I Conquered the Kids!

Not that there was much "conquering" to be done, because my niece and nephew are angels, but babysitting them both went super well. I've worked with kids my whole career, so I wasn't necessarily worried about my ability to handle a two year old and four month old together, but I knew how hectic it could get. I was kind of worried about my niece, because she is the biggest mama's girl I have ever seen! If her mom gets more than five feet away from her, it's "Mama? Mama? MOMMMY!" So, I even went half an hour early so she could start warming up to me before Mom and Dad left her. My nephew is the sweetest little bit of baby boy you ever met. He is smiley, and precious, and flirty, and easygoing. When my brother and SIL left, of course my niece turns on the waterworks. She ran to the door and cried (break my heart!). I know this sounds cruel, but I just let her throw her little fit and pretty much ignored her while I played with my nephew. Sure enough, about a minute later, the cries died down because her curiousity over why I wasn't paying attention to her overrode her desire to have mommy nearby. I kept playing with my nephew, but every so often I'd look at her and smile and say, "Mommy will be home very soon!" After another minute or so of whimpering, she said, "Mommy be home soon. Mommy be home soon. No powder, no cream!" (Which refers to her diaper preferences, apparently).

And that was that. No more tears from her the rest of the night. It went very well...which was a relief, because I was afraid of what they would think if they came home to two crying children. She even said my name for the first time *tear*!!

My brother and sister in law were thrilled to get a night out. I think they've been out together a grand total of one time since my nephew was born, and you could tell they were just really excited to be able to have some time away from the kids. I felt good that I was able to help them out. It was so cute, though...the whole night, my brother kept texting me: "Is everything ok? Can we get dessert, or do you need us to come home?" I kept texting, "Everyone's happy, enjoy yourselves!" When they came home, they looked so relaxed from just having some time to themselves...but they were SO excited to see the kids, and the kids were excited to see them too. THAT's the part of parenthood that I long for-not having a cute baby to say, "Oh, yeah, isn't my baby adorable?," but having children that know me as Mom, miss me when I'm gone, and are happy that I'm around. I want to have that bond someday.