Babysitters

My parents rarely got babysitters for us kids as we were too hard on them. The first babysitter I remember was named Jackie. She lived across the road from us, the oldest of 8 children. I remember my Mom and Dad giving us very specific directions as to what we were NOT to do. We could barely wait for them to leave so we could do all the taboo things!  As soon as they got out of sight we would begin by squealing and jumping on the couch. We progressed from there. Jackie often cried. We would beg her not to tell on us. I distinctly remember the last time she sat for us. My brother stuck a screw driver in an electrical outlet, got shocked and blew out all the fuses in the house.We sat in the dark until Mom and Dad got back.
After that we had my aunts ( my mom has four sisters). They all took turns spending the summer watching us when my mom was going to school.( Although sometimes my brother and I got to go with her and sit in the library  at U.D. while she was at class. We were afraid of the nuns and were quite good!)
When my Mom finished her teaching degree and went to work we had a progression of "nannies".
The one I remember most was Ollie, a tall skinny woman, who was a dead ringer for Flo from TV. She used snuff  but thought we didn't know. She was very tightly wound. She was with us 2 years I think,  but finally had to give up her post due to extreme anxiety and stress. My sister had a habit of running outside naked which caused Ollie to scream. I really didn't like her (Ollie). I must have been about 8 the summer I tried to run over her with my bike. I was totally chagrined as she jumped  safely out of the way at the last minute! That was the same summer that my brother and I got into a fight and  he dared me to stab him with a steak knife. He even went and got one and handed it to me. (I don't think I really would have done it....but I gave it some serious consideration ). That put her over the edge. She begged my folks to take her to the Greyhound Bus Station.
 There were others that were short-lived. The last one I remember was a rotund lady  named Katie, who wore her hair in braids wrapped around her head. She liked to chew gum and would s-t-r-e-t-c-h it out about 2 feet in front of her and then pop it back into her mouth over and over . We were fascinated. She didn't work out though,  as she had a nasty habit of spitting in the sink and wouldn't do what my mom told her.
Finally I was old enough  to be the baby sitter for my little brother who was 12 years younger. I took care of him when my mom taught summer school.  I remember he always spit up milk thru his nose... and I can still hear that  wee little voice (in my head) wailing.."Gail, come and wipe me!," when he was on the potty. Woohoo!