adventures in babysitting

Name: Mallory and Abby Pratt age: 18, 17

Biz: Mallabbys Sitting Service

Mallory and Abby Pratt have more business references than most college graduates. That’s because about two years ago, these savvy sisters took their routine babysitting to a whole new level, creating endless clientele.

“We had been babysitting for a long time,” says Mallory, 18. “It was sporadic, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we make this the real deal?’ ”

They sent email blasts to hundreds of their parents’ contacts, advertised in HOA newsletters near their Chapel Downs neighborhood and promoted the business at their church nursery. Soon, they had successfully launched Mallabbys, a baby, pet and house sitting service complete with its own website.

The girls admit that, initially, they weren’t thrilled about running their own business.

“We were terrified,” Abby says.

Abby has been babysitting her three boys who are 8, 7 and 4.

“From the minute she walks in, she gets a ball and goes outside to play,” Schumacher says. “She’s just fun. My boys ask for her all the time. I never for a second worry that my kids aren’t taken care of.”

Abby, 17, is a junior at the Cambridge School of Dallas. She plays volleyball and does costume, hair and makeup for the theater department. Mallory just finished her first year at Harding university, majoring in English and history. The girls are heavily involved in their church, The Branch at Vista Ridge in Carrollton, where they carry out their true passion — mission work.

To learn about Mallabbys, call 972.804.9466 or visit mallabbys.com. These girls are in high demand, so book at least a week in advance.

They received an overwhelming response but, after some practice, they learned to balance the workload, which now averages to about two gigs a week. The girls’ success stems from their genuine interest in the children.

“A lot of babysitters think, ‘I’m just here in case something bad happens,’ ” Mallory says. “We are friends and mentors to the children, engaging with them. We want to brighten their day.”

Jennifer Schumacher recognizes that energy. For two years,

That’s the real reason behind Mallabbys. All the earnings help fund their church trips, and this month the girls will travel to Ghana, Africa, to teach children about healthy eating.

“We love to travel, and this is our favorite way to do it interacting with so many different people, not for luxury but to do something good,” Mallory says.

Besides managing clientele, the girls have learned all about the financial side of business, too, realizing that it’s not so boring after all.

“We see that amount rise, and we get excited,” Mallory says.

While some high school-aged kids care mostly about parties and friends, Abby and Mallory see the bigger picture.

“This opens us up to other aspects of the world — to reality,” Abby says.

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