MacKenzie Defined

      The doorbell rings and all three kids sprint to the door. "She's here Mama, she's here". They are dancing around. So excited as they open the door and let me inside. The three, Adeline, Keegan and Brennan; ages 7, 5 and 3, bring a smile to my face as they clamor for my attention, all talking at once. I'm their favorite babysitter.
      I love to babysit. Children fascinate me. I have watched these three grow and develop for several years. I have a keen interest in seeing how their little minds work. They are so easily entertained and they can entertain themselves with their own imaginations. I envy their innocence.
      Young children have so much free time. They have their whole life ahead of them. No worries, no stress, no to-do lists, no deadlines; just living to play, to learn, to grow, to be happy and to love.  As I watch them, I think about life's many stages. I picture a large round staircase with children at the bottom. They have no idea what lies ahead, what its like to be a teenager or an adult.  As children you have tantrums over your toys and not always getting your own way. You have  a meltdown when your mom won't let you have a Popsicle right before dinner. Their life is so different from mine.
      As you climb the stairs, you reach the teenage years. Life becomes real, you take on responsibilities, and often live through tragedies. You stress over tests, the mountains of homework, studying for the ACT, trying to get into college, and even the drama among your peer group. Pressure comes from peers, parents, teachers, coaches and counselors. You are constantly trying to do the "right" thing, hang with the "right" group of friends, wear the cutest clothes, get the most "likes" on Instagram, have the latest iPhone, get great grades, make the soccer team, have the most community service hours, get into a good college. The list goes on and on.
        You keep climbing and you become an adult. You finish college. You stress over deciding on a career and finding a job, marrying or not, paying your bills, etc. If you marry, do you want a family? How about a house? The list is endless.  Life constantly puts obstacles in our path, but somehow we make it through.
         Your climb continues as you become a senior. You are retired, maybe a grandparent. Once again you have more free time, you live more simply, you take time to smell the roses and watch the sunsets. You eat a cookie for breakfast if you want to.  You look back on all the things you stressed over and you laugh.  How little all the materialistic things matter in the big scheme of things.  What matters are the people you cherish, the love you've given and the happiness you've found. Life goes full circle. If you're lucky enough to have grandchildren, you may again be a babysitter to watch and adore another generation as they begin to climb the staircase of life.