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Home Discussion Forum Episodes Word for Babysitter's charges

 

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Word for Babysitter's charges
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11:33AM
May-31-08


dougv

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Dear Martha & Grant: I listen to your program often (and often in the car while running errands, due to which I often hear only portions) and enjoy it. I heard what I think was an "encore presentation" on Saturday 5/31/08 and have a suggestion for Grant's call for suggestions for what to call the dear ones in the charge of a babysitter. My suggestion is "SITLINGS". It is obviously similar to SIBLING, with its familial denotation, and seems friendlier than "care-ees", less perjorative than "kidlets" (which sounds like even smaller kids), and less scary than "para-spawn". It also seems to me that the meaning of this obviously made up word is fairly intuitive, the SIT part implying its meaning to one who has never heard it before. This response leapt to my mind immediately, and I hereby offer it for your consideration. Sincerely, Doug Valmore, Indianapolis, Indiana.
P.S. My parents had a term for a beloved little tyke when I was growing up, the derivation of which completely eludes me, which was "MUCKET".

12:48PM
May-31-08


Leah

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I like "sitlings" – it's clever and cute. I call my own kids "bub" or "bubs" for one or both, respectively. I've taken to referring to all kids that way. It can be used for a boy or girl and I think that it is sweet without being sticky. The derivation of bubs is as follows: Many years ago, I lived in France. One of my friends had a baby and she called him "le babilou". When I had my first son, I adopted it without thinking but Americanized it into something closer to "bubbaloo". Both my husband and I morph it into various forms: bubbalubbas, baboo, bub or bubs, bubba, babaloo…the options are many. But I do refer to my children in conversation with other people as such. For example, "I've got to go pick up my bubs." Yah, just my own goofy bubbatalk.

7:41AM
Jun-01-08


Diann

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Hello — In reply to the word for babysitter's charges. I first thought of "endear"-lings, to convey how much one cares for these little tykes.

I like the suffix of -lings, so "sitlings" works well also.

10:38AM
Jun-01-08


Virginia

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How about the word "babysits," as in "these are my babysits"?

11:21AM
Jun-01-08


MarcV

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I thought of calling them "My cool little Charges” or “Charges who are like my Children” or just my “Chargers” to give them a boost and you and the others something to talk about!

dougv said:

Dear Martha & Grant: I listen to your program often (and often in the car while running errands, due to which I often hear only portions) and enjoy it. I heard what I think was an “encore presentation” on Saturday 5/31/08 and have a suggestion for Grant's call for suggestions for what to call the dear ones in the charge of a babysitter. My suggestion is “SITLINGS”. It is obviously similar to SIBLING, with its familial denotation, and seems friendlier than “care-ees”, less perjorative than “kidlets” (which sounds like even smaller kids), and less scary than “para-spawn”. It also seems to me that the meaning of this obviously made up word is fairly intuitive, the SIT part implying its meaning to one who has never heard it before. This response leapt to my mind immediately, and I hereby offer it for your consideration. Sincerely, Doug Valmore, Indianapolis, Indiana.
P.S. My parents had a term for a beloved little tyke when I was growing up, the derivation of which completely eludes me, which was “MUCKET”.

I thought of calling them your “Cool little Charges” or “Charges like my Children” or my “Chargers” to give them a boost!

9:25AM
Jun-04-08


Morninglori

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In Texas, the word Bubbha used to be a nickname for little brother. But now, I'm hearing it (and saying it) in terms of all little boys. "Ok bubbas, time to come in to lunch". When I refer to a group of kids (mine or others), I just say "brood". "Grab your brood, we gotta go."

I also called them "kidlits" or 'kittens', ex. How are the kidlits today?.

7:57AM
Jun-05-08


Kim

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Hi Grant & Martha! My daughter and I listen to your show on our way to church. Every week, she begs me to call in, but I've never felt like I had a good question or response to call in until last week — and then of course, every time anybody said the phone number I kept missing all or part of it! Anyway, the daycare center Kindercare and kindergarten came to mind, and I thought kinderpals or kinderfriends might be a good idea.
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