To Grandmothers---How Will You Be Remembered?

I remember my grandmother for many things, most noteably her kindness and her faith.  However, when I think about her as I was growing up, I remember sleeping in her back bedroom under her water cooler (she couldn't afford air conditioning).  It had a loud rumbling sound that was great to sleep under.  My big sister and I spent many Saturday nights with her when our parents went to the Baylor Bear football games.  Our favorite part about Saturday night was after dinner and before bed she would make us "Black Cows", or in layman's terms, a Dr. Pepper float.  She used the same special tall glasses every time.  We didn't get many soda waters at home so this was a huge treat for us.  Sunday morning we woke up and went to church with her.  She taught us a lot about Jesus and about faith.

Me on the other hand, how will I be remembered?  Mac and cheese!  That's how I will be remembered by my grandson.

By the time he quits asking for it, I have no idea how many bowls of mac and cheese that boy will eat.  No matter what I have prepared or try to feed him, that most kids would like to have...pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries... he asked for "mac and cheese please".  And he asked for it for every meal...seriously.  Last night I said, "we are having blueberry muffins for breakfast".  He said yummy.  Then this morning when I got up I headed to the kitchen to bake them.  From the bedroom I hear..."let's have mac and cheese with our muffins ok?"  Uh, well, ok for you, but it'll just be muffins and butter for me my love.  And it makes him happy, really happy.

His mother had a love for something too, only her choice was "spaghettios".  She ate them hot or cold and right from the can was her preference.  She ate them every day in her lunch box at school...until Junior High.  Seriously.  I guess the boy is following her footsteps.  (And if I have to be honest, I ate Gerber's apricots out of a baby food jar forever.)

So if I'm remembered for Velveta Mac and Cheese, that's ok with me.  We always say prayers at night asking for his parents safe return home and for everything God gives us.  It's one of my favorite times with him.  But then every moment with him is special.

Encourage One Another and build each other up.  I Thes 5:11

Continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo

Proverbs 17:6 

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Psalm 143:5

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

May I See A Raise of Hands

That's what happens when I look down and my 14 month old grandson is raising his arms for me to pick him up.  I'm in love.  The older he gets and the more he does that I know he recognizes me, knows I'm somebody special, the more in love I fall.  The more smitten I become.  When he reaches for me from someone else's arms (preferring to be with me) or cries when I leave the room...my heart just melts.  There is nothing like being a grandmother...nothing.  And it just gets better all the time!

It's A Little Like Riding A Bike

When my daughter was a baby, I don't believe I ever thought about for one moment what it would be like to take care of a child again, after her.  I don't think I thought for one moment about a grand child.  I don't think I thought for one moment if I would remember things I did as a mother and how that might affect taking care of a grandchild later.  Not for one moment.  Not one thought.  I'm sure I was concentrating on the moment I was in, the child I was taking care of, and how taking care of her was just, well, mostly instinct.  I mean because who really gets lessons in parenting?  Who really takes a class on "how to be a parent"?  Who has time?  We just do it.  We get pregnant, we give birth, we parent…the end.  Some of us do it better than others.  Some of us don't do it well at all.  Some of us eventually have proof by how our children turned out that we either did a pretty good job, or a crumby one.  Looking at my child, somebody did something right.  God blessed me with a fabulous child.  And I'm absolutely sure He had a ton to do with that!

So here I am, however, some 26 years post baby of my own, getting an opportunity to care for my 8 month old grandchild…for three days no less.  No for a few hours, not overnight, but for almost three full days…by myself!  Wow, they (the parents, my daughter and son in law) must really trust me, they must believe I did a pretty good job (on her); they must believe I am worthy of taking care of their most precious gift from God.  Wow, what an honor.  They know I have only cared for him by myself for about 24 hours…I did ok then, nothing bad happened.  They know I have not parented or cared for a child for that length of time in over 26 years.  They know me.  They honored me.  They gave me a few instructions, handed him over to me, and drove away in a car, and headed off to New Orleans for their anniversary.  Wow, cool!

And you know what?  We did OK, my baby grandson and I.  He was actually fabulous (which also tells me what great parents my kids are).  He and I just hung out for three days.  We didn't get to stroll too much because it was just entirely too hot and humid.  We both love to stroll.  I love to walk and he loves to ride.  He just watches and sits quietly for as long as I'll go.  We've walked 4 miles in one day before…we like it.  This time, we didn't get to leave until after 8 or 8:30 and after 45 minutes or so the sun was up and the humidity was high.  We enjoyed it while we could.  But before we strolled he ate.  Can I just tell you, that boy has not met a food stranger.  He loves to eat.  He loves everything my daughter has put in front of him.  He puts everything in his mouth.  Everything is a possible food opportunity!  He even put a baby chicken in his mouth at his Easter photo session!  But you gotta be fast.  You gotta get that spoon up to his mouth in record time.  He swallows and immediately wants the spoon again.  If you don't get it there fast enough, he'll holler out "Hey lady…where's the food!"  Watching him eat is a sight to see!

