10 31 am pdt   [ sitting II ]

I'll be heading off to kidsit again in a bit. I think I'm going to take the kids to Bamboola in San Jose. I've never driven kids around in car seats before, and it's a lot of work! I left one sleeping in the car yeasterday while the other and I ran in to Jamba Juice for smoothies (I get juice with fruit, but no sherbert or ice cream). I wasn't worried about anyone stealing the car, because I parked it where I could see it from inside the store, but I was worried that my charge might wake up and be upset that she was alone in the car and strapped in. She didn't wake.

It was raining very hard yesterday, so it took an hour to get to The Coyote Point Museum, which is normally only about twenty minutes away. We had a good time there, though my younger charge was a bit grumpy.

On the way home it was still raining, but the traffic was kinder. As I exited the freeway, I saw a car in the bushes off the road facing the wrong direction. Someone was out of their car, presumably about to help. I too wanted to stop and help, but I felt that would be irresponsible to the two children I had strapped in back. I still feel haunted by the image of that stranded car. I think one of my most basic qualities is that I am a problem-solver. I always want to fix things and be as useful to others as possible. This reaction is instinctual for me. It really bothers Matthew because he knows I'd even try to be helpful in a dangerous situation. I have, and he always tries to drag me away. I undertand his perspective, and I know that I try to help even when I may not be able to, but that is a quality I like about myself and one I don't intend to lose.