Babysitting 101

I have never baby-sat.  Ever.  Not even my nieces and nephew.  So you can understand that even with the best of intentions — and despite the assurances I gave our couple friend that they can call me anytime — tonight, when they finally asked for my help, I was mortified.  

T and N live just around the corner from us (N is the husband's college classmate).  They're both nurses and there are two nights in a week when their schedules overlap for an hour.  They have three kids. N's mom had been staying with them for nine months and it was time she went back to the Philippines.  T said maybe it's okay to leave the kids alone for that one-hour window, anyway, they are almost always asleep by then.  I was horrified;  I told her a lot of things can happen in an hour.  I offered to sit in, just to oversee things, before her husband comes home.  Up until tonight, they've tried to work their schedules out.  Tonight, they were in a tight spot.  The one thing that wasn't in the contract was the possibility that one of the kids might be awake.  Hadn't the mom assured me all three would be asleep and I only had to watch for, maybe, sleepwalkers in the lot?  But yes, the youngest was wide awake and the mom turned her over to me as she gathered up her things for work.   

Need I say it again?  I was mortified.  What was I to do with a wide-awake one-year-old baby girl?  

Turns out it was easier than I'd imagined.  She is a well-behaved little girl, who stayed glued to the Leap Frog DVD her mom played just before she hopped on her SUV.  I had her in my lap as she gurgled out cute baby sounds.  I was waiting for her to cry, or look for her mom, but she happily stayed in place, shouting out "Eeeeeeees" in between chewing on my wristlet.

When her dad arrived an hour later, I almost didn't want to relinquish her to him. 

She's such a sweet little angel and I can't wait to baby-sit her again.     

Home Sweet Home

I've missed my house.  And my bed — the thick mattress and the soft 4-inch memory foam mattress topper.  I've missed the fuzzy blanket that keeps my toes warm.  I've missed waking up in the morning knowing that when I step out of the bedroom, I'd see the husband hunched over the computer.  I've missed taking a shower in my very own bathroom stall, with all my hair essentials lined up in a row.  

It's great to be home again.

I've been away for two nights, giving in to a request by B and her aunt, B (let's call her B2 to avoid confusion), who I've become really close friends with during her visit here.  B2 was set to leave for home and so it was deemed necessary that I spend the night to say our goodbyes.  Apparently, B1's 4am vigil at the balcony was a one-shot deal and that left me and B2 to really spend hours gabbing as she packed 3 boxes to full capacity.  We slept at 5am, waiting for word from the airline whether she'll be able to board a flight that night.  Unfortunately, her flight was not confirmed but we headed to San Francisco anyway so she could drop off two boxes for cargo, a privilege extended to airline employees like her (but not without the usual fees for excess).  I was supposed to go home that night, after that short trip to San Francisco and a satisfying meal at Jollibee, but one thing led to another and I found myself sleeping over again.  Her flight had been confirmed for the next night, and so extended goodbyes were in order.  She entrusted her niece to me, saying I am the only person who can help B1 navigate the world of maturity and adulthood, a task I hardly think I would like to take on simply because I'd turn into a nag if I did.  And yeah, we were able to discuss all this because B1, again, left us to our own devices as she bid us a sleepy good night 5 minutes after we arrived at their place.  

This morning, I made a hasty and early exit with the husband while they were all sleeping.  I missed home and the husband too much.  I figured if B2 would really make it tonight (unfortunately, she didn't…  the flight for Manila was overbooked), I could say my last goodbyes by phone.  The husband and I had breakfast at IHOP with the cheery waiter, Alejandro, brightening up our morning even more.  When we got home, I breathed a big sigh of relief, changed into my sleep clothes, and dove into our comfy bed.  

Home sweet home.