Lessons learned.

I've punched out and then deleted several starter paragraphs for this post over the last hour, trying to figure out how exactly to write out what I'm feeling.

Basically, I finished my last day (EVER) of work as a nanny. It's been a long road getting here, but I don't regret the time I've spent in this line of work...particularly because it's led me to Tampa and I'm so happy being here.

I've learned...

- I don't regret the time that I spent doing this work. I know that everything I learned from this time in my life will be beneficial when I have my own kids running me ragged one day.

- Nothing is more important at the end of the day than your kids knowing that you love them and that you're proud of the people they're becoming...with or without your help.

- You can't protect your kids from everything that'll happen to them and that it's your job as a parent (or a nanny) to help give them the tools necessary to fight their own battles...and to help them understand which ones are worth fighting.

- The words to the theme songs of more kids' shows than I EVER thought I would.

- Baby wipes and hand sanitizer are on the list of the best inventions on the planet.

- You really should sleep when the baby does...everything else can wait.

- There's a difference between a hungry cry and a tired cry and a hurt cry.

- Kids love funny faces...any time...for any reason.

- Privacy in the bathroom is no longer a guarantee when kids are involved.

- Your job is NOT to make sure that everything's always fair for them...real life doesn't work that way and making them think so is hindering, not helping.

- You're not actually a horrible person for letting a kid learn at an early age to "cry it out" when it comes to nap time.

- Kids really do say the darnedest things.

- It's possible, though not entirely easy, to do many things with one hand.

- One of the best feelings in the world is having your kid tell you that they love you.

There are looooooooooooooooots of other things I've learned, but those are the big ones that are sticking out to me at the moment.

I'm now a seasoned professional when it comes to changing a diaper, folding the laundry, playing cards and playing trucks, reading bedtime stories, finding lost stuffed animals and cleaning the kitchen. Making lunches, grocery shopping and errand running, swing and stroller pushing and applying dress-up makeup are all in a day's work. Kissing a boo-boo, deciphering kid-talk and making up funny lyrics to otherwise normal songs are now like second-nature to me. Playing round after (endless) round of "What time is it, Mr. Wolf", "Hide and Seek", "Wipe Out" and "American Gladiators" is just part of the deal.

Because of this work, I've also realized and recognized my strengths as well as my weaknesses. I have, for instance, a weakness for little reddish-haired and blue eyed boys who (when they were really little) consistently fell asleep on my shoulder with their hand sticking straight down my shirt...and when they were bigger, got so excited to see me every day that you would have thought I was a celebrity (on par with the likes of Dora the Explorer or Wyatt from Super Why!). So much of the world that I've known over the past few years begins and ends with that kid. In fact, with the exception of a few months at the beginning, my entire work history as a nanny revolves around him, his sisters and his cousins. It was because of his family that I ever set foot in Florida in the first place and it's because of his cousins that I ultimately ended up in Tampa. I don't know how to adequately express my gratitude to this family, actually...other than to just say THANK YOU for sharing your kids with me. They've taught me so much!

And now, like with every good nanny story (Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee actually being the only two that I can think of)...it's time to say farewell to that portion of my life. But, with the knowledge that has come because of my experiences writing my own Nanny Diaries story, I know that whenever the time comes I'll be a good mom...at least in theory...we'll see how it all goes down in practical application! (Which is the story of my life, lately...or maybe always!)

The End. :)