Auntie Bella is back in our lives and all is right with the world again.

She went home to visit her family for two weeks and, while I’ve been trying to dabble in Plan B and Plan C for the days when Auntie Bella is gone, I joked with her that she’s ruined childcare for me.

I subconsciously compare everyone to her. I know it’s wrong and I shouldn’t do it. But how can you turn that part of your brain off?!

Logically, yes, I know it’s nice to have some back-up support. But Auntie Bella is like a third parent to this kid and you can’t get that feeling with just anyone, y’know?

I’m just so grateful we get to have her for another year. I’m pretty sure I’m going to cry buckets of tears when we actually have to part ways when she graduates.

Earlier this year, Melanie Lynskey’s acceptance speech for Best Actress went viral. Because she acknowledged that the only reason she could go about her day was because she had someone she could trust with her heart.

Her exact words were, “The most important person I think I have to thank before I finish is my nanny, Sally. I love her. She’s an absolute angel. She’s with my child and my child is safe and taken care of and she allows me to go and do my work.“

It would be impossible to do the things I do without our Auntie Bella. I’m able to show up to meetings with a clear head. I’m able to take time out of my day to devote to my mental and physical health. Because of Auntie Bella, I can show up and be a better, more present mother.

She really is one of the most important people in our lives. It goes without saying that we are the luckiest humans to have found her. And I’m SO HAPPY SHE’S BACK.