Motherhood 101

So I spent 3 1/2 days last week taking care of my two adorable nieces, ages 4 and 1, while my brother and sister-in-law took a cruise to the Bahamas. They needed a break from being parents, and I'm very willing to practice the art of motherhood. After three-and-a-half days, I don't know who learned more, my nieces or me. Here are a few of the lessons we learned:

Kira learned

• she'll survive if her parents are gone for a week
• how to wrap her aunt around her little finger with her adorable smile
  

Talisa learned

• that her aunt and uncle can be really gullible
• a few new places to hide for Hide-n-Seek
• the phrase "ready or not, ye shall be caught"
  
• that when her aunt says 'no,' she means no, even if the result is a 20-min. tantrum

I learned

• that it's nearly impossible to get "work" done when being a mother
• that it's common for mothers to not eat much during meal times, or have delayed meal times when feeding children
• that nap times and an early bed time are a must
• that although TV shouldn't be used as a babysitter, it sure does help have a few minutes to get myself ready for the day
• a new way to warm up milk
• which battles are worth fighting a 4-yr-old for
• when two little girls are bathing at the same time, there's a good possibility you'll end up wet
• the importance of fathers taking the kids for a while at night when they get home so the mother gets some personal time
• how nice it is to live close to family while being a mother!