Confessions of a Stand-In Mom, aka My Summer as a Nanny.

Summer isn't truly summer when you're in college unless you have a job to pad your bank account for when the school year rolls back around. (Seriously though, what I wouldn't give to have an 8-year-old's summer, the kind where all you do is play outside and run around and not have to worry about anything except what's for lunch and when mom will take you to the pool.)

So what did I decide to do to fulfill this? I became a:

chauffeur
nurse
maid
chef
entertainer
lifeguard
librarian
teacher
mediator
dog walker
mother.

Okay wait, that last one didn't sound right. No, people, I did NOT birth children this summer, relax.  Rather, I became a nanny.  But really, what is a nanny but all of the former jobs compiled into one: a fill-in mom (Mom B) while real mom (Mom A) is at work.

And let me tell you, it was a struggle. Though I have nannied 2 summers before this one (really, third time is a charm, right?), this summer proved to be the most challenging. My children for the summer? A giggly 3rd grader, a sporty 4th grader (and the only boy), a sweet 5th grader, and a sassy 6th grader.  I have been babysitting for the brother/sister duo of Sporty and Sassy for the past 3 and a half years and have been sitting for sisters Giggly and Sweet since last summer, though I have known them since my first summer with Sporty and Sassy. (Goodness, with these names, it sounds like I'm nannying for a little over half of the Seven Dwarves).  You would think, after several years of working with these kids, and at an age where they start gaining some independence, this summer would be a breeze!

...Think again.

Because besides the average nanny duties of preparing breakfasts and lunches (no easy feat with 4 younguns), cleaning/doing dishes/doing laundry/vacuuming, and planning fun activities for the kids, I was running my own private shuttle business, carting the kids to taekwondo practice, dance class, gymnastics practice, basketball camp, soccer camp, art class, softball practice, piano lessons, cheer clinic, band practice.  No kidding, there were days that I drove 70 miles IN TOWN.  The struggle.

And somehow, between all those activities, we managed to squeeze in some pool days, finish the library program, go to some parks and spray parks, hit up the zoo (RIP Miller Park tiger), show off at the bowling alley, and eat more ice cream than is probably healthy for children of that age.  But then again, consult the list of activities these children were enrolled in, and you'll see how easily they burned off those calories.

Needless to say, I am EXHAUSTED.  And though we were constantly busy and the summer could seem long at times, I can't believe it is almost the end.  In fact, I had to say goodbye to Sassy and Sporty yesterday as it was my last day with them and I will not be nannying for them next year since I'll likely stay at Purdue.  Now THAT was difficult.  I have played an minor role in raising these children for around a third of their lives, and suddenly it was time to say goodbye.  Sassy and I began tearing up in the parking lot as I dropped her off for softball one last time.  And Sporty?  Well, he said he wouldn't really miss me too much because, "After three years, it's time to move on." Oh. Well okay then. Lol.

And then next week will be my last week with Sweet and Giggly, so I'm basically dreading 5 pm Friday.

And if anyone has spent any time at all with me this summer, you'll know that I complain A LOT about this job.  I won't deny it.  Between cleaning up the sticky messes and putting up with the bickering and coming home night after night ready to pass out, who can blame me?  But then again, there are so many fond memories I have of this summer, specific and general.  Like that time I was playing my oldies CD in the car and the kids fell in love with "Build Me Up Buttercup" and requested that I play it so they could dance and sing along each time we were in the car.  Or when I was finally able to get the kids excited about reading and Giggly and Sweet came to enjoy the times I read aloud to them from our chapter books, which became good bonding time, as well as a chance for me to practice for my future profession.  Or when we tirelessly studied the lyrics to Iggy Azalea's rap in "One Less Problem" until we could recite it effortlessly.  Or spending countless mornings in the kitchen whipping up a wide variety of pancakes (banana, cinnamon sugar, s'mores, chocolate chip/sprinkle/whipped cream/chocolate syrup).  Or even the little things, like when they would remember something specific that you'd said, or when they'd grab your hand, almost subconsciously, as we were walking to and from somewhere, or when they said they love me and will miss me and that I'm the best sitter ever.  It's the things like that that really get me, that made it totally worthwhile.  I really do love these kids, each in their own way, and I'm going to miss them lots next year.

