Day 8 - Laurel

Throughout my childhood, my parents have been a big part of my life. They’ve been to every piano recital, dropped me off at school every morning, and taught me everything I need to know. But aside from my parents, there is one person in my life that has made a huge difference. Laurel King, my babysitter from when I was a child, has become one of the people I look up to the most. I interviewed her, asking her questions about how the time we spent together influenced her life now…

1. From your perspective, how have I changed throughout the years?

• You have changed exactly the way I would have expected you to - by not changing much at all. You've always been creative, mature, responsible, and happy. The things I used to enjoy doing with you when you were younger are the same things I still enjoy doing with you. We always worked on creative projects - from drawing cities and making sand art when you were younger to finding a cuter, more fun way to make cupcakes more recently. Even as a child you were always mature and responsible - you never did anything you knew wasn't right. You never made fun of anyone or talked to anyone differently just because they were different from you. You were always so open to different perspectives and viewpoints, and I still see that in you today. You were always a happy child, except those first few months when your parents would leave - you got over the "toss the ball" distraction very quickly during those points. You were always a happy kid - some of my favorite memories were dancing to the Naked Mole Rat song and drawing silly pictures with sidewalk chalk. We still have those happy times together - just with more age-appropriate items, like dancing to Top 40 hits and drawing instead with nail polish. So you've changed tremendously in looks and appearance, but you are still the same amazing person that helped me grow up, too!

2. What was your favorite part of babysitting for our family? The Mac & Cheese? J

• My favorite part of babysitting you.... That’s a tough one...there are so many different things I loved! But I have to say, Mac & Cheese was a big selling point J One thing I loved was that your family became an extension of my own. Your dad jokes about the fact that I never used to talk when he would drive me home, and I think it's amazing that I changed from that shy, unsure person into someone that feels comfortable sitting at the dinner table with you guys! I was so honored to feel so close to a family that didn't HAVE to like me! They just did. I knew I could always count on you and your parents for anything - heck, they bought me my first car, essentially! Watching you for all those years made me grow up in a way that could not be replicated. Your family always treated me as someone more special than just a "babysitter," which made me happy because I was more than just "babysitting."

3. Did babysitting influence your decision to become a teacher? If so, in what ways?

• Babysitting definitely influenced me to become a teacher. I wish I had known not all kids would be as easy and smart as you were, though J There was something so cool about watching you read words and understand two languages at such a young age. I remember when we used to practice writing your name. Or when I taught your the fingerspelling alphabet and you picked it up after like two times. It was such an awakening concept to see that kids aren't just born with all of the tools they needed to know - they had to learn them. Watching you grow up made me really think about this, and I thought it was fascinating to see how you developed and learned throughout the years. Even silly things - like finally being able to dribble a basketball made me think about how kids change and how I wanted to be a part of that. I also really enjoyed the "kidness" that I felt when I babysat for you - we would sing Disney songs, draw pictures with glitter, read fun stories, etc. I realized I wanted to be that connected to children for a very long time - there was such a fun, imaginative spirit that I knew I wanted to have in my life forever.