Babysitting

Saturday, February 22, 2025

The parents were off to Orchestra Hall tonight to hear the music of Harry Potter played live with the last movie. We got to spend the evening with Adalyn.

Every single thing she said was adorable. I had a really hard time keeping off my phone because I wanted to text all my mom friends every cute thing she said and did. I remembered Child YES, Phone NO, and got myself under control. I will only tell you about the best conversation. Early in the evening, she told me the pool was gone – very sympathetically. I agreed it was sad, that it was under the snow. About an hour later, she suddenly ran to the patio door and looked out. “Barba! The pool is gone.”
“Yes, it is all covered with snow.”
“We have to dig and dig and dig.”
“What?”
“Dig and dig and dig the snow. Get the pool out.”
“Who is going to dig?”
“You.”
“I don’t think I can. It’s cold out for the pool.”
“Me. Get me a little shovel from the garage.” A pause for thinking. “And Keith.” Then a whisper. “And Daddy.” Then a tinier whisper, “No. Daddy is at the music.”
“We will all dig the snow and find the pool? But we don’t have your swimsuit.”
“Swimsuit in my pool bag.” She took off for the living room, where her bag of stuff was. “This not my pool bag.” But she started looking anyway. She looked very carefully. No swimsuit. She got Bear, Mouse, and Grady the cow and they all swam around the living room.

Half an hour later, Keith came downstairs and I couldn’t help myself. I prompted her to tell Keith about the pool.

“KEITH!” (Keith was sounding a little mushy before this. Now it was clear and adamant.) We will dig and dig and dig the pool. Get a little shovel from the garage. Do it.”

Keith told her he thought it was too cold. She went to her bag to check for her swimsuit again. Still nuthin’, so we gave up on the digging.