And we played on the floor.  Who knew I could stay on the floor so long.  Stackable toys, musical toys, chewable toys, he likes them all.  And the belly crawl, he's got that down to a science.  He can move across a room in record time.  He can grab the dogs food in record time.  He inspects the floor with every move so you better have any little do dads, dog food bits, fuzz, etc up off the floor because when he finds it….food possibility!  In his mouth it goes.  No telling truthfully what that boy has ingested so far.  He can pick up the tiniest thing with his two fingers.  He gives it a good once over then in his mouth it goes.  You gotta be quick to get it before it goes in his mouth.  When he ever gets up on his knees, he's gonna be double trouble.  He doesn't stay put much.  If you leave the area he follows.  He hollers then he follows.  I think he was saying "hey lady…where are you going…here I come"!

The boy also loves to swing.  Also a bit hard to do in such hot weather…but we managed to do it anyway.  Once the sun moved off the porch, we were swinging.  He loves that too.  When I finally figured out how to move the little tray out of the way to get him in, it proved to be much easier getting him in and out.  He never was ready to quit, I just thought it got too hot.

Talk about jabber.  That boy is a talker.  No idea what he is telling me but it is a story worth telling.  He is very very verbal whether it is to tell you he is hungry, tell you to get the food in faster, tell you he is tired, or just tell you a story…he is a talker.  Jabbers like a bird…a big bird.  Yack, yack, yack…baa baa baa…daa daa daa.  If you can make that out…let me know.

Bath time needs to pretty much be in and out at this point.  No messing around in there.  Just "get 'er done"…and on with bedtime.  He napped and went to be like a trooper.  He gave a little cry out, a little shout out for just a few minutes each time I put him down, but it was minimal.  He just went right to sleep.  Praise God!

One of the coolest things was when mom and dad called on Tango and he could see them via video on my iPhone.  He absolutely knew them.  He hollered and reached out for the phone.  He wanted to see them in person.  He got a little upset but ultimately was ok with that.  They of course were happy to see that he was doing fine, still healthy and living life.  Tango is a good thing!

Overall we, me and my baby grandson, had a fabulous time.  I think he eventually knew that I was the one caring for him.  I don't believe he really recognized me or knew who I was (his grandmother Annie) or anything like that.  But I do believe he knew that I was the one temporarily in charge and that I was going to be sure he had everything he needed.  He knew that I was going to take care of him.  He just had a good feeling about that. 

So next time they ask me to keep him I'll be a little more reassured that I can do a good job.  Even though he'll be doing more things, like crawling on his knees or even walking, I'll know I can care for him no matter what.  I guess caring for children is a little like riding a bike…you just don't forget how to do it. 

Do You Remember When.....?

There's just something about the era that I was born in that intrigues me. I believe it's about the simpleness, the ease with which it appeared to me that people (my family) went through life. Truth is, they probably had as many problems as we do now. However, I was just too young to recognize them. Could also be that my parents were experts at not passing down worries and concerns to their children? Information and news was shared in a much more limited way. There was only radio and TV. And at that time, not everyone even had a TV.

Life just seemed simple and calm in my household...routine. Mom and dad left for work and my sister and I walked to school. No concerns about someone kidnapping us or accosting us along the way. We met up with friends and walking to and from school was an enjoyable, like a social event. We skipped or ran most of the way. In the afternoons we got home and enjoyed a snack of cookies or vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. Our mom came in a short time later to fix dinner. Growing up we always had a balanced meal. It included a meat and two vegetables, one green. The four of us sat together at the table and ate while we visited. Sometimes we watched TV. Sometimes we didn't. My sister and I really looked forward to Saturday mornings. We got up early and watched Fury and My Friend Flicka along with Mighty Mouse, the Flintstones and some other cartoons. Other TV favorites were Captain Kangaroo, Gilligan's Island, Bonanza, Rifleman, Rawhide, Have Gun Will Travel, The Life of Riley, Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, Bewitched, Leave It To Beaver, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Dick Van Dyke, Bachelor Father, and Lassie. Walt Disney Presents came on Sunday evenings. On Saturday night we always washed our hair for church the next morning. (I can't imagine only washing my hair once a week). Our Saturday special was steak my dad grilled outside along with baked potatoes. It was a delightful treat. Together we watched Lawrence Welk, Ed Sullivan, and Gunsmoke every Saturday night. Sundays we dressed in our Sunday best and attended Sunday School and church. Waiting for us in the oven at home we would usually have a pot roast with the chunky potatoes and carrots all cooked in the same pan. Often my grandmother would cook this same meal. My grandmother and my mom were both great cooks, however, my grandmother had that special grandmother way that just made hers extra special. Oh, and did I tell you, both of them always wore aprons. I love aprons. I still wear the last one my mom used to wear. My grandmother made it. It's not in good shape. It's sort of tattered, torn and in need of some repair. However, when I wear it, I think of my mom, of that time in my life, and how great my life was when I was young. I long for that simpleness. I seek it in my own kitchen, wearing my mom's worn out apron and watching re-runs of my favorite shows on TV Land....and fondly smile.

Encourage One Another