I am a Nanny

     I am a Nanny. When I shared this fact with a little old lady at the park, she said "I have never met a Nanny before!! I thought Nannies were from England!" But being a Nanny is a very common job in the states and it is probably one of the hardest summer jobs i have ever had. I am with three girls ages 4,5, and 8 for 8 hours a day. Usually I am with big girl and little girl, but every other week i get biggest girl who is their step sister.
Big girl is a very sweet girl. She is not very particular about her food or clothes. She is always looking to lend a hand to a friend. She is also the dare devil of the group and she likes to have a good time.
Little girl is the crack up. She is always making me laugh with her funny sayings and little quarks. But she is four so she tries my patience with her little fits. Not to mention she is probably the most strong willed child I have ever babysat. She knows what she likes and she is not happy if something comes in the way of that.
Biggest girl is a very sweet child, but she is 8 and she loves to test my patience and the rules. She points out negatives and is a very picky eater. But she loves stories. I often read out loud to them before nap or while lunch is cooking and she is always asking for me to read more. So by and by we have many good times together.
During those 8 hours I cook, clean, play, paint nails, comfort, supervise, and teach. Being a Nanny is like being a substitute parent. I do everything they do. the only difference is that I am getting paid to do it and they are not. And I find great relief when i get sweet solitude at nap time. I like to think of it as Michaela time, because i read, listen to music, and sometimes take a little nap myself. 
   Everyday the girls have an activity planned. Well today, I took the girls to the movies and then decided to let them play in the little fountain outside of the theater. Well big girl was running around and fell on the pavement and bit her lip. Now, I am very very squeemish with blood and her lip was bleeding profusely! So i had to swallow hard and deal with it. In fact I have to do that A LOT! We didn't stay there long because both the girls were upset and in need of a nap. So we walked round the building to my car and when we got in, it was blistering hot. When the car is hot like that Little girl will get in, but refuse to sit in her car seat. I don't even understand this logic because the car seat is just as hot as the car. Anyway, they sat down and I was trying the buckle them without letting the metal part of the buckle touch their thighs, but i wasn't very successful and they were both crying crocodile tears and were very peevish. At this point, I pull out a technique called positive thinking.
 It's like I assume that they can't think of the positive things that have happened and will happen, so i tell them. Today it came out in the form of: "We are having such a fun day!! We went to the movies and played in the fountains and now we are going home to eat popsicles and play with play-doh!! It will be so much fun!" And instantly the mood was lightened and we had a peaceful ride home, with two girls sleeping in the sunshine. Another thing that helps kids when they need calmed down is music. So on the way home we listened to some soothing lullaby kind of music and it made a world of difference.