Whether I’m leaving the church nursery on Sunday mornings, or leaving the house of a family that I babysit for, I always tend to get a, “thank you for watching the kids!” from the parents. I typically respond with a “not a problem” or “see you later”, but what I really want to say is so much bigger than that. What I really want to say is, “no, thank YOU.”

Thank you for trusting me with the most important aspect of your life.

It might not seem like that big of a deal to you, but to me, it means the world. Sure, if you think about just how big of a deal it is to be trusted with the lives of little ones, it can be really overwhelming. But it will also make you realize just how much you are trusted.

Thank you for giving me a reason to make good choices.

One of the biggest ways in which kids learn is through imitating people around them. When you have little eyes watching you and looking up to you, you have to be a good role model. When I think of those little faces, it motivates me to be the best example I can be. Those kids deserve only the best!

Thank you for providing me with endless giggles and hugs.

There is truly nothing better than a snuggling a baby or getting a huge bear hug from a 3-year-old who is so excited to see you. It can, and will, instantly turn a bad day into a good one.

Thank you for the memories.

Some of my favorite memories are from days spent with the kiddos. They say the funniest things, do the craziest things, and looking back on those memories will never fail to make me smile.

Thank you for giving me my "kids".

I'm only 19 and I can promise you that I am nowhere near ready to start my own family yet. But in some ways, your kids feel like they are my own. They almost always come up in my conversations. I cannot tell you how many times I've shared stories with my friends about cute things that happened while babysitting. I brag about how awesome they are, probably more often than people really care to hear. But I can't help it because they are such a big part of my life and I'm so proud of them!

Finally, thank you for being such amazing parents to those little guys.

I can't begin to imagine all of the hard work, sweat, and tears that goes into raising kids. I am sure that some days are great and other days you feel like you are failing. But let me tell you, you're doing an amazing job. I know this because your kids are amazing little people. And they love you so much! They talk about you and the fun things you do with them constantly, and always with a twinkle in their eye and a HUGE smile.

So remember that the next time you are feeling down. You are appreciated and loved!