I'll be 40 in 6 months. 40. The age that Meg Ryan wailed about in When Harry Met Sally. 40. While I know that is not "old," at least for those of us who are there or past there, it never ceases to surprise me when I realize that I'm older than many of the parents that send their kids to me at The Barn. I am a terrible judge of age- I never guess correctly, so I don't think about it much. But, then I see people celebrating their (fill in the blankth) birthday on FB and I realize woah- I'm 10, 12, 15 years older than her. Whaaa? How did that happen?
I started working with kids in high school. That led me to my first self-employed "real" job as a dance teacher and director of a mobile company that offered dance lessons to children at area preschools and private schools. I was around 20 when I bought that company from its previous owner, who was moving to Egypt. I was somewhat intimidated by all of the "grown ups" that I had to deal with, including school directors and the parents of the children I taught, and often felt uncomfortable addressing people by their first names. However, I knew what I was doing and, looking back, I am impressed with what I was able to accomplish at a pretty young age.
By the time I was 25, I was working as an itinerant artist-in-residence for the St. Tammany Parish school board, and was described as "young and vivacious" by one of the principals. I was fresh-faced, enthusiastic, and usually younger than everyone I encountered. My youth and energy made me appealing to the kids. Wherever I visited, I brought fun.
Time went on, Lily was born, and I started The Big Red Barn when I was 34. Hundreds of kids pass through here every year, and The Barn continues to grow. It surprises me when people seek me out for business advice, ideas, and mentor-ship, especially since I don't feel old enough to offer those things. But, I am.
We are heading into our 6th year now, and while time continues to go on, I still feel like that 20-year-old kid, thankful to be trusted with the children of "grown ups." I forget that I'm a "grown-up" too- at least on the surface. Inside, I'm much younger, and I think I always will be; maybe that's why the kids like me so much- I'm one of their species. :-)
