My Weekend Watching the Kids

I had the opportunity to watch the children I care for for the weekend.  I call it an opportunity because it will bring in more income for me, which I truly need right now, so I am grateful for this!  But, boy it was exhausting.  The children wanted my attention the entire time, even though they are ten and seven years old.  I thought they were more independent then they are, needing me to play with them and care for them.  The young boy even asked me in the morning if he was allowed to get a drink.  I was pretty confused at why he didn't just get one, and needed my permission.  My son at ten years old was making his own pasta in the kitchen while I was there, and baking his own cakes.  My children were all very independent in the kitchen, I was a stay at home mom, and when I cooked any meal, they were there helping, even as young as two years old.  Cooking was fun for them, being with mommy and learning how to cook!  My oldest daughter was even making pancakes for the entire family when she was only five years old (of course with my supervision), so this was confusing to me. 
                           
 On one hand, they are taught by their parents to be independent, to get their own things, and have many activities after school.   Actually, my children taught me to allow them to be independent, because they always wanted to do everything for themselves!  My second daughter at two years old would insist on picking her own clothes out and dressing herself, and it never ended from there!  But, when it comes to listening they surely have a mind of their own and want to do what they want, and always insist they are right about everything, when many times they are not. They are very challenging, and always need to be right, and don't always tell the truth.  Children are so different now, we were taught to be so honest, and was called a liar if we lied.  If you tell a child now they lied about something, they basically have a heart attack!  How dare you say that to them, they would never lie.  And they were lying!                                                      

I played with them all day to keep them busy because they didn't seem capable of playing alone, being alone, without the computer or reading.  They actually wanted to stay in all day, and it was one of the first 75 degree days of the year, and after the 10 degrees we had in the winter, I told them to stay outside for the day.  When we grew up, we were out all day, out in the fresh air, the sunshine, and running around like children should be doing, especially after a long, cold winter.  We need to be outside, near the trees, Mother Earth, running around, playing around, etc.  Not hibernating in our bedrooms on a beautiful sunny day, and one of the first ones!  

                                       

                   
I offered to take them hiking, which I thought they would love to do, but they wanted to stay home.  Since they weren't able to play with themselves, or find their friends on the street to play with, I played with them the entire day until they had a birthday party at 4:00.  We jumped on the tramp, played football, ran around and had bicycle races. I had fun with them, always enjoying playing with the kids, just like being a kid again, bringing out the child that loves to have fun.  
 They were very competitive, and they young girl always has to win.  I see this a lot with children who are in competitive sports, as these children are.  The ten year old boy is a competitive gymnast, and the young girl is competitive in Tae Kwan Do, at only seven years old.  I am starting to be concerned that children who are competitive very young, may only find confidence in themselves by winning, and being the best.  Children should love who they are just for who they are, not by what they are "doing" to win.  To just be.  To just hang out, run around, and be happy, like young ones do.  To know they are good and loved just because they exist.  Just because they are here, and loved by their parents.  These children are very blessed they have highly intelligent parents, who give them so many opportunities in life and want them to succeed.  And, they are great kids, they are very kind, very caring, very compassionate with others, and this is so beautiful to see.  

When we got up Sunday, the young girl showered, and when she came down dressed, she matched me with her jeans, white t-shirt, and fuscia sweater over it, just like I was dressed.  She came downstairs while I was in the kitchen, with a huge smile on her face, and said, "look, we match!"  I was so touched, touched because I did not know how she really felt about me, if she really liked me as a care giver or not, because so many times she disagrees with me and just wants to do what she wants and doesn't want to listen.  And the other children I was just caring for, told me they loved me all day!  We totally loved each other, along with their Moms, and I felt part of the family, which I still feel because I still see them often.  This also made me realize what an influence we are to children, all of us adults.  That gives us a big responsibility, and makes me even more aware of my actions around them.  It was really sweet, that just made my day!

We went to eat breakfast out, and they acted up in the restaurant, which surprised me.  After we ate they wouldn't behave, they kept trying to go under the table and play around, even after asking them many times to stop.  I was surprised at this behavior not knowing how to act in a restaurant at their age, they acted as if they were a few years old.  
After breakfast, I had to drive them an hour away to Edgewater to where their Grandfather lived, and I was to drop them off there.  It took an hour due to all the traffic down a one lane road which over looks Manhattan.  
When I met their Grandfather, he was such a love!  So sweet, so educated, so wordly.  He asked if I brought my bathing suit and wanted me to stay!  It was a pleasure meeting him.  I finally left, and went home to see my brother and his wife, which always comforts me and brings me joy!  
Namaste, Om Shante, Shante Om