But that doesn't mean I am anywhere NEAR ready to be a mother.  In fact, the nanny rally cry happens to be, "I'm never having kids!"  At least not now :)`  


But besides nannying, I did get to do some other cool stuff this summer.  These included:

-Family reunion in Nebraska at Platte River State Park
-Backstreet Boys and Avril Lavigne concert with some friends
-Visiting Jess in Chicago with Annie and going to IKEA to shop for our apartment
-Going to Purdue and seeing all my school friends
-Going on vacation with Sydney and her family...RV trip to Glacier National Park in Montana!
-Other various shenanigans with my frands and family.

But, in just a couple weeks, I will begin round 3 of being a College Kid. Stay tuned :)

Kaisershot Family Reunion 2014

Concert!

USA

Fountain run!

Boating with the girls

...and shooting with the girls.

Basically, I just love these girls.

#RVtrip2k14

10 mile hike, whaddup?

Iceberg lake

Snow angels in July!

Segway tour

Mount Rushmore!

My kiddos :)

I'll miss these guys!

Ten Things My Second Year of College Taught Me

Please excuse me for just a moment while I make amends for neglecting my blog for the last few months.

It's okay, little bloggie blog. I promise I still love you. It's just been a really, REALLY long and rough semester. Please forgive me.

And to you, my loyal readers (and by that I mean my grandma, shoutout to you grandma, I love you!): my apologies for falling off the face of this cyber world this semester.  To say my life has been in shambles would be an understatement.  This semester has kicked my butt.  And my legs.  And arms. And stomach.  And face.  And everywhere else.  But thank goodness it is now over (and has been for about a week now, but I still don't think I've fully recovered).  So with that, I will give you:

Ten Things My Second Year of College Taught Me

1. The Quarter-Life Crisis is real

Everyone always made fun of me when I told them I was going to undergo a Quarter-Life Crisis when March 12, 2014 came around, aka the day I turned 20.  Well guess what everyone?  IT'S A REAL THING.  Quite the conundrum.  

When I turned 20, I kinda freaked.  I was no longer a teenager, and things happen in your 20s.  You graduate.  You get your first real job.  You might get married.  You might have children.

Dear goodness, that's a lot of pressure if you ask me.  In just 10 short years, I could have hit most of my major milestones, and that freaks me out.  But then again...

I'm in my 20s.  I'm in one of the most exciting times of my life.  So far, my 20s have not failed me, and I'm so excited to see where these 10 years take me.  

2. Work sucks, but it doesn't have to suck

I worked for our school newspaper, The Exponent, this year as a copy editor.  Goodness, was that a roller coaster of a job.  Some nights, the only thing that got me through was a 44 oz. Den Pop, bless its heart.  But then, something happened.  Maybe it was the warm weather.  Maybe it was my resignation of the fact that work was work and it had to be done whether I liked it or not.  Or maybe it was magic.  But the fact of the matter was, in the last few weeks of my time there, I actually enjoyed spending my Monday and Wednesday nights in the News Room on the second floor with my fellow co-workers, slaving over the news, ensuring that our peers were well-informed each day.  Suddenly, I had friends at work and it actually became fun.  Like the time we ordered Moe's late at night and the delivery guy had to come 3 different times due to dropped burritos and forgotten queso.  Or that time my editor, Jake, and I faked everyone out that we were dating when we weren't.  Or when we all went to Pizza Hut and got psyched for stuffed crust.  Or when we had our end of the year celebration at one of the girl's apartments and got to see the senior staff win their superlatives.  So sure, it took some time, but I guess I have to confess that I'm gonna miss that place a little bit.

