Toys flying through the air, children screaming bloody murder, temper tantrums all around, boys wrestling each other to the ground, a once clean room ravaged. Standing in the middle of the chaos, Ella Schaefer-Fortier, an average teenage babysitter trying to calm the storm, outnumbered by two young, active boys. Once the kids finally calm down, it’s time for her to start the rest of the routine, helping with math homework, making PB&Js, cleaning dishes and of course, having to clean up the destruction from the mayhem.

As teenagers, finding work and creating income has limitations, whether it be by age restrictions, schedule conflicts, or difficulty commuting. But one job has always been relied on by both teens and parents: babysitting. Babysitting has been one of the most common jobs for teenagers for generations and is always in demand. Parents ask for these high schoolers to watch over the kids, making sure they eat, and to generally keep them safe and out of trouble.

Many times though, parents may expect too much from a 15 or 16-year-old, and even underappreciate the responsibilities these babysitters are taking on.

“It’s like taking on the role of a parent and watching the kid, it’s a big responsibility,” sophomore Madison Fraser said. Fraser over the past summer took care of two kids, 4 and 6, every day.

Sophomore Ella Schaefer-Fortier had a similar experience. She takes care of two boys, seven and 10, two times a week, which is a difficult job.

“I do everything for them. I’m their tutor, their chef, their cleaner, it’s insane what I do, and I don’t get appreciated for any of it … It’s different from babysitting one because you just have to keep one entertained, but with two they’re always fighting and screaming, creating chaos,” Schaefer-Fortier said.

As a babysitter, it’s a challenge to control the experience. Different families, different parenting, different kids, and even different times of day, can create different attitudes toward the sitter. Some kids may be more mischievous, and their ages vary, which can all contribute to the experience.

“If you’re doing it as an official job, you don’t get to choose who you’re babysitting for, you’re doing it for your income,” junior Geetanjali Raju said.

Though Raju has another job, she uses babysitting as supplementary income. If she is babysitting, Raju will usually take care of three kids, 3-year-old twins and a 2-year-old.

Adding on to this age factor, Raju and Fraser both take care of younger kids of different ages. When asked if this job was more or less difficult, the two had different responses.

“It’s not, because Justin (the 2-year-old) mostly sleeps,” Raju said..

While Fraser had a different perspective. “Yes, it’s hard because they have a short attention span, it’s hard to keep them focused on one thing,” she said. These differences of opinion show how the experience can vary.

The big question is one to raise different opinions: Is babysitting worth it? Schaefer-Fortier’s answer to this was originally no, then added, “[The experience] depends on the parents, if they really appreciate you and if it’s a good fit and they open their family to you. But there are other families that don’t and just make it miserable,” she said.

Raju’s response was different. “I would, especially if you’re doing it in your neighborhood, and for kids our age, 15-16, it’s a pretty casual job, you can do it well, and can make good, easy money,” she said.

Fraser agreed because of the experience and pay.

“It’s definitely worth it because it teaches you a lot, in my opinion, and it can prepare you. Plus, you also get paid,” Fraser said.

The difficulties and various obstacles in babysitting may be discouraging for some, but getting through the experience and allowing yourself to grow from it can make all the difference in future experiences. Schaefer-Fortier’s advice for those going through this journey or those who may aspire to it is, “Though it’s hard in the moment, the best way to get through it is to enjoy it when you can and learn from it”.