In August of 2002, a recently unemployed me decided to delve into the wild world of child care providing.
Little did I know that one of my little guys would stick with us until now.
When I first started watching Cal, he wasn’t quite one yet. He was just learning to walk. He couldn’t talk. He had never been around a dog before. He was extremely shy. He carried a blanket everywhere that he sucked and chewed. The blanket’s name was “Chewy”.
Cal has been a part of every major event in our lives these past six years.
In the time we’ve had him:
- I watched several other children – 4 boys and one girl – varying in ages and at varying times
- I gave birth to Kae
- Hubby went back to school for another Bachelors degree
- We moved into a bigger house
- All three kids took swimming lessons together and learned to swim
- Noelle and Cal learned to ride bikes without training wheels
- Noelle started school
- Hubby got a new job, and moved
- Cal started school
- I took classes to renew my teaching license
Needless to say it will be really weird on Wednesday when Cal no longer comes to our house on a daily basis. He will be starting first grade (at a different school from Noelle – same town, different schools – so close, yet so far away!).
No more waking up to greet him as he performs a secret knock on my door.
No more boy toys (or boy play, for that matter) around these parts.
To be honest, I’ll kind of miss hearing all about the latest adventures of any given superhero.
No more asking how many days until Cal comes back again. (As my girls do every Saturday.) Actually, they will probably ask SEVERAL times before the fact that he WILL NOT be coming back sinks in.
No need for the extra car seat in my car.
No need for the Transformers place mat on my table.
No need for the blue and green cup in the fridge.
And no more need for all the extra food and snacks in my house that a growing-like-crazy-little-boy-munches-non-stop.
It’s sure going to be sad, but for what it’s worth, It’s been a fun and crazy ride, Cal! We’ll miss you, sweetie!!!
- Noelle, Cal, Cal, Noelle
Cal, Chewy, and Noelle
Cal and Noelle - stylin' toddlers
Chillin' on the deck
Ring around the baby
Christmas '06
"Grown Up Faces"
Fun in the Whale Pool - Summer '07
Slip n' Slide - Summer '08
7 now, and ornery as ever
Piaku! 
Very touching tribute, Mandy!
I wish him, and you all, the best.
Oh, that’s very sad, Mandy. I know it’s a bittersweet moment for you.
That was a great post. Found myself getting a little weepy. We are in a similar boat, having watched a child for 2 years – his last day was Friday.
How great it must have been to have boys and girls in the house without having to actually *have* another child. 🙂
Sounds like everyone will miss him.
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