Baby Sitting problem

[Faye]

I have been asked to care for my grandaughter next month so my wife and daughter can go to a wedding of a old school friend of my daughter. They will be staying overnight so I will be caring for the grandaughter until the following day.

I would like to dress but have the feeling it would be wrong to do so when caring for my grandaughter. She is 11 months old now and I have a feeling of guilt in dressing whilst she is in my care.

What are the other girls feelings on my guilt, should I or shouldn't I dress.

Thank you
Faye x

[DonnaT]

I vote no.

Bond with your granddaughter as her grandfather. There's no greater joy.

[Davita]

First, under a year, clothes don't particularly mean anything to a kid. If you still look like you, that's all that matters to her. Life under a year old is all about me me me and if you don't impact her then she won't care. if you don't make anything of it, she won't. If she asks why are u in whatever it is you're wearing the simple answer is, "because I wanted to" -- guess what... that's not an answer a whole lot different from any other kid at her age. She's not going to be analyzing the consequences of a boy in a dress; she could care less. If she says boys don't wear whatever it is you're wearing, again, the simply answer is, "this one does because I like it."

So just how many hours will she be awake and active? Naps and early bed time means not a full day that she will actually be hanging out with you. She will also find time to just be in the same space as you while she's in her own world. Heard of educational TV? You in whatever you wear as long as you are you and you look enough like you will not make a heck of a big dent, if any at all, in her life even for a couple days. At her age, everything revolves around her and what she wants.

Go for it -- just don't be crazy about it and don't point it out. Heck my grandbrats are almost 4 and coming up on six. I wear fem pants, cute slippers with bows and other "generic" clothes and they don't bat an eye. Just once my grandson said that line, "boys don't wear that" and I said " yes they do, they can wear anything they want." He didn't argue and we moved right on to another topic of interest to him.

You'll be fine.

[Anthony Simon]

I've never had children, but my impression is that they - and particularly babies - are very sensitive to the emotional state of the people they're with. Like if you're not happy, they'e not happy. If you're guilty and conflicted, they're going to pick that up and it won't be a happy experience (IMHO).

[Leeza]

Anthony said

they - and particularly babies - are very sensitive to the emotional state of the people they're with

Having raise a few babies I definitely agree that they pick up on the emotional feelings.

Faye, you said

I have a feeling of guilt

For that reason I would not dress.

It is not the fact of dressing or not, it is the feeling that you have about it and will convey to the granddaughter.

[Anita]

Faye, you said

I have a feeling of guilt

For that reason I would not dress.

Leeza wrote:

It is not the fact of dressing or not, it is the feeling that you have about it and will convey to the granddaughter.

I agree with Leeza.

[Faye]

A very big thank you to all who offered their opinion regarding my upcoming baby sitting duties. I have wisely decided not to dress and babysit as the proud grandad that I am.
Thank you to the ladies who offered such wise advice.

Faye xxxx