Memay Poppins
She floats in like Mary Poppins.
Dropping from the sky when she thinks we might need her.
Her umbrella, a plane.
Her carpet bag, a large black & white suitcase. Gifts pour forth from it for the entire duration of her stay. Storybooks and new clothes hidden under pillows. Stuffed animals and toys tucked into the new baby's arms.
Spoons full of peanut butter, instead of sugar.
Memay Poppins is here. For five weeks of baby cuddles and toddler-wrangling. For doing all the boring stuff you get to do with your mother when you're grown up...but don't live an entire world away. Sitting outside in the sunshine with a beer, telling stories from your childhood as they translate into both of your different perspectives. "Was that your dad's rule?" she asks, when you tell her about not being allowed to go in the deep end of the pool at the campground you lived in the summer you were six. "What was her name?" you ask her, remembering a babysitter who let you watch Ferngully for the first time.*
And I am sure, that of all the scenarios she considered as she tucked her infant daughters into bed 26 years ago, playing Nanny in Australia was never (ever) one of them. But here we are. And we make the most of it. We use this time for cuddles and picture taking. We sit across from each other in my living room in Australia, glancing up to make sure the other one didn't miss the latest most-adorable-thing-in-the-world that Trip just did. "Did you see that?" we ask each other, 16,000 times a day. "He just put his book on the floor, stood on it, and proclaimed it a surfboard." Cutest thing in the world. "He just carried his stuffed tiger (who he has named after his 6-year-old friend Emma) down to bed and tucked her in like the baby!" New cutest thing ever.
But this Poppins doesn't stay until the wind changes. She stays as long as she can - which is never (ever) long enough.
*It was Ina, in case you were wondering.
Dropping from the sky when she thinks we might need her.
Her umbrella, a plane.
Her carpet bag, a large black & white suitcase. Gifts pour forth from it for the entire duration of her stay. Storybooks and new clothes hidden under pillows. Stuffed animals and toys tucked into the new baby's arms.
Spoons full of peanut butter, instead of sugar.
Memay Poppins is here. For five weeks of baby cuddles and toddler-wrangling. For doing all the boring stuff you get to do with your mother when you're grown up...but don't live an entire world away. Sitting outside in the sunshine with a beer, telling stories from your childhood as they translate into both of your different perspectives. "Was that your dad's rule?" she asks, when you tell her about not being allowed to go in the deep end of the pool at the campground you lived in the summer you were six. "What was her name?" you ask her, remembering a babysitter who let you watch Ferngully for the first time.*
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| Memay & Meg April 2013 |
And I am sure, that of all the scenarios she considered as she tucked her infant daughters into bed 26 years ago, playing Nanny in Australia was never (ever) one of them. But here we are. And we make the most of it. We use this time for cuddles and picture taking. We sit across from each other in my living room in Australia, glancing up to make sure the other one didn't miss the latest most-adorable-thing-in-the-world that Trip just did. "Did you see that?" we ask each other, 16,000 times a day. "He just put his book on the floor, stood on it, and proclaimed it a surfboard." Cutest thing in the world. "He just carried his stuffed tiger (who he has named after his 6-year-old friend Emma) down to bed and tucked her in like the baby!" New cutest thing ever.
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| Memay & Trip September 2011 |
"Wanted: a nanny for two adorable children. If you want this choice position, have a cheery disposition. Rosy cheeks, no warts. Play games, all sorts. You must be kind, you must be witty, very sweet, and fairly pretty...Take us on outings, give us treats, sing songs, bring sweets. Never be cross or cruel. Never give us castor oil or gruel. Love us as a son and daughter, and never smell of barley water. If you won't scold and dominate us, we will never give you cause to hate us. We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see, put toads in your bed, or pepper in your tea. Hurry, nanny! Many thanks!"
*It was Ina, in case you were wondering.
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