Babysitting duties!

I've just returned to work after taking four days off to look after my niece. Crikey, what an eye opener. I don't have any children of my own and after this week it may be put off for a few more years!
Now this is nothing against my niece, she is lovely and really good company, but I am just so knackered! These little people just don't stop. From 7.30am when we got up, and that included Sunday much to my horror, until 8pm we were on the go.
On Sunday we went to Lowndes Park in Chesham to play on the swings and see the ducks. I had never realised how many people are up and about on a Sunday. It was a beautiful day and the park was packed. The only sad thing to see was all the empty cider and wine bottles that were strewn across the park from the night before. but people didn't really seem to take much notice and obviously weren't put off using the park. I really re-lived my youth and had great fun on the 'death slide' and the swings. We saw for ourselves the scary geese and I was glad we didn't take any bread to feed them as one young mum looked scared to death as the geese surrounded her!
On Monday we went to Odds Farm Park which was brilliant. We got to stroke the rabbits and feed the pigs and the goats and we even saw their new addition, a baby lamb. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, Isabel or me!
Tuesday was spent visiting a friend who has small children and we decided to go for lunch to a pub with a soft play area. This was a whole new experience for me. I didn't know such places existed. Total madness. It wasn't the sort of pub lunch I am used to. Every two minutes a small person would run past crying as they had been pushed over or fallen off of something. My friend took delight in laughing at me and my shocked expression.
On Wednesday we spent the morning making Valentine's Day cards. I say the morning, but really it was about 30 minutes. All that mess for 30 minutes! Half way through she even asked to go and watch Cbeebies. Why do I bother I asked myself, and realised I was starting to sound like so many of my other friends with children! It's a thankless task this parenting lark! But the small thing made it worth it. The excitement on her face as we took the train back to her home, the big kiss good night and the sleepy smile in the morning when she strolled into my room asking for breakfast and the way she reached for my hand when we watched Jungle Book together. It was fun, but probably the most tiring break I have had. It's great being an auntie and being able to hand the little ones back to their parents. I can't wait for a sleep in on Saturday and I certainly have a new respect for parents, give me a day in the office any time!