busy

This has been a crazy week around here.  For three days this week I babysat twin 6 year old girls--friends of Rachel's from Girl Scouts who live down the street from us.  Their babysitter is going through chemo and had to quit with no notice because things got really bad.  So they were scrambling for child care, and I was available.  Rachel had the time of her life.  Two playmates every day!  I'm watching them three more days next week, and then their grandma is coming to save the day and will watch them the rest of the summer until school starts next month.

It has been an interesting experience.  The three girls had a great time, but argued a LOT.  I figured out over time that the twins just argue about everything automatically, and Rachel joined right in--who got to wear which princess dress (they love dressing up as much as Rachel, so that's what they did much of the time they were here), who was going to be the evil fairy, who would ride the bike first, who would pull Rebecca in the wagon first...you name it, they argued about it.  But the arguing didn't seem to detract from them enjoying playing together.  And according to the twins' mom, they had just as much fun as Rachel did, and begged each night for Rachel to come home with them for a sleepover (it didn't happen--we told them she could come over sometime soon, though). 

It's been a really good experience for Rachel because she's gained social skills that have been lacking.  She's struggled socially, which is why we originally sent her to preschool, and that helped some.  In kindergarten they were so busy, and only there a half day, so I feel like she didn't have much time (except on the bus) to develop many more social skills.  So these last few days have been good experience for her to interact and play with other kids.  And for the most part they worked out their struggles all on their own.  Once or twice someone tattled on someone, but it didn't happen much.  They worked out whatever argument they were having and moved on.  Yesterday they were outside for hours playing in the sandbox, playing house (the twins call it playing "Mommy"), and swinging. 

Hopefully next week will be more of the same.  The hardest part is keeping Rebecca out of their hair!  All she wants is to play with the big girls!