November 26, 2009 by Barbara.

Reid is looking forward to tonight when she’ll have her first “real” babysitter. She proudly told Melissa, “I’m going to have a babysitter. A *real* one. Not from Wheatley or Windsor or Leamington. A babysitter from Ottawa and her name is Paige.” Ken and I are just as excited. Short of hanging around at the mall and approaching respectable looking teens who look like they might want to watch Reid, we haven’t had any luck finding a babysitter until now. The first couple of years weren’t *so* bad, since I probably would have been too wimpy to leave her but it’s been a while since I was like that.

Paige and her mom came over on Tuesday night for a quick introduction. Reid was excited to meet Paige but shy, too. Paige seemed pretty young, though she is 13, and was quiet, too. She took all of the information I provided without looking concerned at all. I’m glad one of us is feeling unflappable.

I’m giving them money for A&W. I figure that they’ll burn lots of time walking to and from the mall, eating and playing on the dragon and other mall “vehicles”, even visiting the pet shop, that Reid will hardly notice we’re gone. Not that she understands *why* Ken and I want to go out without her. ;+) Reid did, however, try to help us decide where to go. She suggested Swiss Chalet and Red Lobster and was offended when I said that those were places she wanted to go. Apparently while I was right, she was trying to help Ken answer my question.

Wish us luck, though, since we haven’t actually made it out the door yet. Knock wood and all that.

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August 28, 2009 by Barbara.

Reid and I had the saddest conversation one morning this week. During our morning snuggle, she announced that Princess was *her* baby (usually she is Reid’s little sister) and I was the grandma. I don’t think I’m old enough to be the grandma, for what it’s worth.* And I definitely wasn’t ready for Reid to say, “And my man didn’t want me anymore so Princess and I are staying with you.” That creep! How could he not want my little girl anymore?!

Then, in a serious and concerned voice, Reid asked, “Is it allowed, even when you’re an adult, to live with your mama and dad?” I told her that she would, of course, be welcome to live with us. I even pointed out that Amanda and Nam live with his parents. Reid wondered what would happen if the man who she loved didn’t want to live with Ken and me after they were married. I told her that she should find out what her dates thought about living with her parents *before* she fell in love with them. I grudgingly added that maybe she would have to live in a different house once she is married.

We’ll have to wait (a couple or three) decades to see how this all turns out. I know Ken thinks Reid will leave home for university but I can’t bring myself to imagine that, yet.

*Yes, I know that I could easily have teenager/twenty-something year old with a child of their own but I don’t.

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