We had an entire school day with these lovely ladies earlier this month! Because we are the grandparents who happen to live in the neighborhood, we sometimes get to enjoy their company when there is a school holiday for them which their parents do not get. This was Columbus Day, I believe, and they came sleepily into our living room at a few minutes before 8:00 a.m.
Whenever they come, I try to plan some easy treat for us to make together. That day, we made Rice Krispie Pinwheels, which are messy, fun and delicious! I gave them those aprons for Christmas and their mama knew enough to pack them in their carry bag, so on they went. So cute.
I have so enjoyed paying attention to my grandchildren through the years. They are each themselves, totally unique individuals. Yes, we bear a strong family resemblance to one another, but their interests, talents, accomplishments, struggles are all distinct and quite wonderful. Our eldest is now 25, making his way as a cinematographer in the Hollywood scene; his next younger brother is in grad school in PA — in mathematics! The next two — one a freshman in college and the other a senior in high school — have very different interests and majors in mind. You get the message, right? Every one of God’s children is their own, special person and our task, as adults in their lives, is to help them realize and celebrate those uniquenesses.
The older of these two sisters is artistic, loves to read (for hours on end, much like I did at her age!) She is also quite good at tennis (not like me in the least, thank you, God) and has a long list of friends. The younger is more energetic, flitting from one thing to another, loving it all. She especially loves playing small-cramped-house with Poppy when she comes to visit:
Poppy is laughing hysterically because trying to get into this space was just about as much as his almost 75-year-old body could manage! But he did it — bless him! — and they had a ball. We love the opportunity to be with these wonderful creatures and feel it a God-given privilege to be able to point them toward their best selves and to encourage their gifts.
Are there children in your life to whom you feel called to pay attention? Tell me a little about them!
Grandchildren are the absolute best, aren’t they, Diana? I love paying attention to my three little ones, and noted how different they are in this post: http://marthaorlando.blogspot.com/2016/09/wonderfully-made.html Hope you’ll check it out! 🙂
Blessings!
I did check it out, Martha. And loved it!
We had dinner with a lovely couple and their 2 daughters last Saturday. It was so wonderful to engage with an exceptionally bright 4 1/2 year old who is reading and interested in all the instruments and stuffed animals I set out for they to play with. Her 20 month old sister was also a delight. Both were testing us with their knock-knock jokes, laughing and giggling each time they repeated them.
Children are so much fun, most of the time, and as I discovered with my own children, come out of the shoot exactly who they are. Energetic, easy, edgy, relaxed, but all are full of wonder and eager to grow and learn about the world around.
Yup – each one is unique. I noticed those differences even in utero as each pregnancy was its own animal, so to speak! Glad you can enjoy being with young children once in a while – it’s a gift, that is for sure.