3. There's always room for making new friends

Besides my Exponent friends, I made a couple friends this year who I now include in my circle of best friends.  First, let me tell you about Sarah and Elaine, who are quite the pair.  They were roommates this year and Jess and I didn't really become friends with them until this past semester, but goodness are they great people.  Sarah is quite the interesting young lady.  She always has something interesting (and usually bizarre) to say and is constantly making me laugh.  She was my dance partner in crime this year and always up for some spontaneity.  But along with this, she's hard-working and open to listening to my rants or breakdowns.  For that, I am truly grateful.  Oh, and her Snap Chat game is unmatched.

Elaine is also an interesting character.  She's pretty quiet around those she doesn't know, but she really opened up to us.  She's super intelligent and has her life put together, let me tell you.  She always laughs at her jokes before anyone else has the chance to think about them, and she has the uncanny ability to find coins on the ground.  She also has crazy road rage and is able to eat more desserts at one sitting than I though humanly possible.  She despises drama, and once she made me a PowerPoint of all my favorite things when I was having a bad day.  I love these girls and miss them already.  I can't wait to see them again!

And then there's Sydney.  She and I knew each other last year, but we didn't become close until we had classes together this year.  She's an El Ed major like me and probably one of the most sarcastic people I've met.  We are always talking about something ridiculous and we can tell each other anything, knowing there's not judgement.  I'm lucky enough to go on her family's RV vacation this year, so watch out world.

4. I've officially reached the tipping point of growing up

This year, I've signed a lease for an apartment, worked at a job, bought couches, got a Crock Pot, and applied for another job for next year and got that.  If that doesn't signify growing up, I don't know what does.

5. Spontaneity can lead to the best memories

Goodness, the number of random, spur-of-the-moment decisions we made this year.  Most of the time it had to do with food.  Usually ice cream or slushies.  Or buying lottery tickets.  (Once I won $10!).  Once Sarah and I went with our friends Corey, Matt, and Elliott to Ball State to see a volleyball game.  But the best one was when Sarah and I went to Sigma Tau Gamma's formal in Indianapolis with two guys we didn't know (don't worry, we knew other guys in the fraternity) because they needed dates.  We ran around the mall at closing time a day before we left searching for dresses, survived the hour-long drive listening to screamo music, and actually had a good time when all was said and done.

6. There's strength in numbers, especially when it comes to complaining

As I said before, this semester was a struggle and half.  I took my Block III classes this semester, and everyone in education said it was one of the hardest.  They weren't wrong.  The projects seemed never-ending, the discussion posts were overwhelming, and throw on some snow days on top of that, and you have a disaster on your hands.  My goodness.  But, with that being said, I grew closer to several of the girls in my major through that experience, even if that sense of camaraderie only came from complaining with one another about how stressed we were.  I managed to make it through, and it helped knowing we were all in the same boat.  We education majors stick together. 

7. Lol @ dates

You know the romantic ideal where guy sees girl, girl sees guy, it's love at first sight, and everyone lives happily ever after?

Turns out that's not how it works out in real life.

And thank goodness for that.  Because if that's how it did work out,  I could be on the fast track to marriage right now (remnants of my Quarter-Life Crisis are sneaking up on me as we speak; expect hyperventilation soon).  Sorry, but I'm not about that life.  Instead, I have some pretty awesome stories about the handful of dates I went on this year (most of which belong in the "What Not To Do When Taking A Girl Out" chapter of the fictitious novel "How to Be a Decent Guy.")  Because if there's one thing I love collecting, it's stories.  I will spare the names of these "men" to prevent their public humiliation (I'm not Taylor Swift, after all), but fair warning to all the dudes out there: step up your game lest your failure to treat a lady right leads you to a life as a perpetual cat lad-- er, I mean man.

8.  Things really do happen for a reason. 

People come into your life and they go.  Opportunities are presented and you can take them or leave them.  But all of this is what is supposed to happen and I am the person I am now because I was supposed to be this way.

9.  Purdue is still where I was meant to be.

Goodness, I love being a Boilermaker.

