Gratitude for the Little Ones: Grounding in Grandparenting

April 25, 2020 (Still social distancing)

I've been a grandmother for five years now. We have three grandchildren, 5, 4 3/4, 22months. I (along with my sweet husband) have done a significant amount of care for these grandchildren. Until last fall, we had the two older ones over at our house every Friday, all day. As a result, our grandchildren are among the people we call our best buddies. We miss them terribly during this quarantine. We have gotten to see them a few times at a safe distance but gone are the group cuddles and giggles on the couch or our bed.

Drawing with Markers by Solveig, age 5

So it was doubly sweet a couple days ago, when we received a little artwork from each of them. Solveig's came in the mail. She drew this picture, in her current Solveig style.On the other side, her parents had helped her write a note including some important questions: "Have Grandma and Grandpa ever cut paper?"  "Have they ever drawn a funny pattern?"  I can't tell you the last time I got a letter in the mail. What a sweet gift!

watercolor by Wendell, age 4 1/2

On the same day, Wendell and his little sister, Sophie, came by to play on our playground for a little while. The first thing Wendell said, "Grandma Jules, I have present for you." Indeed, he had even made a special envelope for these two watercolor paintings...the blue one is Wendell's and the other more minimalist one is Sophie's. Again, it touched my grandma heart deeply.

watercolor by Sophie, age 22 months

Thank you Solveig, Wendell and Sophie for being in my world! and thank you Jacob, Beth, Karl and Erica for being such wonderful parents, for sharing them with us and teaching them love and kindness.

In the midst of this social distancing, these are gifts I will be hanging on to, sinking my roots deep into the love that transcends all time and space. These are gifts that help me remember to be grateful. What a lucky mother, grandmother, spouse I am!

Sometimes the simple things are what grow our deepest roots! Sometimes the little ones save us from our overthought, overworked adult lives. In this case, I'm going to say, LOVE WINS!

GRATITUDE MONTH--#17: FRIDAYS with the GRANDS

Friday Fun for 4! or....Fridays with the Grands!

In September 2016, as Pete was backing off of work and I was in the middle of helping with daycare for the grand-kids, we began a new tradition in our family. We asked if the grands could come to our house on Fridays--both of them! They are Solveig & Wendell, first cousins, 4 months apart in age. We LOVE having them over for our Friday Fun days!

At this stage of the tradition, it goes something like this:

Breakfast is full of giggles and feet pushing against the table. Soon after there are toys all over the floor, the favorites changing as they kiddos change. Solveig leads the frequent visits to the kitchen for more snacks and meals. Wendell leads the effort to turn on all the lights in the house, however high the switches are. Feeding the fish, legos, animals, cars, balls, playing piano, etc. They love playing with us and over the months get closer and closer to playing with each other. Sometimes we even get them both napping at once in the afternoon, sometimes. Two such different kids, both precious and beautiful. We love this time to get to know them, for them to know us, to stop our serious adult lives and just be grandparents. How lucky we are! And there are lessons to learn.

These little ones live in the moment, ALWAYS! They stay in the moment even though every moment is about growing, becoming, learning how to be more me in the next moment. They are spontaneous, inviting us to give in to our urges to run and jump, to suddenly leap for a hug or grab a book to enjoy together. They find joy in the simplest things and sometimes the messy things---jumping on couches, throwing toys, tasting and dropping new foods on the floor. They live a life not measured but embraced. Life is now.

Two who are two have a lot of energy and curiosity. And these two grandparents love every minute!

I am so grateful, so thankful for this gift of Fridays with the Grands!