How a 3-week babysitting gig turned into a lifelong relationship for two women

+ Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music The Best Music of 2025 All Songs Considered Tiny Desk Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop The Best Music of 2025 All Songs Considered Tiny Desk Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics How a 3-week babysitting gig turned into a lifelong relationship for two women Margaret Tobin accepted a three-week babysitting gig in 1989 for a newborn named Audrey that turned into a life-long relationship. The two women talk about their life together.

+ LEARN MORE --> How a 3-week babysitting gig turned into a lifelong relationship for two women February 27, 20264:43 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition By Zanna McKay How a 3-week babysitting gig turned into a lifelong relationship for two women Listen &middot; 2:53 2:53 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5724148/nx-s1-9666285" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Margaret Tobin accepted a three-week babysitting gig in 1989 for a newborn named Audrey that turned into a life-long relationship.

+ Sponsor Message (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: It's time again for StoryCorps. In 1989, Margaret Tobin was a personal chef, but she decided to pick up a few bucks babysitting for a newborn named Audrey. It was supposed to be a three-week gig. Eighteen years later, Margaret and Audrey came to StoryCorps to talk about their life together.

+ MARGARET TOBIN: When you were little, I would put you on my shoulder, and it was like icing on a cupcake. You would just drape down over my shoulder. And we called you Scrumpshy 'cause you were such a scrumptious baby. You just ate everything, so I would take you along when I would cook. There was one time you were, like, 14 months, and I turned around and I didn't see you. And I looked at the end of the counter, and all I see were these two little feet sticking out. And here you are with a bowl... AUDREY HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: (Laughter). TOBIN: ...Of kibble, and you reach into the dog dish, offer me a piece... HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: (Laughter). TOBIN: ...Like, would you like some? It's delicious. HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: (Laughter). TOBIN: I remember when you were really little, your mother and I were sitting on the love seat in the kitchen. You were between us. And we each took a limb, and your mother would... HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: (Laughter). TOBIN: ...Pull and she would say, I love her. And I say, no, I love her, I love her. And you were just there in heaven, rolling back and forth and laughing. HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: (Laughter) I have a bigger fan club than most kids. TOBIN: Yeah. You know, your life is very different than my life was. HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: Yeah. TOBIN: Because I grew up under this cloud of having a father who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's when I was 10. HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: When you were 10. TOBIN: Yeah. And with the diagnosis, there's no out. And he died when I was 14. I had moments of depression when I was young. But I have to say, once I met you, it changed the focus of my life. And the 18 years just - I mean, it flew by. HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: So how are you taking the fact that I've gone off to college now? TOBIN: Initially, when you went away, you called me back right away, but... (LAUGHTER) TOBIN: Recently, your phone skills have deteriorated a little bit, so... HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: Yeah. But I've always felt your support. I really attribute a lot of who I am to how much you've loved me over the years. I don't really think I would be as happy as I am if you weren't in my life. So thank you. TOBIN: You're welcome. I'm so happy that you're happy. (SOUNDBITE OF SAM BROWN AND HUW JONES' "HEART FELT") MARTIN: Margaret is now 75, and Audrey is 36, raising two children of her own. TOBIN: So how has our relationship changed? HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: It's more balanced. I'm an adult now, and there's a lot that hopefully I'm able to support you with. TOBIN: Tech support? HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: Yeah. TOBIN: (Laughter). HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: I am your tech support. And now my kids get to have this relationship with you, Margaret. TOBIN: They're really amazing kids because you've just been such a great mom. So, you know, you're my girl. HUNTINGTON POMERANTZ: I know (laughter). (SOUNDBITE OF SAM BROWN AND HUW JONES' "HEART FELT") MARTIN: Audrey Huntington Pomerantz and Margaret Tobin in Philadelphia. Their interview is archived at the Library of Congress. Copyright &copy; 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor MessageBecome an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{1167:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(323)},323:function(e,n,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(4),c.e(84)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1140),c(116),c(94),c(52),c(493),c(239),c(102),c(104),c(1141),c(143),c(1142),c(238),c(48),c(1143)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1167,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();