Angelina Ballerina

I look at the cover.

Flashbacks from 10 years ago play through my mind; I see me and my sister sitting next to our old babysitter, I hear her voice as she reads to us the story of the dancing mouse, Angelina the Ballerina, I remember the white and pink nightgown I wore, the bright blue pajama pants and shirt my sister wore, and the bell-bottom jeans and designer T-shirt our babysitter wore.

Babysitting has had a huge impact on my life. I didn't have too many babysitters; however, every single one inspired me. I remember my neighbor with the curly hair who read to me my favorite books, and my sister's best friend's sister who told me part of a babysitter's job is to wash the dishes and cut out snowflakes from paper, the eighth grader at my school who always insisted on watching my favorite show, Hannah Montana, with her on Friday nights, and the freshman, who attended PHS, that ran for class president.  

Recently, I started babysitting. I volunteered as a camp counselor/CIT multiple places this past summer, as well as a volunteer at the Lawrence Hall of Science. As a requirement, I sat in on and took part in at least five different sessions, where the coordinators of the volunteers helps us understand how to work with children of all ages. In addition, I became CPR/AED certified. I had babysat before these lessons, but with them they made me feel completely confident to do so.

***

"Angelina Ballerina," I read.

A young boy sits to my left, and a young girl sits to my right, braiding my hair. They are completely engaged in the story, even though I have only read the title.

I know that to most kids I babysit I am only their babysitter. However, I hope that I make as much of an impact on their lives as my babysitters have on mine.

I hope that every child I babysit, when they babysit children themselves, will pick up Angelina Ballerina and remember me.