Grandmas Are Like That

I learned two brilliant tricks while babysitting this week. The first is as simple as warm milk.

• Step 1: Give it to the baby, he will fall asleep immediately. 
• Step 2: Give it to the two-year-old, read her a story, and she too will pass out.
  
• Step 3: Listen to the four-year-old, who you've already put to bed, yell and kick the wall for 5 to 10 minutes. (this will wear him out a little. His siblings are used to it, and will keep sleeping) Then tell him that if he is quiet you'll bring him some milk. When he says he doesn't want milk don't argue, just say it's time to go to sleep. He'll ask for the milk, drink it and fall asleep.
  
• Step 4: Some six-year-old's would get grossed out at the thought of warm milk but if not, give it to him and then have him lie down while you tell him a Bible story. He should doze off by the time you've told him three, as long as they're long enough.

I learned the other trick from a grandma. Which is almost always the case with useful childcare. 

• Step 1: Make sure every permanent marker in your house is out of reach of small children.
  
• Step 2: Give the kids a package of dry erase markers.
• Step 3: Let them color on the windows and mirrors! note. Be sure to ask parents if the house isn't yours.