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Bittersweet

Last Saturday I went a little crazy with the Post-Christmas sales.  At Joann's I bought some cheap-o little make your own ornaments, and at Wal-Mart I bought a few turkey magnets to paint.  All in all I probably spend about $5 on a bunch of little craft projects for the girls to do next year, not a lot of money, but quite a few projects.


My (failed) attempt at a group shot... Usually I pixelate the kids, but I don't think you can see any of them well enough to worry about it.

When I got home, I realized with some sadness that its a very real possibility I won't be watching them next year.  Perhaps buying art projects was a little presumptuous.  I would LOVE to be watching them next year (and the next, and the next, etc.) but I have little to no control over that.  Any number of things could happen, they could move away, or find cheaper care elsewhere (I don't think I overcharge, but then I have never really looked into it, I mostly just charge what I need to make to pay the bills and have a little left over).  One of the parents could quit, or lose their job.  I am just a baby-sitter, and as Michael has pointed out many times, once they are to old to need a baby-sitter I will probably never see them again.  They probably won't even remember me.

See, we have SO much fun!
Thinking about it makes me sad.  The kids I baby-sit are huge part of my life, and the thought of not seeing them ever again is kind of painful.  But someday it will happen, and there is nothing I can do about it.  I consider myself SO blessed to have such wonderful kids in my life, and get to have a houseful of kids even though I don't have any of my own, but as they say, all good things come to an end.

I have been watching the girls for about 2 years now, and Cooper for practically his whole life (he is nine months old LOL), and I will probably be watching them until they start school.  So most likely they will get to use the projects I got them.  But I almost wish I hadn't bought them, because it reminded me that someday I will have to miss them :(

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Comments

  1. HannahWJanuary 10, 2013 at 7:23 AM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! YES. We do daycare too (though we call it playschool cause it is NOT a stereotypical daycare). We have had some children for their entire life and continue to see them regularly. Others have come for a few years and then gone off to school..without us being in their lives... I can only hope that deep down inside the DO have a memory/feeling of being well loved and cared for in our care :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wife, Then MamaJanuary 10, 2013 at 7:24 PM

      I don't think my daycare is stereotypical. I think its more like a home away from home. I treat them exactly how I would treat my own kids, except I would have a vehicle big enough for them to have car seats if they were mine, and I would probably take them grocery shopping. I think it is great that you have gotten to have some of the kids in your life even after they didn't need daycare anymore. Thank you for stopping by :)

      Delete
  2. MelissaJanuary 10, 2013 at 8:39 AM

    :( sad.
    They will remember you. I remember people from my life when I was that age that weren't even that important to me.

    Besides... the great part of being a babysitter is that at the point where a parent completely stops needing a babysitter (when they are old enough to watch themselves) they will be old enough to see you on their own accord. :)
    You will likely miss them when they go to school, but at least the chances of you seeing them at least from "time to time" is high.

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    Replies
    1. Wife, Then MamaJanuary 10, 2013 at 7:27 PM

      I figure unless there are extenuating circumstances I probably will get to keep watching Hadlee after school even when she is older, because right now her brothers come to my house after school, and they are 10 and 13. I am not nearly as conveniently located for Jordyn and Cooper though :(

      If all else fails, eventually I can facebook stalk them LOL

      Delete
    2. Wife, Then MamaJanuary 10, 2013 at 7:28 PM

      Assuming that facebook is still a "thing" in 10 or 15 years...

      Delete
  3. UnknownJanuary 10, 2013 at 8:51 AM

    HI Rachel! Obviously I found your blog (again)!! I really am a ditz with all this stuff sometimes!!

    You seriously look and sound like the best baby-sitter ever--- that title doesn't even seem to give you justice!!

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    Replies
    1. Wife, Then MamaJanuary 10, 2013 at 7:40 PM

      Sometimes I have a hard time finding blogs again, I love GFC for that, and it makes me really glad I use blogger instead of wordpress, even though I have heard that wordpress is better.

      Thank you so much for the compliment! I would say I really try to be the best baby-sitter I can be, but its not really that hard, I love kids, and I love being at home, so its just a natural fit for me. I do try to make sure they have fun, feel loved, and like being at my house while still maintaining respect and calmness in the house, which takes a little effort :)

      Delete
  4. A Proverbs 31 WifeJanuary 10, 2013 at 7:31 PM

    Ah! I hear you so loud and clear! I worked at a child care center for almost 4 years and I still go back at times just to see some of them. Others I was fortunate enough to end up being good friends with the whole family so now I bug them to let me babysit while they go out on a date!
    I watch a two year old now and love her to death but that's my worry too, someday they will no longer need me and not only will I lose the bill paying income, I'm going to lose a huge chunk of my heart. Heck, I've already lost it. lol :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJanuary 12, 2013 at 9:36 PM

    New to your blog and so thankful I found it. Blessings and good thoughts your way, sorry to hear about this post.

    Ashley from http://theheartofashley.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

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