A Village

I had put off the question of what to do with the babies when I returned to work. I refused to think about our separation for as long as possible. I love my job, and it's not that easy to find a job as an English instructor so close to home. I knew the babies couldn't go to daycare with my germ-phobia and their preemie-ness, so I felt some pretty high anxiety on this topic. Luckily, Rodney's hours allow him to stay with the babies every week day until noon. Asking my mother to fill in the gaps was the only plan I could feel good about. But how do you ask someone to take care of your twin babies while you go back to your normal life? Oh, and for free. "Hey, Mom, I know you have your own busy life going on, and these are your care-free, child-free years, but could you forget about that, drop everything and take care of my two babies every day?" It is my responsibility and my highest calling in life to care for these babies. To delegate it feels wrong and selfish. Yet, to cut this part of my life, my personality, not to mention our income, would have its own negative effect.

So, my mother, better known these days as Mimi, comes to our house four days a week to take care of Emma and Ethan until Rodney or I get home from work. I will never be able to thank her enough for it, and I get tongue tied when I try. I don't think there is language to express this kind of deep gratitude.  Like most kids, I never really understood how much my mom did to take care of my sister and me, how much work it was to maintain the household and how little I helped, how seldom, if ever there was an occasion, I thanked her properly. Yet, here she is, back for round two...only this time I will be a better student. I'm watching, learning and wondering how on earth I will ever measure up to that kind of grace.

I must give proper credit to Her Royal Miminess for all that she does for my family from diapers, baths and naps to bottles, sippy cups, and baby food. Keeping both babies occupied and supervised alone is no easy task. I love how she thinks of new ways to do things, helps me solve problems and most of all, how she reminds me to relax and have fun. Sometimes she even finds time to help with our household chores if she can. I may come home to find the laundry pile folded or the kitchen sink clean, dishes done. Mimi, you are simply amazing.

Mimi isn't the only "villager" who watches over our children. We are blessed with other amazing family members who also pitch in their time and energy to make the twin operation go as smoothly as it does. Rodney's grandparents live nearby and they come to assist Mimi two times a week.

To have them as part of our team is pretty special.

Not many people have the opportunity to get to know their great grandchildren. Not many kids get that extra generation of unconditional love. They look so happy holding them or watching them crawl around in the floor. I think their favorite part is feeding time. Nannie laughs and laughs at the expressions Ethan makes when he eats and she ooohs and aahhs over Emma's bright-eyed smile. Papa is playful. He calls Ethan "Biggon'" and gets animated with the airplane spoon. It brings special joy to our hearts and theirs.

My sister also comes one day of the work week. She has been so kind as to spend her day off working at our house, taking care of the babies.

It's obvious that she enjoys spending time with them and I'm proud to have her on board. I only wish I had been mature enough to help more with her babies, but I have always loved them tremendously and have some very fond memories of them as babies. I'm so proud of who they are becoming. Amy is such a good mother and aunt. She is good about breaking the monotony of our routine. She may take them for a walk in the stroller, change their clothes for fun, or play with a different toy or in a different room of the house. I can see how much she loves them when I come home, and I think to myself,

"what a wonderful world." :)