Aunt Mimi's Babysitting Services

As of a week ago, I now have two nieces! My newest niece was born and she is amazing. Soon though, I think it'll mean double the trouble and double the aunt duties once she's a bit less potato-like. I love being an aunt so much despite having 0 interest in having my own children. 

Every time I babysit my oldest niece (who I now have to specify), I wonder if I'm adding to her childhood trauma or just giving her interesting stories. Maybe both. But I figured I'd post about what is included in Aunt Mimi's babysitting services. 

She gets all the pony toys she wants,
especially when she finds one that
looks like Flounder (her words)

- Children WILL be used for child labor. Labor includes but is not limited to: tack cleaning, tack room reorganization, horse grooming, horse bathing, and making of grain. Children will be paid in as many popsicles as they ask for. Aunt Mimi is not responsible for child continuously asking for "popicals" when they return home. 

- Children will be allowed to run amok in Tractor Supply and will be bought pony toys if they ask for them.

- Children WILL be sprayed down with a hose if Aunt Mimi is hot and needs to distract children from endlessly eating popsicles. Children will not be returned clean. 

- Aunt Mimi does not guarantee that children will only eat food off of plates or out of bowls. Children are quick little things that snatch pieces of popsicles off of the barn floor to eat. Aunt Mimi aids in the development of your child's immune system. 

- Children will be provided with one (1) pony. Warning: ponies are highly addictive. Aunt Mimi is not responsible for any addictive pony behaviors demonstrated by children, but will provide more ponies for children if asked. 

- Exposure to horses may cause children to canter everywhere instead of run. Aunt Mimi is not responsible for child's dead end track career, but lead changes will be taught to ensure children canter on both leads. Aunt Mimi does not guarantee that your child will not scream LEAD CHANGE while cantering. 

She is learning to lead the pony right now and he
is so good to her given how often he could have
just mowed her down...

It was so fun to spend some time with her while her baby sister was being born! We went to Tractor Supply, rode her Sunny horse double with me a couple of times (she got in trouble for screaming at me while riding him... toddlers gotta toddler), and she even had her first group riding lesson at Kate's barn on Tommy. She is trotting with a side walker and learning to post at the walk and steer right now so she got to practice that. With other kids riding around her, she was even more motivated to practice. She kept watching the bigger kids and saying "I do that when I'm bigger" and it just... so adorable. 

Can't wait for her little sister to start riding!