If you are from this area, you'd probably get quite a laugh at some of the stories I could tell. I think a t-shirt with the caption "I survived babysitting the Haney boys" would go over really well. It took a fairly large group of rotating girls to tackle watching those boys. With the reputation for starting fires, running away, and locking their sitters outside the house, it took a special kind of person to know how to contain the Haney's shenanigans. It was really rewarding to move back to this area and discover the twins took over their father's photography business and are doing really well. Gabe claims that all the vicious rumors of his pranks were highly over-exaggerated, while Greg looked at me and instantly apologized... some things will never change... (she says with a big grin on her face.)
So this past week, while we've been flattened by illness, another one of my former babysitting charges, made the news. While I was away for 10 years living in Idaho, Mark turned into a figure skating sensation. I had started babysitting him when he was just 6 months old. His mother would bring him into the nursery at church and I'd instantly grab him and keep him in my corner the whole time. He was always content, happy, smiling and only wanted to be near me. His mother, noticing the bond we had, eventually asked me to babysit for all three of her children. I continued to babysit the Ladwig children until Mark was 5 or 6 and I went on to college.
So this past week, while we've been flattened by illness, another one of my former babysitting charges, made the news. While I was away for 10 years living in Idaho, Mark turned into a figure skating sensation. I had started babysitting him when he was just 6 months old. His mother would bring him into the nursery at church and I'd instantly grab him and keep him in my corner the whole time. He was always content, happy, smiling and only wanted to be near me. His mother, noticing the bond we had, eventually asked me to babysit for all three of her children. I continued to babysit the Ladwig children until Mark was 5 or 6 and I went on to college.
Two years ago, at our annual figure skating show, I got to see Mark and his partner perform. I was thrilled beyond belief to see what a humble person he continues to be, and how talented and successful he is. As he was warming up for his performance I was on duty to watch some of the younger skaters. He was giving autographs and he asked me a question. We chatted briefly and I told him I knew his family well and although he wouldn't recognize me, we were all so very proud of him.
The big news is that Mark and his partner Amanda, have qualified to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics!!
Mark Ladwig of Moorhead, left, stands with skating partner Amanda Evora after the two received their second-place medals in the pairs free skate competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday in Spokane. Associated Press
And you can see Mark and Amanda perform for yourselves.
What: 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships: Skating Spectacular and Olympic Send-Off
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: NBC, Channel 11 in F-M area or your local NBC affiliate.
You know where I'll be come Sunday!
