Linda, Wonderful, a fellow nurse. It's hard to give it up isn't it. Like you, I love nursing. I think nursing is one of those professions which you either love it or you hate it. Those that thought they would like it and found out it wasn't what they thought it was need to NOT be a nurse but those of us that love it are very dedicated. I don't know of another profession where compassion and dedication are any higher than in nursing. I know I have worked long hours, double shifts, spent the night at the facility so I could be there in the morning when the weather was bad. I have stayed off the clock to hold a woman's hand while she left this world. trained CNS;s, gave classes on a variety of issues. worked with back aches, headaches, swollen feet and ankles, and one time I worked a full shift with a painful bowel obstruction. I drove straight from work to the hospital. And yet through it all, I would gladly do it all again if I could. You sound like me with my grandchildren. Three of them has never had a babysitter because I have always watched them. I watched them in the summer while mom and dad worked. They are 10, 12, and 16 years old now. I still watch the two younger ones but the 16 year old, even though he sometimes acts like a 7 year old doesn't need a babysitter any more. My daughter has only one grandson and that gives her a chance to spend more time with him and spoils him rotten. She's glad she only has one. Regardless of how many grandkids you have ,they are wonderful. Mine mean the world to me. I have 7 great grandchildren raging in age from 3 years to 16 years old. 6 boys and 1 girl. Thanks again for your reply... God Bless Jeanie