We take our grandson out every chance we can. With life complicated enough for working parents, raising a two-year old, finding time to do all the activities of a household, making time for each other, and also caring for an aging relative is far beyond challenging nowadays. Though one never stops being a parent for adult children, we have more experience, and thankfully, more time for our first grandchild. Time that is not taken for granted.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
This helps our son and daughter-in-law, when they need to do chores, or shopping, or just to get a little time to themselves after work. We love being with Zander and he loves time with us. When he hears that we are coming over, we are told he heads to the front door. If his “Mam-mam” stops by alone to pick him up, he asks where is “Pop-pop”? For me, it is as much a time to marvel at his “becoming” as it is to dote on him.
He now clearly knows more colors than two weeks ago; black, pink and orange are added to blue, red, yellow and purple. From a mischievous game we played with his water cup in the car, he learned what “in” and “out” mean – or perhaps he was simply testing me. After a couple days earlier clambering up a toddler- sized slide (with Mam-mam’s assistance), then watching a couple other kids using the steps and sliding down, he followed their example the next time out as well.
The child in you, like all children, loves to laugh, to be around people who can laugh at themselves and life. Children instinctively know that the more laughter we have in our lives, the better.
Wayne Dyer. psychologist, d. 2015
As he orders his expanding world, he has definite opinions as to what goes in, and what goes out. We chuckle over how he prefers certain toys to others, and how he moves the snack cup from where we set it to the place he wants it to go. In a confusing adult world, I pray that Zander will be imbued with these fun memories. And that these reinforce a spirit of love, confidence, and adventure for a lifetime. And somewhat selfishly, I pray that we will have many years of such opportunities to learn and laugh together.
Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.
Alex Haley
Grandparents dote, listen, and teach. Of course, we give a child sweets after playtime and before sending them home. And we sprinkle stardust over them.
It's a Dog's Life 