LauraStories: Scanned Nostalgia, The Babysitter

Last week, baby James received gifts from TWO of my prior employers. Not from my days at MWR, but from my many, many days of babysitting. I was so touched that my mom & I engaged in many a nostalgic dialogue about all the different families I babysat over the years. Kids I loved, parents I thought were awesome, the more difficult children, and all of them in between. Then I did what I am wont to do anytime I am caught up in the memories of yesteryear. I scoured for the photographs. Here is what I found-

The very inception of my babysitting days. The Hurley’s. I wanted to BE Mrs. Hurley, in all her crafty, cool, allowing-me-soda glory. In fact, I spent more time at her house after school than at my friends. With a newborn and a two year old, she probably welcomed the company, but I still remember her kindness and the way she befriended a silly ten-year old. She also did my hair for my 8th grade cotillion, and later confessed she had no clue what she was doing! Obviously, I loved her kiddo’s too :) Here is me with her second little girl {who is now FIFTEEN!} Sean.

Then there was Mary Kathryn & her big brother Jay. We were next door neighbors on base and we all shared in the excitement of her adoption process.

Little chubbly Josh..such an easy little guy

A favorite from high school was definitely the Graves Family. Mrs. Graves was a former high school English teacher & cheerleading coach. So not only did she help me edit my papers, she was perfectly optimistic--enough to melt all that teenage angst. In fact, even when I wasn’t babysitting for her at 5:30 am {she and her husband were runners} I could still be found at her house just hanging out. I was wrapped around the finger of her little boy, Weston & just as fond of her sweet daughter Morgan.

My college days brought lots of new families, but I spent most of my time with the Maxwell boys, while their Mom was working hard, founding the very successful Military Spouse Magazine. I was with these kiddo’s at least twice a week. We played a lot of legos, dinosaurs, matchbox cars and the like. Another family that holds a special place in my heart.

I also had a once a week with these sweet twins! Oh, we had such sweet times :)

And of course, I cannot mention any of my babysitting days without a huge nod to this family. I met them back when I was in middle school working in the church nursery. When I was in college & working at Holy Trinity School, we were reunited and I ended up living in their carriage house for a year. I love, love, love this family.

I spent a summer with this cutie, taught her swim lessons too :)

I finished off my babysitting days with these two kiddo’s. I learned a lot from little miss and it was the perfect last fling before moving on to the real deal..