Discovering Normal #Nannylife

While writing this I am sitting on a bench at a playground surrounded by children of all ages and parents of all dispositions. Becoming a nanny has been an interesting transition for my life. In some ways I feel like I have become a mom prematurely, as the booster seats in my car, kids snacks in my bag and phone with endless adorable pictures can testify. (I even had a nightmare that my car was stolen and the little boy inside was kidnapped on my watch.) My days are filled with outings to parks, Bass Pro Shop or the zoo, conversations with parents also determined for children’s days to be more than just television or the back yard, and seemingly endless driving. I strongly considered beginning to get a business degree online during this time, but I realized I would have absolutely no time to rest. Which is what I’m used to. That’s why this is hard for me in the weirdest way, I’m leading the life that most people have all of their lives to be normal, and I have to choose to not go back to doing every imaginable thing except sleep. My life up until this point has been extraordinary; filled with travel, uniqueness and pulling long hours. But now I work Monday through Friday and get home tired from driving in traffic around 5 pm. My weekends are full of church and friends and making a legitimate date happen. 

The funny thing is that I’m finally learning all the normal every day life things that most people seem to have always known, but my irregular life did not lend to me learning to begin with. Things like closing the garage door when you pull out, waiting in a car line to pick a child up from school or making lunch for me and a little guy every day. Actually it’s the every day bit that is the most crazy to me. I’m doing the same thing every day, every week. But the most shocking part is not being to leave and do what I want when I want just as long as I ask off. I can’t leave because that would screw over the family, they can’t just put the kids in daycare for a month randomly. I’m a part of their lives, practically family. And this is good. It’s good to see things from the perspective of most of the people I come across. It’s good to know what it is like to be committed to something and not be free to do all that I would like to do, but be doing all God wants me to do for right now. It’s good to be content in the season of life I find myself, anticipating with forward joy what God has in store for the future. It’s good to discover normal.

P.S. In case this wasn't well communicated, I totally love my job and it is exactly what I needed. God is so good. Well behaved kids are the best thing ever.