Not far from the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico lives a high schooler who might just be the best babysitter ever. Keegan Carnahan of Tampa, Florida, went full mermaid for the adorable toddler she occasionally babysits — and it was a hit.
It’s been a hard year for Alidy, 3, who lost her dad in November, and she has been using costumes as a way to cope with the loss. Eager to help cheer up her charge, Carnahan dug up an old mermaid costume from the depths of her closet and surprised the little girl.
“She was extremely excited, smiling from ear to ear,” Carnahan, who has pink hair, told Care.com. “She complimented me on how beautiful my tail was and wanted me to splash around with her.”
Carnahan first met Alidy last year after the little girl’s mother, Jenna Haslam, began working for Carnahan’s father.
“Because of how expensive child care is, Jenna typically brings Alidy with her to work,” Carnahan, 15, said. “In turn, Alidy practically lives with me and my siblings, so I generally help out when her mom is busy.”
Alidy sure seems to be enjoying her playful sitter, and the feeling is mutual. Carnahan said she spent the bulk of her childhood with a nanny or babysitter while her dad was at work, and became very close with some of them. She said she wants to do the same for Alidy.
“Regardless of the circumstances, if someone is in the position to bring positivity into someone else’s day or life, they should,” said Carnahan.
“Alidy is a great kid who is going through a difficult situation that is often hard for most adults to deal with,” she added. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to bring as much fun and joy into her childhood as I can, and it feels great to see her so happy.”
