Thinking of You
I was lucky as a young parent. Our first house was built by my father-in-law, the second husband of my late wife’s mother. They then built a house about seven houses down and around the corner, because that’s what developers do. Build in their own neighborhood. We all lived in Pasadena, Tx. My kids, growing up, could walk to their grandparent’s house, and they did, too. A lot. So, did we. It was nice. My wife had her mother. She was maw-maw, and we all loved her, our built-in babysitter.
It was a job I did this weekend, babysitting, and when I finished yesterday, I told the kids they should call me more often. I’d be happy to drive in and watch the little ones even for a night. Because one thing young parents need is time off. And kids need a break from their parents, too. And grandparents need a break as well to bask in the glow of being wanted and loved. That’s a nice feeling when the little ones are glad to see you coming, and the parents too, although their reception is more relief than anything, as in thank God, you’re here. Bye.
The thing about doing babysitting, is that the more you do it, the easier it gets, because you start to know the kids really well and the house and the routines, and then everyone can relax and have fun, which is how Sunday morning turned out. They were hyped on Friday, still buzzing on Saturday, but by Sunday we were all just old hands hanging out. I even got them to clean their rooms with my help, so they’d be nice for their mother when she got home. At some point, I’ll tell them what the word altruism means. Meanwhile, I’ll just have to show them.
John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Tale