Summertime and the Livin' is Easy!

I have a confession to make. But first, let me provide the background details for this sordid tale.

For about five years now, I have been hiring a college student from my church to watch my children during the summer. First came Laura Jean who was followed by her brother Kevin who was followed this year by Nicole. Each has been an upstanding, intelligent, fun, and responsible young adult...with a driver's license (the #1 requirement for the job).

Now here's the confession: Each has done a much better job of disciplining my children and taking care of my home than I do. And the sordid part: I've come to rely on this. Oh, let's be honest, I've started abusing using their skills to my advantage. For example, where the children are concerned:

• I can never get Ian to stick to the pediatrician-recommended one hour of screen time each day. I simply can't deal with the argument we have when I suggest "powering down." But babysitters and other in-charge adults somehow get our children to listen. So Nicole has been instructed to limit Ian to two hours of screen time a day (who are we kidding on the one-hour suggestion?) and I bet she'll have way more success with this than I do.
• Getting them to clean their rooms is also an exercise in futility. The whining and moaning are unbearable and I've decided that keeping their doors closed is easier. But if I tell Nicole to have the kids clean up their rooms before heading to the pool, I'll I bet you dollars to donuts that they will be clean when I get home (and on a side note, where does the expression "dollars to donuts" come from?)
• Assignments in general are better delivered by anyone other than mom or dad. I'm not above leaving Nicole a note to "Have the kids sweep the patio, bring in the trashcans, empty the dishwasher, and put their laundry away." It's amazing how much more is accomplished when I'm not in charge!

My summer help has also been a treat on the household maintenance front. Laura Jean was a gem with the laundry, and Kevin was especially talented at ironing. In her first two days, I've noticed Nicole leaves the kitchen looking spic-n-span. Add to this the occasional errand running and the soccer mom shuttling they do for me, and the summers have turned into my opportunity to see how the other half live!

I hereby bestow my summer childcare providers with the esteemed titles of Freakin' Angels! Anyone in your life you feel deserves the title these days?