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So last night I met up with my in laws so I could get my two nieces.  Their mom has been really, really sick with a horrible strain of flu, so they've been at her sister's house.  My in laws picked the girls up and we met at a mall to have dinner, and then I would take the girls home and help with anything their mom needed.  It was such a different experience from taking care of my two boys that I couldn't help but compare!  Here is my list of Things I'm Used To...And What I Experienced:

What I'm Used To...
When we go out to dinner there must be chicken nuggets or fries involved or the kids won't eat.
What I Experienced...
The girls happily chowed down on black beans and rice at Chipotle.

What I'm Used To...
When it's time to go there are arguments and it takes forever to get them in the car.  Not to mention actually buckled in.
What I Experienced...
The girls got right in.  When I said, "Are you buckled?", the oldest said "Yes!".

What I'm Used To...
A car ride is usually filled with either a constant stream of information about Transformers or construction vehicles, instructions on what route I should take, or cries of "He hit me!"  "He pushed me!"  "Make him stop singing!"
What I Experienced...
The oldest, who is 5, kept the youngest, who is nearly 2, entertained with peek-a-boo and I got your nose! games.  I could actually hear my music and was serenely singing along as they giggled and made no suggestions about where I should drive.

What I'm Used To...
I say ,"It's bath time!."  Twenty or thirty minutes later I've actually got my kids in the bath, with much protesting and wrestling out of clothes.
What I Experienced...
I say, "It's bath time!."  Five seconds later the girls are both in the bath, ready for washing.

What I'm Used To...
I squirt a tiny amount of shampoo in my hand, rub it over the boys' heads and rinse once.  We're done!  I rub a towel on their heads a couple of times.  They're dry!
What I Experienced...
I realize I need more shampoo, and it takes a lot of rinsing...A LOT of rinsing to get it all out of their massive amounts of hair.  I'm still not sure their hair was rinsed properly.  I don't even think about the fact that we should probably brush their hair until their mom suggests it.  Doh!

What I'm Used To...
 Mason pretends he can't read, and insists I read a story to him.  When I make him practice it's with much protesting, and he reads a page and is done.  So we just keep trying.
What I Experienced...
Bella, who is 5 and in Kindergarten, excitedly reads an entire chapter of a Judy Blume book to me, with minimal help from me.

What I'm Used To...
It's time for bed.  There is much protesting, and when they finally are in bed we have to go in 50 times and tell them to settle down.  Eventually they drift asleep, after a lot of talking and 50 more reminders to be quiet.
What I Experienced...
It's time for bed.  Bella hops right in and gets under the covers.  I sing her two songs while she closes her eyes.  After I sing I whisper, "Good night!" and leave.  There is not a peep from her after that.

It was a joy to watch my sweet little nieces.  Yet...I kept feeling like I was forgetting to do something.  Like I should be doing more!  And, yes, yes, I know, every child is different and my boys have Aspergers, which adds a lot.  I know all this.  But I still felt like I was in some unknown world taking care of two girls who behaved themselves so well.  Still wouldn't trade my boys for anything, but if I need a little break?  I'll go play with my nieces!  (Except for the hair part...what am I supposed to do with all that hair?!)