Why I don't do "littles"

I take teens. I said in the last post that I take them because I can. Some people take little kids and can't imagine taking teens.

But I can't imagine doing little kids.

Part of it is the job. Hubby and I both work outside of the home. Day care around here is pretty awful, and I just don't want to go back to dealing with that nightmare.

It also just sounds so overwhelming. Kids who need their shoes tied, and help blowing their nose, who want to crawl in bed with me or (horror of horrors) wake me up in the middle of the night and aren't even bleeding to death. Toys everywhere. Sticky handles. Kids who whine because they are hungry and can't even be trusted to pour themselves a glass of milk because they will spill it all over the kitchen.

Geeze. Been there; done that.

You read my blog. As the mother of "bigs" I can sound pretty wonderful. Oh I have my bad days, my snappy days, my I-want-to-run-for-the-hills days, but mostly I am pretty good at what I do.

Give me a baby or adorable little toddler for an hour or two and I will thank you. They are cute and cuddly and feel GOOD when they rest on your shoulder. When they laugh they laugh with their whole being. I will tickle their tummies, read them a story, and hold them while they sleep.

But after an hour or two I will happily give them back.

Then I will go home cheerfully to my recovering addict teenager who sleeps through the night and packs his own lunch.