Sometimes things happen with kids that are just so overwhelming that you feel your heart grows two sizes, even if you aren’t a grinch.
Sometimes those moments are big- like when a child utters their first word, takes a first step or masters the monkey bars for the first time.
But more often, those moments are small.
When your 5 year old comes home with wilted flowers smashed into the crevices of her book bag because she knows you like pink flowers.
When your 12 year old remembers to put his backpack on the hook instead of leaving it on the floor of the mudroom.
When your 3 year old wipes his own bottom independently for the first time.
Recently I was contacted by a former charge who is now having his own baby and wanted advice on a nanny. He said many nice things to me and I remarked that he had forgotten all the times I yelled, forgot important things or the way I had not been good about staying in touch. (It was my first job twenty years ago, hopefully I am better now) He was quick to say, “Sue, I don’t remember any of those things. All I remember is the days at the pool, the trips we took, the Jimmy Buffet music you taught us.” The everyday good stuff.
How nice it would have been if I had been a better nanny then and had journaled some of those days. I would love to go back and relieve the magic of the everyday moments. The big ones and the small ones.