10. It still holds true that the most important things I learn in college aren't academic.


Now, who wants to see a random collage of pictures from this semester?

Just me and my roomie

Reunited with my girls over Spring Break

Sledding on Slayter Hill on our snow day!

Our Black Magic wallyball team

Jared and I on our friend date night

Sarah and I

Bible Study girls

The Swagging Stooges

And again

Got to go to Boiler Awakening this semester, and it was INCREDIBLE

Outreach to Teach with PSEA

My date to formal, Phil

Bend...

...and snap!

Because we got to go on a field trip in college. Thank you, HONR classes

My girl Alyssa

My editor, Jake

We just like to eat

The 3rd Floor clan

Got to help publish a book this semester!

Syd and I

Sloop Challenge with Sarah and Elaine

Finally home from school

And now I get to spend the summer with these lovelies

When It Happens To You.

Unfortunate events transpire every single day.  In fact, it's near impossible to turn on the news these days and see anything other than disagreement and crime and general unhappiness.  But as you see these news stories unfolding, that's all they are: stories.  You are not a character in them, but an observer.  And no matter how upsetting they may be, no matter how much you empathize with those involved, it's customary to move on with your life before too long.

But it's different when it happens to you.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2014, tragedy struck Purdue University's campus.  My campus.

In my year and a half here, I have never felt unsafe, have never felt as if my life was in danger.  I'm sure the majority of my fellow Boilermakers could say the same.  That changed yesterday.

Tuesday started out as an ordinary day.  People felt a little more refreshed than usual because we didn't have school the day before since we were honoring Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.  I got to sleep in since my first class wasn't until noon, but before that I got lunch with my friend Colleen and we got to catch up.  I wasn't really looking forward to the day; the week before was our first week back after winter break, and it took a toll on me with how busy it was and how much work I had to do.  But lunch with Colleen started off my day right, and I headed to my Science and Pseudoscience class in good spirits, especially since Jess and my friend Alyssa were both in it.

Class started off well.  My professor, Dr. York, was our faculty fellow for our floor last year, and he's super old but super fun.  We started class with smelling and tasting various lunch meats while blindfolded (testing for bologna and working on our skeptic abilities), so it was pretty lighthearted and fun.  After about 20 or so minutes of this, we hear ambulance sirens going off outside, but didn't think anything of it.  Then, a few minutes later, a kid in our class raises his hand.

"There's been a shooting on campus. Can I call my brother?"

At this point, phones began finding their way out of backpacks and purses despite still being in the middle of class.  Sure enough, everyone had gotten Purdue's alert text, confirming the worst: 

"Shooting reported on campus.  Bldg Electrical Engineering; Avoid area; Shelter in place.  Check www.purdue.edu for updates"

Nobody knew what to think just then.  We didn't have any information to really have any thoughts at the time.  Dr. York didn't seem concerned, so he continued his lecture, but nobody was really paying attention because we were trying to figure out what was happening via social media.  Within 20 minutes of that Purdue text, my phone started blowing up with texts asking if I was okay.  Many of them were friends from Purdue, but I even had people from Illinois and Colorado and California asking me what was going on and if I was safe.  Within 20 minutes, the entire country knew what was happening at Purdue when we, who were actually on campus, barely knew a thing.  Then my mom called and I assured her I was okay.  Students in class started getting worried and Dr. York jokingly locked the door, but he finally found it pointless to continue lecture when everyone's attention was focused elsewhere.  

We all got a text explaining that we were on lockdown and that we shouldn't leave our buildings while the police were figuring things out.  During this time, rumors were flying, and nobody was able to confirm or deny them.

There were multiple shooters.
Besides EE, they were in Physics, Heavilon, and the Co-Rec.
Pictures were circulating Twitter of what may have been students holding assault rifles that students in class had snapped from their classroom windows. (This was later denied when we found out that cops were surrounding buildings in street clothes, but that didn't make it any less scary at the time)

I don't think anyone's eyes left their phones during this time.  Some were texting friends, some calling parents and assuring them they were okay, and others were checking news sites and Twitter trying to find out what exactly was going on.  Some people were getting upset when they weren't able to contact a friend or family member, and they had every right.  It was scary.

