Summary of This American Life: Episode 175 - "Babysitting"

Release Date: January 5, 2001
Host: Ira Glass
Produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago

Introduction: The Essence of Babysitting

In episode 175 titled "Babysitting," This American Life explores the multifaceted nature of babysitting beyond the conventional role of child supervision. Hosted by Ira Glass, the episode delves into personal anecdotes, humorous incidents, and profound insights surrounding the theme of babysitting. Through three distinct acts, listeners are taken on a journey that examines familial bonds, childhood fears, and the complexities of caretaking roles.

Act 1: Sibling Sitter - The Werewolf Prank

The first act introduces Doug, a teenage boy in rural Idaho tasked with babysitting his four younger siblings. Unlike traditional babysitters, Doug employs unconventional and often extreme methods to manage his siblings, blurring the lines between authority and sibling camaraderie.

Doug/Pick up the werewolf prank:

Doug recounts his infamous werewolf prank designed to instill fear and obedience among his brothers. Through elaborate setups involving silhouettes, makeup, and props, Doug convincingly portrayed a werewolf during full moons, leading his siblings to panic and dread his nighttime activities.

• Sarah, Age 11 (02:28): “If I had to be there tending these dang kids, I was gonna make it fun for me, too, you know?”
• Mike, Age 8 (10:02): “We were convinced for three or four years of our lives, I think, that he could actually turn into a werewolf.”
• Steve, Age 8 (13:30): “I don't care. Kill me if you want.”

The prank culminated in a particularly intense night where Doug, disguised as a werewolf, terrified his brothers to the point of fear for their lives. This incident not only exemplifies the lengths Doug would go to assert control but also highlights the lasting impact of childhood fears and pranks on sibling relationships.

Key Insights:

• Authoritative vs. Peer Influence: Doug’s approach demonstrates how authority can intertwine with peer dynamics, affecting trust and fear.
• Long-term Effects: Despite the terror, the siblings reflect fondly on their childhood experiences, showcasing how shared traumatic events can strengthen familial bonds.

Act 2: Unaccompanied Minors - Trapped at O'Hare

Transitioning from familial babysitting, Act 2 narrates the harrowing experience of Susan Burton and her sister Betsy, who found themselves stranded at Chicago’s O'Hare Airport due to a severe snowstorm in December 1988. As unaccompanied minors, they were thrust into an environment where corporate procedures governed their care—or lack thereof.

Susan Burton's Account:

Susan describes the chaos at the airport, where numerous divorced children awaited their disrupted flights. The environment was likened to a refugee camp, with gate agents overwhelmed and standard care protocols insufficient for the emotional turmoil of young, separated children.

• Susan Burton (22:55): “All across America, divorced kids shuttle from one parent to the other. If they fly, their babysitters are the airlines themselves.”

The narrative explores the impersonal and often inadequate handling of children's emotional needs in such corporate settings. Amidst the uncertainty, Susan and Betsy, along with other children, forged connections that provided solace during their unexpected confinement.

Key Insights:

• Institutional Limitations: The story highlights the challenges institutions face in addressing the nuanced emotional needs of children during family separations.
• Resilience and Bonding: Despite the adversity, the children’s ability to bond underscores the innate resilience and social capacities of youth in distressing circumstances.

Act 3: Invisible Caretakers - Babysitting Their Mother

The final act unveils a deeply personal story of Myron Jones and his sister Carol, who, under their mother's strict and manipulative regime, crafted an elaborate fictional family—the McCrearys—to conceal their caretaking role at home. This act delves into themes of control, deception, and the blurred lines between caregiving and being cared for.

Myron and Carol’s Story:

Myron narrates the oppressive environment created by their mother, who, after the death of their father, imposed stringent rules to maintain control. To escape constant scrutiny, Myron and Carol invented the McCreary family, presenting themselves as babysitters for these nonexistent children to grant themselves freedom.

• Christiana (Carol) (34:57): “I made up a family. I said, what do you mean? I made up this family I babysit for.”

This fabricated narrative provided the siblings with much-needed autonomy and a semblance of normalcy amidst their mother's invasive oversight. However, it also revealed the psychological toll of living under constant surveillance and the lengths to which children will go to assert their independence.

• Christiana (43:00): “And she was my fantasy of an older woman who might fall in love with me and with any luck at all, seduce me.”

The act poignantly illustrates the siblings' struggle for agency and the complicated dynamics of parental control, ultimately leading to lasting scars and fractured relationships.

Key Insights:

• Psychological Impact of Control: The story underscores how extreme parental control can drive children to deceptive behaviors as a means of coping and survival.
• Long-term Familial Relations: Myron’s and Carol’s relationships with their mother remained strained, highlighting the enduring effects of childhood manipulation and neglect.

Conclusion: Multifaceted Perspectives on Babysitting

Through these three acts, "Babysitting" presents a comprehensive exploration of the concept from various angles—sibling authority, institutional neglect, and the complexities of parental relationships. Ira Glass masterfully weaves humor, tension, and emotional depth to shed light on the often-overlooked aspects of babysitting, making listeners reflect on the profound influences of caretaking roles in shaping personal and familial identities.

Notable Musical Interludes:
Interspersed with the narratives are satirical advertisements and songs parodying the ideal qualities of a babysitter, such as:

• Ira Glass (04:49): “If you want this choice position, have a cheery disposition, rosy cheeks, no warts… Hurry, nanny.”

These interludes serve as both comedic relief and critical commentary on societal expectations of caretakers, enriching the episode's thematic depth.

Notable Quotes:

• Ira Glass (01:01): “Here's a ritual that happens in millions of American families every day. Parents dropping off kids at the babysitters.”
• Doug (02:58): “With Christiana, she's like a second mom.”
• Susan Burton (22:55): “When your father dies, everybody told me to put the kids in an orphanage. I didn't. And that was the biggest mistake of my life.”
• Christiana (43:00): “I was going to do this for the people that loved her. You know, all of the people that really loved this little girl. I'm going to do it for them.”

Final Thoughts:

"This American Life" episode "Babysitting" intricately dissects the layers of responsibility, control, and emotional intricacies associated with caretaking roles. Whether through the lens of sibling dynamics, institutional failures, or the deep-seated impacts of parental oversight, the episode offers a thought-provoking examination of what truly happens behind the scenes when parents entrust the care of their children to others—or, in Myron and Carol’s case, to themselves.