came were not looking good.
But during my early teens, something happened to change our little town. A nuclear power plant was built about five miles away. The town didn’t grow, as far as new businesses opening, but a lot of people came to the area to build, and later work at, the plant. Most of them were men, of course, but some of them brought their families.
And those families needed a baby-sitter from time to time. Since I was the only teenage girl in that tiny town, I didn’t have much competition in the baby-sitting business.
I remember one family in particular. Their last name was Foster, and they lived in a little house about a mile from us. When I began sitting for them, they had two children: a girl who was around eight, and a son who was probably six. I only remember sitting for the Fosters on Saturday nights when they went to the races. (Ironically, they went to the same track that Motor Man and I go to almost every week now.)
Mr. Foster would pick me up around 5 in the afternoon, and most weeks, it was 1 or 2 a.m. when they got back home. The children were very well behaved, so I really had little to do, other than entertain them, feed them a snack and get them ready for bed. It was a cushy job.
I can’t recall the exact amount in dollars, but I remember that my mom and I were very impressed by the pay I received each time. I don’t know that I had ever told them how much I charged, but what they paid me exceeded whatever amount I would have thought reasonable.
I also remember feeling the trust they had in me. During the second summer I sat for them, Mrs. Foster had another baby. And when the baby was six weeks old, they asked me to sit for them so they could go to the races. I was well aware of the responsibility…..and the fact that my mom was only about a mile away should I need her! I do remember calling her for advice a couple of times.
That first job makes you feel like an adult. Even if you’re still just a teenager.
these days of mine 
Wow, that must have been a small town if you were the only teenage girl around! Sounds like a great job for you though!
Stopping by from writer’s workshop.
I remember very well when you were baby-sitting. And who could have guess that your nephew would have a career at that nuclear plant and you would be so involved at the same race track the Fosters attended. We never know what lies down the road!!
Hugs,
I babysat a few times, until I ran into a couple of wild ones and then I was done. Until I had my own of course. Lol!
I’m glad you had good experiences babysitting. I did it for a handful of summers, but I remember the pay being awful. Now, since I’m a first time mom, I have to figure out what’s good pay. Glad you were treated well and enjoyed it. Love your pic, too 🙂
I started asst. babysitting with my older sister when I was probably 8 yrs old. By the time I was 10 or 11, I was ‘sitting’ on my own for my nephews and cousins. I was very happy to leave babysitting duties behind when I was 17.
WOW! My first job wasn’t babysitting. Oh I may have babysat my little step sis and my older step sis’ kids but never for pay. I’d have loved that. Mine was Burger King. *sigh* Days long gone now but the memories they stick.
I was also a babysitter when I was a young teenager. I had a family very similar to that. I loved watching kids. Later in life I was a professional nanny. It was the only job I really enjoyed. Thank you for sharing your story.
I used to babysit also. Surprising how much trust parents put in teenagers sometimes. Nice that the pay was good.
I used to love babysitting. In fact, I now take care of a 14 month old. =) I’m glad you had such nice people with good kids to work for…it sure does make a difference!
I babysat as a teenager, too. One time I babysat 3 kids under 5. I couldn’t get the baby to stop crying so my mother came over to help and then quickly slipped out before the parents returned. I was paid $1/hour.
I don’t think I ever did babysitting until the grandkids came, then I did a lot of it. You’ve inspired me to write about the first job I had that paid money. You were a sweet teenage girl!
There is something great about that first step into the workforce. It really does turn the idea of responsibility into something real rather than a hypothetical.
Diane, I love the sories. I “think” you grew up right where you are now. I was in Colorado a couple years a go (you and Motor Man probably remember) working and commented to my younger sister who still lives there that the area looked familiar. She said “It should, you grew up here”. Getting old is tough…
Wonderful post; it takes me back to being picked up at 5 and taken home at 2 … and I think I was 12 or 13. Granted, I’d babysat lots by then but still .. this is before cell phones etc. and no one ever did check in.
I remember being happy to get kids that played and went to bed and I’d pop popcorn and find an Elvis movie .. and for all that, I probably rec’d about $6 for the night. Those were the days! 🙂 MJ
i did a lot of babysitting too, and i remember a family like this as well… a cushy job, and an added sibling… I hadnt thought about the Cullivan’s in a long time! thanks for jogging my memory with your story! well written!
I enjoyed reading your post. I have a high admiration for baby sitters. people think that it’s an easy job but it’s not. My wife mostly takes care of my 5 year old son when I go to work but when it’s my turn to watch him I could say that it’s one hard job to do. so, I salute you and all the baby sitters in the world. We parents are always grateful to you. great post. thanks for sharing.
I babysat all through school and was a nanny in college! The coolest babysitting job I had was during spring training with the TX Rangers back when they would come down to Pt. Charlotte, FL…. I babysat for one of the players families and even went to a baseball game with the wife (to help watch the kids) met A-Rod… and then they paid for my missions trip to China… needless to say, it was a the coolest babysitting gig!
I still keep in touch with the family I was a nanny for while in college… I can’t believe how big the little guy is now!!! I always feel really old whenever i’m around him now. He could watch my Bugaboo now!
When I read the prompt you were going to write about, I didn’t think I’d had a job in high school–had totally forgotten about babysitting two little girls in the afternoons until their mom got home from work. They always wanted to watch Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.
My first job was ‘Burt’s Store’! Imagine that! 50 cents an hour – someone call Social Services LOL! But, I guess with housing, food, clothing, school tuition, etc., (and wonderful parents even tho I may not have always thought so at the time), I really made about a million dollars an hour:)