Amazing Grace

A Reminder of the Early Days of Parenthood

By Linda Sharp

Recently I had the privilege of babysitting our neighbor's 1-year-old daughter, Grace. I refer to it as a privilege because this is their first child, and as first-time parents, leaving your baby in someone else's care is the equivalent of entrusting them with a piece of your soul. Not that those of us with more than one child love ours any less, it's just that as they grow and you learn more, you worry more about the harm they may do to the babysitter, not vice-versa.

Up to this point, my relationship with Grace had been one of wary curiosity – curious about her neighbors, but wary of anyone who picked her up besides Mommy and Daddy. This all changed when I unexpectedly swooped her up, sat down on a swing and began to go with her in my lap. Instant trust was born (Yes, I am aware that with a 1-year-old, trust can be forged over something as trivial as a goldfish cracker).

Offering to watch Grace was a pleasure. Plus, it helped knowing that my husband and three daughters would be in attendance. During the next couple hours, I was reminded of all kinds of things my mind has obviously blacked out since my daughters have grown:

Basically, Grace never stopped. Having recently evolved from Babius Crawlius to Homo Erectus, she explored every nook and cranny and every nook of every cranny, in our house. Luckily, she was constantly shadowed by the Three Stooges (my daughters) who competed heavily for her attention.

At that age, it ALL goes in the mouth. Food, drink, toys, refrigerator magnets, dirt, dust, rocks – heck, had I let the girls get our hamster out of its cage for Grace, I'm fairly certain Nugget would have been turned into a furry canape (and my babysitting privileges would have been immediately revoked).

I had forgotten a toddler's penchant for sharing every tidbit they are eating and their desire to try everything you are eating. It did not matter that we were eating the same crackers, I was the recipient of many fistfuls of slobbered-upon Ritz, to which I graciously thanked her and said (faked) in perfect Mommy fashion, "Mmmmmmmmm." In return, however, she expected bits of my slobber-free crackers. That was fine – I had lost my appetite.

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• Soon They'll Be Walking: A Mom Grows Up
• Talk about it!