"Thanks Becky for coming along and watching the baby," said one of the staff at the Discovery Bay campus in Washington (state). It seemed important to them to encourage me in what a valuable part I had played this week in watching baby Will so his Mama could attend the Fundraising Seminar.
It took me a while to figure out why it seemed so weird to hear that. Than I realized that all my years as a teen I heard that over and over. I had tagged along to various places to help with the kiddos - joining snack time after the "Moms of Preschooler Bible Study"...always the odd one who did't quite belong.

Maybe Carrie asking, "can I bring a friend to help with the baby" made them picture a teenager. But for me it was so weird to hear that "thank you" because I see myself so differently than I did when I was the random teenager just tagging along to help with kids. That's when I realized yet another way I grew while living with the DeZwaans last year. It may have looked like I finally got to be a live-in nanny, but during that time I learned that I was an adult, their peer and friend...who happened to help out with the kiddos from time to time.

This week, I came Discovery Bay with my friends and co-workers, and saw myself as an equal part of the team.
But while they spent 3 days sitting in lectures from 8:30am-5:30pm. I got snack time, play time, snuggle time, and bath time. Then during nap time, I got to sit in on the lectures. I'd say I got the good end of the deal.