As I mentioned in one of my recent posts, one of the things I do (they don't call me Hummingbird Mind for nothing) is serve as a local coordinator supporting Host Families and Au Pairs for Cultural Care Au Pair.  It's been great fun as my empty nester need to be around young people is met at least once a month when the Au Pairs gather.  And, I love working with parents to find the best childcare solutions for them and their children. 

An added benefit is that I get to work with a really fine company.  I've been so impressed with the staff at CCAP.  This old dog has learned some new tricks in the areas of technology, marketing, and remote staff management.  And, this past weekend I was lucky enough to attend training in LA and enjoy the benefits of attending the National Meeting. 

As jet lagged CCAP Local Childcare Coordinators made their to the hotel from LAX, they got a boost. A young man riding shotgun in the shuttle with them turned around and asked, "Are you au pairs?"  After a bit of laughter we explained that we were LCCs.  He nodded knowingly and said, "I'm an au pair... I am Ricardo." At this point the lethargic LCCs shrieked, "Ricardo!" while two middle-aged men on their way to a Hollywood autograph show looked confused and wondered if Bon Jovi had hitched a ride with us from LAX.  

Ricardo is a star! But, more than that, he is an example of the quality of the young people from all over the world who are accepted to be CCAP au pairs. For more information about this wonderful young man, check this out:

Learn more re info about the IAPA and the Au Pair of the Year Award here.

She's nearly 48, comes from a place she describes as a "collection of cottages," she's never been kissed... but she has a dream.  My gift to you today:

Hard to believe, but this month I began my second full-time year out here on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore.  Though I didn't move fully out here until summer, I was spending 50 percent of my time here physically and 100 percent of my time mentally.  Funny how differently I am living and working than I had planned.  Still, it's all good.

It took the influence of a young woman from the Czech Republic who stayed with me for two weeks, to remind me of why I moved here.  She dragged me out of the house the last day she was here and insisted I spend my "lunch hour" taking a walk on the beach at Assateague Island National Seashore Park.

It was an overcast, windy and foggy day; but, the view, as we walked onto the beach and toward the sound of breaking waves, was breathtaking when the mist broke.  I only took this short video because I was afraid I was short of space on my camera's memory card.

There are better and longer videos on YouTube.com and on the park's website photo and multimedia page so take a look. 

The park was virtually deserted except for the two wild horses we encountered as we walked the paths.  Some surfers showed up as we were leaving.  I left there grateful that something so wonderful was a short drive away (if I were ambitious and in better shape, I could probably bicycle there -- yes, Katka made me buy a bicycle, too -- so maybe by fall).  Yet, I was also a little down because I realized that I have been here almost a year and have not really taken advantage of all the wonderful experiences nearby.

April has been and will be a busy month. Last weekend I was in Dayton for WGI's World Championships.  This was the fourth year I made the trip with Ms. Jane.  Some of the kids I've spoken of in previous entries were competing at the World Class level. (See: WGI 2007 Part 1, WGI 2007 Part 2, and the Dayton Diaries 2008 --I'll just put the first link to the 2008 series here and you can move through them if you choose).

I think this will be the last trip I make; but, I say that every year, so don't hold me to it.  Our kids came in 6th in World Class finals, which is not too shabby.  They are all so grown up now.  Julie (whom I mentioned in last years entries) is making choices between masters and Ph.D. programs for next year.  Brian and Sean have been in Kentucky teaching guard units of their own and performing in Onyx.

This weekend I hold a meeting for au pairs in the area (some of you know I'm involved with Cultural Care Au Pair supporting au pairs and host families).  It's nice for this empty nest to have young people in it from time to time.  On the 18th, Ann, one of Ms. Sharon's friends will be married.  Their senior prom doesn't seem that long ago. And then, the last weekend in April I will fly to Hollywood.  Hoping to see my niece and nephew for lunch or dinner while I'm there.  Guess I should call them.

In the meantime, I'm still enjoying myself out here. I haven't made the best use of my solitude but have worked toward that slowly. 

All in all, I'm happy.  I'm adjusting.  I'm excited about the future.  Can't ask for much more than that.

Insomnia visited last night, so I'm still up, but it's okay.  I had a late nap, which explains some of it. The rest can be explained by two things... a winter storm howling outside and the afterglow of a great weekend with my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.   I so enjoyed seeing the three of them. We didn't do much except enjoy her. 

Toddlers are exhausting. And I didn't do anything. I just watched.

One of the highlights of the visit was a trip over to my father's house. She remembered him from her last visit.  My father loves children (especially those related to him) and watching the two of them interact brought up old memories of my girls and Dad, incuding one special one.

When my daughter was about two I took her to visit my parents. One day we had set up one of those blow-up pools on the front lawn and my mother and I sat in lawn chairs, drank ice tea and watched Rachel play.  When my father came home from work -- all decked out in his military uniform -- Rachel jumped out of the pool, ran toward him and jumped into his arms dripping wet.

Last night as we sat in the study I saw my father hold his arms out to his great granddaughter and wiggle his fingers in a "come here" way.  She ran to him and threw herself at him, arms up, laughing.

Nice.

DC Grandparenting Examiner: Childproof your home for a grandchild's visit

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