Happy Show & Tell Tuesday!
I’m linking up with Andrea today and sharing mine and Andrew’s first jobs.
Well, technically my very first job also happened to be my very favorite job. I was a babysitter :).
Y’all…I loved babysitting! I’ve been a little mama since birth, so taking care of kiddos was always my favorite way to spend my time (and make some money too).
When I was fourteen, I officially babysat for the first time. One of my mom’s clients had a six month old little boy who I watched. His name was Ethan and it was love at first sight :).
After I had been watching Ethan for several months, his mom made a comment to my mom about how she used to teach swim lessons when she was a teenager and one of her favorite babies to teach was a little baby named Shay…and my mom kind of freaked out and grabbed my baby book and low and behold…there was a picture of one year old me at swim lessons with this cute teenage girl…who was Lori (the mama!). What are the odds?!?! So, that kind of cemented in our minds that this relationship was meant to last.
This is me with Ellie Kate and Ethan on his first day of pre-school.
I attended family weddings with them. Their family became my family too.
No matter how many classes I took or other jobs I had, I always spent time with them.
I mean…who could blame me? Look how cute they are!
I even went to Disney World with them :).
I took care of these two kiddos until I was 22 and got married. And of course, they were my flower girl and ring bearer :).
And then when I became a mama myself, sweet Lori helped teach Kensington how to swim. It was the circle of life :).
Six days before I had Smith, we went to a Cowboys game with them. I’m not pictured here because I was 9 months pregnant and smart enough not to take pics of myself :).
And here we are at the zoo with Smith and Kensington. Look how big Ethan and Ellie are!
And this is Lori. She is more than someone who used to pay me to babysit. She’s my dearest, sweetest, closest friend…she’s family (her and her husband too).
Today, Ethan is 19 and away at college and Ellie is 16. It’s hard to believe my babies have grown up!
Several random facts about this “job”…
1. When I went to college, my university was actually only 15 minutes from their house…so, I basically semi moved in with them because I enjoyed their company (and I’m pretty sure they enjoyed mine too). It was really convenient to watch the kids, pick them up from school, stop by for a good meal and often a really good chat…usually about boys.
2. Tom and Lori both have radio/journalism backgrounds, so when I told them I wanted to major in journalism, they were my biggest cheerleaders. They even taught me how to do the best “walk and talk” for one of my classes. You know…when you are moving but reading a news story at the same time. We laugh about this a lot now! I’m a walk and talk pro thanks to them :).
3. Ethan and Ellie are both adopted. Spending the past 19 years watching this family has been one of the biggest inspirations and preparations for me as a future adoptive mama. At a very young age, this family taught me what “family” means.
I could go on and on and on about how valuable and special my time with this family was. Outside of my own two parents, no other people made a bigger impact on my young life than them.
So…that was my first “job”…and my favorite too :).
I asked Andrew what his first job was and he kind of rolled his eyes…he grew up on a farm (where his parents still live today)…so he said it was working in the hay fields. I’m sure he was like four ;). When Andrew talks about growing up on a farm, it sounds like a lot of manual labor at a very young age :).
Next time on Show & Tell Tuesdays, we’re sharing Halloween costumes from years past.
And to see posts from the past…
(I was in China for the first two, so I wasn’t able to participate.)
And for dinner tonight…
It’s a bowl of soup that tastes like a chicken and spinach enchilada with sour cream sauce. And it’s oh so simple too! To see the recipe, click here.
Happy Tuesday!
Erika Slaughter says
Aw!!! I've heard so many stories about this sweet family! I'm so glad I can finally put faces to names!
Kimberly says
That is a great story about Lori realizing she taught you to swim. I love the photo of her teaching your daughter to swim. Sounds like Ethan and Ellie were lucky to have you, and you were lucky to have them – what a perfect job!
Kimberly
Very European
Kate Hofer says
I have a very similar situation here as well! I nannied for a family while I was in college and have become best friends with the mother, the girls were my flower girls, and we now vacation together. It is such a special relationship that I am so grateful for!
Leslie says
This post speaks to my soul! Throughout high school and college I nannied a family for 7 years! Those kids are so near and dear to my heart and I'm so lucky to have a second family like them!
Melissa says
I love this! My first job was babysitting and I fell in love with the kids I kept too. The family I nannied for in college will always hold a special place in my heart and I love to catch up and see what the boys are doing now. They taught me so much about how to be a mama and I'm so thankful I had that experience. Thanks for sharing those sweet pictures-it brought back precious memories.
Charla Liedahl says
I have a very special family I babysat for for many years and went on trips with also! All three of their kids were in my wedding…and then I went to the oldest son's wedding two weeks ago! So crazy and so special!
Jessica Still says
so sweet!
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Those are some super cute kiddos! I have two families I used to babysit for all the time as well, and I loved those kids! One of them is married now!
Leigh Clark says
That is awesome – we have a young lady in our family now that reminds me so much of this story. I hope she is around for years to come and my kiddos love her like family!
Kjlb37 says
I love this! How neat to play such a special part in a family's life and they had a great influence on you as well. I think those type of jobs are few and far between. You are blessed, but then you already know that:)
{Hi Sugarplum!} says
How cute are you?! Love seeing pics of you 'back in the day' 🙂 My first job was at the mall…corn dog on a stick!!! I still love those things!
C&CMomma says
So neat that you are all close to this day! What a special bond. Just curious what your first job outside of babysitting was?
The Nelson Happenings says
My first job was also babysitting ! I had several families in our tiny little town that I'd watch their kids. Loved loved every minute of my job.
To this day I still keep in contact with most of them via Facebook.
Lindsay at Lindsay'sSweetWorld says
I started baby-sitting when I was ten and I did it until I was sixteen and got another job. I loved all of my babies so, so much, and now I can't believe that they're all grown!
Beautifully Seaside // Formerly Chic Coastal Living says
You must have been the best babysitter ever! Oooh and I wish I was having dinner at your house tonight, because that recipe looks delicious!
Shannon Collin says
Loved the recipe for soup! I am excited to try it! We are in need of a new slow cooker. Is there a brand/model you especially recommend? Thank you!
Angie says
How awesome that you were blessed enough to cross paths with that family. It sounds like a lifetime bond 🙂
Aubrey says
So sweet! It's wonderful that in helping this family, they helped you too! I've heard so many stories like this from other former nannies and babysitters. The "babies" I was responsible for during college were actually teenagers, and they are some of my favorite people on earth to this day. Their parents still live in Tulsa and are the closest thing I have to family in town. 🙂
Jaren says
Oh my goodness Shay! Out of the blue, this post made me tear up! What a sweet story!
Kendra Petrellese says
I love this! It seems like so many of us ladies used to babysit when we were younger-how cool is that?! What a special thing it is to create bonds with kiddos and their families, those are bonds that will last forever! Loved seeing photos of you from the teenage Shay days!
Mary Dollar says
I'm pretty sure Lori doesn't remember me. But she taught my son David to swim many moons ago. I adore her mother, and I know Lori has to be just as awesome and funny as she always was. What a great friendship you two have!!!