not even babysitting. I spent a good 6 hours baby watching today. im definitely not skilled to babysit yet, especially im clueless about changing diapers, and feeding a baby. hence, I offered to baby watch, to entertain the baby while she is awake and not hungry, so that the parents can catch their breathe and finish some marking and some housework, near enough that whenever something happens and carrying cant solve, they can come and make sure the baby doesn't cry for too long.
the first time she started crying while I was carrying her a few weeks ago, I panicked and didn't know what to do till the parents came and take over. turned out she's at a age where she doesn't like to be carried facing up, but rather carried upright so that she can look. so when she started crying again today, that's exactly what I did, thinking that I shall apply something I learnt! turned out that I was wrong again! she was getting sleepy and wanted to sleep. third time, she cried again, and I was wrong again! turned out she was getting hungry and want to be fed!
i hardly did anything very tiring, nor for very long, but i came home a little tired, just from carrying her, singing to her, second guessing what her cries meant. can you imagine what parents have to go through, having the to take care of a child round the clock. it is definitely not exaggeration when they say you wont get much sleep and you will be perpetually tired. saying that, you can just totally see the joy she brings to the parents through every single interaction they have. i didn't ask, they didn't mention, but i bet they will say the joy of having a child outweigh all the things they have to sacrifice.
