It's All the Rage

2010 [22]: Half marathon (possibly full marathon)

2011 [23]: Triathalon

2012 [24]: Rock climbing

2013 [25]: Hiking the Appalachian Trail

2014 [26]: African safari

How do you feel about that?

When did I become an awesome babysitter? Because when I was younger, I HATED babysitting with a passion. Maybe it’s because back then I thought I had so many better things to be doing, when really. I didn’t. And now, even though I probably DO have better things I could be doing, most of the time I couldn’t be bothered to do them. So instead I spend my time with 2 great boys. Ryan is the 12 year old that I drive to school/camp. He’s a really great kid and I really don’t mind getting up at 5am 4 days a week to spend an hour with him. I hadn’t seen him in 2 weeks, and when I got to his house yesterday his mom told me he was so excited to see me. It made my heart so happy. I think he was a little tentative about me at first—his last “driver” turned out to be bad news bears and treated the boy kid like crap. And he really wanted a guy to spend time with. But since we all know that I should have been a dude, I think he and I have made a connection. Holden is the 2 year old that I watch a couple of afternoons a week while his mom gets laundry and cleaning and such done. This little boy has absolutely stolen my heart. I hadn’t seen him in like 2 weeks either and his mom was texting me the other day telling me about his birthday and their trip to Sesame Place. He hadn’t really been talking before I hadn’t seen him, but now he’s a little chatter box!! And he says my name! At first it was “Nor” which for an almost 2 year old is pretty close to Lauren. But now we’ve gotten to “Oren!” And he ASKS for me, like every day. Megan (mom) was talking to Chris (dad) and instead of saying her sister was coming over, she accidentally said that Lauren was coming over and she said Holden like flipped out because he was so excited. He ran over to the gate just saying my name and took Meg by the hand to go get me. I was beyond excited when she told me that.

As much as I got these two babysitting positions in order to make money, I really love them both. I love the boys. I love their parents. I love feeling welcome and comfortable in their home. I love that they both text me when they haven’t seen me to say that they miss me. Because I missed them too. Who’d have thought I’d ever be an all-star babysitter?? Because I never did!