“The Other Family”

I grew up in Tacoma. While, I live in San Diego now, I do travel up to Washington often. On the last trip I made this summer, I got to spend time with old friends and family and was honored when they asked if I could take their family photos. I’ve known this family now for over 20 years. Yes, 20 years. Each day, after school, when no one was home at my house, I’d head down the street and I’d be a mommy’s helper. I’d play with the kids, I’d make huge messes, and I’d have  blast being the friend, neighbor, and goofy girl with braces and big hair who loved those little girls dearly. I started going over to play when the youngest daughter was 5 months old. I was upgraded to babysitter, and then to Nanny. The girls were 4 and 8 when I left. I loved then and protected them as my own. My grandma even had nicknames for them, and I’d spend my time making sure they had the best time ever… (Even if I left the biggest messes in my wake… *not much has changed*)   The approximate 10 year age spread between the children and me, and the mom made for some wonderful times during my teen years. It was wonderful having the  mother be a mentor to me, watching her go to nursing school and care for two young children, taught the girls the value of an education and working hard (not that my parents didn’t do this too, as my mom is reading this and shaking her head), and it taught me that even though you’re busy, you are your own person, you can achieve new goals with children at your feet. You can also go out to concerts wearing racy clothes, while your children are still drinking from sippy cups. The family was a wonderful example to me, and I’m so very proud of all of them. Thank you for being a part of my life and supporting me, you guys mean the world to me. I just hope that I can return the favor. I still remember my pride as I deposited one of my last checks from working all summer nannying, and having $1000 in the bank. Money I earned, all by myself. Then coming out of the bank, making a bad turn coming out of my parking spot, and ripping the bumper off my car… there went my $1000….  My point of this rambling post is… It is families like you that make a community, that embrace the geeky girl down the street with a big perm and braces, and are able to share what you have. I want the memory of that love to preserve, and never fade. It is important. It’s legacy.  It’s history. It’s a relationship. It’s love.