This was me in 1972. 

I’m the girl in back on the swing with a toddler named Vanessa and my red and tan house is in the background. Vanessa lived across the street from us and I was a Mother’s "Helper" even though I’m not sure at age 7 (go ahead, figure out how old I am) I was much help. Vanessa’s mom paid me something like 10 cents an hour to play with Vanessa. I loved her. For me, the youngest of 4 girls, Vanessa was my chance play big sister. My relationship with her was special and one of my fondest memories from my childhood.

Now meet Becca. I dug out my old picture after seeing this one of Quinn and her special friend, Becca. Becca is actually much more than a Mother’s Helper – she babysits and entertains and brings arts and crafts and makes puppets out of paper plates and masking tape and she let’s the kids pick from a treasure box she brings with her! The kids love her. But she and Quinn are especially close. And I think even when Becca is 17 and Quinn is 8 they’ll still have a special bond. I think Becca loves the way Quinn looks up to her and how she has the power to make Quinn belly laugh. That’s big.

I know exactly how Becca feels.