Florence and her brother went with her aged mother to Jerusalem and I took care of the kids.
I feel I was a great success. Amira cried for less than two minutes after they left. The baby cried a bit but I put her on the floor where she enjoyed stretching her legs.
I had no trouble at all with them except for a small one with Amira when she didn't want to wash her face. I took her hands and washed it with her. She screamed a bit but we kept right on washing. I don't know how they light their gas hot water heater so I couldn't give her a bath. After the washing, including hair, where we worked together and started the going to bed campaign.
"How about a glass of milk before you go to bed?" - I asked.
"Yes", said Amira. I gave her the milk.
"What about a piece of bread and butter?"
"Yes," said Amira.
She ate and drank while I cleaned up the kitchen.
"All done?" I asked seeing she had finished. Now to bed!
No one was more surprised than I when she lifted both her hands to me. I picked her up quickly and carried her to her bed, dropped her in it, said, {good night" and threw her a kiss, walked out and closed the door, as smooth as silk. Not a whimper, not a sound. Five minutes later, I peeked in to see if "all was well". Amira was fast asleep!
One rather revealing incident - her sandals:
I opened them for her and told her to kick them off.
"Aunt Grace", she said, meaning that I should do it.
"Oh no," I said, "You can do it yourself!" and I got up to put her clothes away, paying no more attention to her. She kicked a sandal off and gave me a look, to see if I had noticed. I had. "Amira is a big girl," I said, stating a fact.
"And now the other shoe!"
She looked at me sideways. I saw the wheels going round in her head. Should I say, "Aunt Grace" again? She seems to be thinking. She hesitates. I don't. I pick up my book. She kicked off her shoe. We both laughed then. She is a tease!

"All done?" I asked, seeing it was - "and now to bed."
No one was more surprised than I when she lifted both her hands to me. I lifted her quickly and carries her to her bed, dropped her in it, said "good night", threw her a kiss, walked out and closed the door. Not a whimper, not a sound.
Five minutes later, I went to take a "look see". She was fast asleep!