“Nothing’s Better Than Friends!”

(Image borrowed from http://www.webring.org/
t/The-Baby-Sitters-Club-Webring)

I’m a jack-of-all-trades and a master of some. I’m working on mastering the art of skillfully entertaining kids.

Growing up, I always watched “The Babysitters Club” on the Disney Channel. In elementary school I wanted to do two things:

1. Start a club, like the one created by girls from "The Babysitters Club."
2. Babysit!

So, when I was in middle school, my parents let me take a whack at it. Ever since then, that’s what I’ve done. When I moved to Tallahassee, I picked the job back up. I babysit two silly little 4-year-olds named Quentin and Vivian. They’re on a journey through life and are exiting the world of toddlerhood. I’m confident about this because they will boldly look into your eyes and tell you: “I’m not a baby. I’m a big kid.”

I recently read a surprisingly good book for my PR Research and Strategies class. The book is called “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference,” and it’s by Malcolm Gladwell. I’m not a fan of assigned reading, but I must give this book six thumbs up (my thumbs, Quentin’s thumbs and Vivian’s thumbs, too).

Even though this book isn’t about babysitting, I can apply some things that I read about to my second college “hustle.” So, here is.

Brittney’s List of Babysitting Tips 

Based upon children’s TV research from “The Tipping Point”

Me and Vivian on the see-saw!

1. Kid’s like variety. Follow the "Sesame Street" model. Instead of doing long, drawn-out activities with them, do a handful of short-and-sweet activities. Just the other day, I was hanging out with Q and Viv (we don’t call it babysitting, we call it hanging out). They get antsy if we only watch TV or if we only play outside. So, we watched TV for a little while, then we jumped on the trampoline, then we baked cookies, etc. I think you catch my drift.

2. If you run out of things to do, it’s OK. Kids don’t mind playing the same games that you played last time. On Sunday, I was running out of things to do with Quenten and Vivian. I got a bit nervous because I wanted to be on my toes ... I was far from it. Not knowing what to do, I thought back to the last time that I babysat them and suggested that we build a tent. Their eyes lit up! They ran to grab sheets and blankets in order to build something that we’ve built thousands of times before. It never gets old.  

3. Keep it simple. Gladwell explained in his book that the show “Sesame Street” is full of puns. The "Sesame Street" crew did it because they wanted to entertain parents who would be watching with their kids.  The creators of the show “Blue’s Clues” saw that kids don’t catch on to puns. Simplicity is the key!

Read up on “The Tipping Point.” Buy it if you’re looking for something good to read! http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624

The Chef Has Arrived

Last night, I finished my americanized Chinese dinner with a fortune cookie. I opened it up, slid the cookie out, and crushed it in my hand. I grabbed the slip of paper and read the mass-produced message: Eat more Panda Express.

(Image borrowed from
http://www.yorkblog.com/onlyyork/2008/11/)

Wow! Great fortune, huh? I was a bit ticked off, but the yummy crunchy cookie helped soothe my pain.  

My name is Brittney, and I love cookies. They can be round or square, crunchy or soft, big or small. I make them, bake them and sell them. I don't do it for a living, but one day I would like to. I started marketing my product in 2008, and I've been growing ever since. My pockets may not be growing as fast as I would like for them to, but I can surely say that I've grown as a person. This great opportunity has enabled me to meet people whom I probably wouldn't have met, stand up in front of people and say things that I would have never said, and push myself further than ever. I don't regret starting my own college "hustle" because it's helped me learn so much about myself.

“What’s your day job, Brittney?” you may ask. I’m a student. I’m a member of the Rattler Nation. I’ve wanted to attend Florida A&M since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I’m so glad to finally be here. Sometimes I walk through campus (not so much anymore because I have class in one building … but work with me), and smile. I’m finally where I want to be.

(Image borrowed from http://newsone.com/
entertainment/news-one-staff/bill-cosby-will-
receive-prestigious-mark-twain-award-for-humor/)

This is may sound über cliché, but my time on “the hill” has slithered by extremely fast. So, over the next year, I’ll be chronicling my life. By peeking into my life, you’ll see that it is filled with mishaps associated with baking, stories of how the Lord has proven Himself awesome, and my journey as a super involved student.

In closing, let me leave you with some words from my favorite actor, Bill Cosby: “There are those who blaze trails, and there are those who trail blazers.” Which one are you?