A Southern Belle in London: Of Guineas and Goodbyes

Today is a very sad day for me. I will be saying goodbye to both of my sets of kids: the human ones and the little, furry, wheeky ones.

This morning was my very last morning getting up at 7 am; putting out two jars of breakfast cereal, 3-4 bowls and spoons, and milk and yoghurt; peeling and cutting up various fruits for the breakfast mix; and making two snackboxes for the kids. Every. Weekday. For. A. Year.

So glad that's over.

The kids were all packed and ready this morning when I got up - Silke had done it all last night. They had their little kiddie Samsonite suitcases and their little kindergarten backpacks stuffed full of everything to go to Ireland. I have to admit, I'm a little jealous of these guys. Leah is 3 and Samuel is 5, and they've flown and traveled more often and to more places than most Americans do in a whole lifetime. Plus, they're going to Ireland before me. They can't even drink Guinness and appreciate the hot accents yet! Totally unfair.

I'm not very good at goodbyes. I remember this very day last year as I stood in the hall and watched Meredith, the former au pair, squat down and hug both the kids tightly, smiling and promising to send M&Ms from California. The kids seemed sad to see her go, but in the delightful way kids have, they'd recovered in about 2.5 seconds. And that's how it was with me. I did the same scene, sitting back on my heels in the hallway, and hugged them each tightly for a few seconds. I wished them a good trip and told them I'd send them goodies from Britain. And then they got in the car and were gone. I don't know what I was expecting - a long, tearful goodbye? These are kids. They've had 3 au pairs before me, and they already know the name of the next one (Clara). They move on fast. I'm relieved for this job to be over, and to be starting school and moving - but I don't think I'll get over them quite so fast.

As for the guinea pigs, I spent a little time this afternoon washing the cage floor and getting everything nice and clean for Ken. I'm really, really grateful that he's taking them so I didn't have to give them to the tierheim, or someone I didn't know. He has shown interest in having piggies before, and is a good guy, so at least I know they will be well cared for. So we set them up in their new home, and they both went in their little house in the corner, curled up, and lay down for a nap. I think they will be ok.