My ears have heard astounding stories from ladies who proclaimed that they would never babysit for their grandchildren. After all, they had put in their time and now deserved time off from children. Perhaps they were more worn out than I, but this is not how I saw it.

Arianna, my granddaughter, looked up from my cradling arms and a barely visible image of my own face flashed across my mind. A part of my being was in this baby. It was a shocking and most welcome surprise. With one swift gleam, eternal love and happiness had come to homestead in my heart. In a millisecond, a decision was made.

Life went on hold, because the most on-call grandma in the universe became me. Appointments with friends or household chores were cancelled if I was called upon to babysit. Many dates had to be rescheduled as my son and daughter-in-law took Grandma for granted. Still, I ponder today who took advantage of whom?

My most cherished moment came one sunshiny spring day when Arianna was a princess of 4. Gathering large green leaves from the trees, she and I had filled two wicker flower baskets. Laying the leaves on the concrete sidewalk in perfect position, we each had a placemat for our royal tea party. Much effort and time had been spent in doing this precisely, because her natural personality leans toward neatness.

Moments into the gala affair came Cherry, the ailing old family dog. Cherry had reached the point of not cleaning herself, and her rump was messy. Nevertheless, she wanted to play. She literally "butted in" and plopped on my placemat. Moaning with disgust, I tried to holler her away. Pushing and tugging were not successful; she was a barge.
Grabbing the end-pole of a glider, I began to raise myself up. Unfortunately, my posterior outweighed my arm muscles, and with a plop I returned to the sidewalk. Striking out twice, I rolled over and used the all-fours method to stand. Arianna began to laugh, which developed into a conniption fit of hysterical giggles. This increased my amusement, and soon we were fueling each other. Stopping the gaiety became impossible and we echoed belly-laughs across the hilltop where her house sat. Then she grabbed herself and headed for the house, shrieking, "I'm going to wet my pants, Grandma!"

Merriment and side-splitting laughter began that day, and our relationship since has been like a runaway train. For me, being in the presence of an infectiously giggling cherub has been worth all the time invested.

Now my résumé has expanded to tea-less tea parties with miniature cups only pinkie fingers can hold, growling with stuffed lions, interior decorating of doll houses, overseeing properly fastened coats and hats, and becoming a sought-after storyteller. Also I can boast of buying the toy that was yanked off the counter, clutched, and never released, even with gentle pleading. And plowing through ice storms to fetch Arianna from school when no other force could have persuaded me to leave the house. (This has definitely increased my driving skills.)

Two other heartwarming bonuses: My photo hangs on Arianna's wall, the only photo in her bedroom. And she stated, "After God, I love you the most, Grandma, and would rather be with you than anybody else."

I have never missed out on a thing, because no happiness is greater than being a needed grandmother gazing into the angelic face of a giggling child. Babysitting was the best career choice of my life. My wish for all ladies is to experience the joyful and rewarding career called "babysitting grandma."