Today, I realized how much the little things can make a difference...
After work, I went to babysit, like I do every Thursday, for my 3 nephews, 1 niece and two other children. Today, it was only my 5 yr old niece and the two other (who are 2 and a baby). With it being Mothers Day on Sunday, me and my niece started making a present for her mom.
While we were making it she asked me "Kylie, are you a mother?"
"No, I'm just a babysitter"
"Oh, so you take care of babies.....kinda?"
"Yep, that's how I got started taking care of you"
Then a few minutes later, after asking me if she could make a card to go with the present, she randomly stopped and told me "Kylie, I'm going to make you a Mother's Day card, just because I love you." Then later, she was coloring and I was cleaning up and she came up to me and handed me this little green folded up piece of paper and told me "Here you go, make sure you don't open it until Sunday"
So today, at the age of 22, with no kids to speak of (other than my 4 nieces and 5 nephews) I got my first Mothers Day card. It's just a little folded up piece of paper she scribbled in and wrote her name on the back, I get tons of those from all the kids, but the story behind it and how she told me, it was just the innocence of a 5 year old. That card I will be sure to keep for as long as I possibly can.
Later tonight, I was working on their computer, while all of them were eating dinner, and all of a sudden my 3 yr old, non verbal, nephew started yelling something then his mom yells out "Kylie, he's calling you!" and it clicked in that he really was, even though it came out as "ca-ca" it really was to me.
To most people, hearing a 3 year old say their name is nothing new...but when you think back to a one year old saying their name, it means something more. But after not really hearing a child talk for 2 years, other than a few words, it means so much. It's such a little thing but after being involved with a family w/ 4 kids since the oldest was 14 months, before there were any other kids, I have started to realized all the small things they do, the older ones walking, hearing their first words, helping them learn something new.
You usually hear parents talking about the milestones with kids. Rarely do you hear about the aunt/babysitter talking but spending so much time with them has made me realize all the little things. My oldest niece is almost done with kindergarten and reading now. Another is getting ready to go into kindergarten. One is actually playing with me, when she used to only cry when I was around, and she remembers me when she sees me. And the youngest is working on walking. I remember when half of them weren't walking. And with my nephews, the oldest, due to some unforeseen events, I'm just now able to start a relationship with him. One has started preschool and is working on speaking, and signing and communicating. One is becoming more independent and talking more. One is working on being the first 2 yr old chef ever. and the youngest, today alone discovered his tongue, and lower lip (he's only a couple months old).
When it comes to kids they really do help you to realize all the little things. The smallest thing can be a moment that touches you, even though to them, it's just another day.
No comments:
Post a Comment