At almost 1:30, about an hours since lockdown had been put into place, we all got a text giving the all-clear: we were allowed to "resume normal operations." 

Wait, what?  It's only been an hour!  Did the police have enough time to search and detain all suspects?  Were all the buildings safe and secure?  Did they really expect us to "resume normal operations" after a shooting had just taken place on campus?!

In a daze, we all left.  I still had 2 more classes, so I made my way to my next building, but it felt weird to be walking around out in the open, despite the fact that everyone was doing the same.

I got to my next class, but since there was still so much uncertainty about what to do and half our class was missing, my professor cancelled it.  I spent the next hour and a half before my next class in the Technology Resource Center looking up everything I could about the situation.  I checked all the major news sites, Purdue sites, Twitter, Facebook...everything I could to get as much information as possible.  I then watched the live press conference with Purdue's police chief and our provost.  From all my research, I had found out that there had been 1 victim in the shooting; a male TA.  It had been a deliberate act of malice, not a random shooter.  On Twitter, everyone was so upset that we had been expected to continue with our lives as if nothing happened.  They thought class should have been cancelled so we could all gather our thoughts and figure out what was happening.  It wasn't until later, after my final class, that they made the announcement that classes were cancelled for Wednesday out of respect for the situation.

Reading the comments people left in response to the articles didn't make me feel any better.  Some were debating gun laws, some were blaming the family of the shooter for not raising him right, and others were saying that there is a difference between a shooting at a school and a school shooting and that it was nowhere near as bad as Columbine had been.  It made my blood boil to read what these people were saying.  Didn't these people realize that a tragedy had just occurred and that people were suffering on campus??  It didn't matter if only one person had died; that was still someone's child, someone's friend.  As if we could start comparing the awfulness of tragedies.  Didn't they know that a period of healing was in order before this speculation could occur??  I couldn't read any more.

I also watched the 6:00 news where they held a second press conference, releasing the names of those involved.  Andrew Boldt was the TA that had been killed.  And it became all too real to me when I started seeing images of my campus plastered all over the news.  My school was on TV.  I also found out that our president, Mitch Daniels, was in Colombia and was supposed to be there for a few more days, but that he would return the next day in light of what happened.

At 8:00 last night, Purdue Student Government put on a candlelight vigil.  At 7:40, Jess and some girls on my floor, Elaine and Sarah, and I donned multiple pairs of pants, coats, hats, scarves, and blankets to brave the 0 degree weather.  We headed to the Engineering Fountain where the vigil was being held, and boy was it a beautiful site to see.  Hundreds and hundreds of students were huddled together in the freezing cold, candles in hand, ready to commemorate the life lost and to get some closure of sorts.  There were so many people there, breaths visible because of the cold, but it was silent.  Nobody dared make a sound.

As the last bell struck 8 in our iconic bell tower, the ceremony began with the drumline marching in.  Our student body president, Kyle Pendergast, spoke, as well as provost Tim Sands.  He read a statement sent from Mitch Daniels, and it was very eloquent and well-spoken.  The Purduettes and I think the Glee Club also performed.  It was only about 30 minutes, but it was perfect, and I think it helped many students.  We all felt a little better after that, and it was beautiful to see all these Boilermakers rallying together.

It's different when it happens to you.  When you're there, when you directly see how a tragic event affects people, it seems worse.  The fact that someone could so deliberately want to harm a fellow Boilermaker is alarming, but prayers are needed for all parties involved.  I want to thank everyone, all my friends and family, who texted or called me to make sure I was safe during this time, and I thank God that my friends were safe too.  Thank you for all the prayers directed our way; it's a trying time for us all, but I know my Boilermaker family will stand together through it all.

Ever Grateful, Ever True.
Hail Purdue. 

The candlelight vigil (photo credit: Marshall Farthing)