Those were the days.

In hopes of making a little extra spending cash, I nanny two days a week. Arjun (2) and Rohan (4) are two of the little boys I sit for. They are at that age where nothing is as it seems. A plate can turn into a Frisbee, toothpaste can be paint, and a toy dinosaur can be your best friend. Their little imaginations surprise me everyday. I taught them about forts, a childhood staple, and soon enough blankets were protection shields and pillows were impenetrable walls. Their shanty shelter was made out of nothing but a fleece blanket and the support of the surrounding furniture, but yet they managed to transform it into a plush, cushiony palace. They smuggled food, toys, and stuffed animals underneath, creating a world that only the two of them knew and were allowed in. Watching them create this elaborate setting, it brought back the similar times when I was younger and did the same thing. I remembered how having a space all your own, like a fort or clubhouse, was one of the most fun aspects of childhood. Secret worlds and alternative lives were created between you and your friends, only to end when Mom called you in for dinner.