But alas, there’s the text message. It came from a good friend of mine desperately seeking a babysitter. Their child’s babysitter was sick and they did not have a substitute. If this were summer there would be plenty of teenagers looking for a little extra cash, but summer it was not. Nor a school holiday. What followed next was a blur. My fingers were replying to the text and yet I know it wasn’t me typing. I replied that I would be glad to watch the little feller.

And so, at 10:30 this morning, my “me” day became an “us” day, greatly out of my comfort zone but convinced I could handle this. His mom dropped him off and discussed everything I needed to know, and informed me there were a few diapers in the bag. Never had I even given a thought to the “D” word. Three children, nine grandchildren, and never have I changed a diaper … I wasn’t about to start now! Regardless, his mom went off to work leaving me with the wee one and an adventure ready to begin.

I have to admit he was fantastic. The rules are you can play with any toy, but when you are finished you have to put it back. He always did without having to be reminded. He was also quick to say “please” and “thank you”, something our kids never mastered. We played the piano, we ate Spaghettios, we watched television, we played with stickers, we played with the dogs, we climbed up the stairs, we climbed down the stairs, we played with the computer … all in about ten minutes.

Becky’s return from work was much appreciated. She could then babysit both of us … and change any diaper that may be in need of changing!

After lunch, we decided to head off to Liberty Zone to play in their indoor playground, a free playground which all parents in the area should know about. Ty, the “wee one”, enjoyed running up a roller slide, climbing over ropes, through tunnels, chasing friends he made while there and just had an awesome time. After about an hour of play it was time to return to the car.

He slept all the way home.

It wasn’t long after we got home that dad came to pick him up. I had survived. In fact, I had fun. It was still a “me” day, but I had the enjoyment of sharing it with someone else.

[Show as slideshow]

Oh, I can’t tell you what the real answer was. It would spoil the surprise on Christmas Day for his sister!

One of the oldest memories I have of Christmas is the Christmas Tree Cookies. My grandmother would make “white cookies” and before baking would take one of her many cookie cutters and cut bears, stars, trees and gingerbread men from the cookie dough. Then toward the top of each cookie she would place a hole. After baking, frosting, and sprinking those red and green sprinkly things on top (which tasted so good eaten straight from the sprinkly stuff container when no one was watching), a string was inserted in the hole to suspend each individual cookie from one of the Chistmas tree boughs. Over the course of the holiday, each time I would visit, I would break off and eat an appendage from the gingerbread man or bear shaped cookies. It wasn’t unusual to find a bear or a gingerbread man with just its head dangling on the tree from its string.

I would love to have you post below your favorite holiday memories and traditions.