Back Around the House II: Grandkids still needed me

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It was a Friday when the grandchildren had a free day from school. Late in the afternoon the seven-year-old grandson called. “Grandma,” he begged, “can we come over to your house?”

He continued a long monologue about how he missed me and really wanted to come to my house. By then his five-year-old brother was chiming in, he wanted to come here too.

They had me convinced it was a good idea, so I said, “What does your mom say?” I heard him ask her, and I heard her say, “No, you have to stay home with the sitter because we have to go to the football game with your sisters.”

I said, “Let me talk to your mom.” The three of us convinced her it would be a great idea to bring them here rather than to leave them with the sitter.

When they arrived their mom said they had only eaten yogurt for supper and would probably be hungry later. This was no problem. We always have stuff on hand to feed hungry kids. Besides, once they took in the candy counter they probably wouldn’t be hungry any more.

Since their sisters are old enough to babysit with the grandsons we don’t get to visit with them much any more without their parents around. We were almost more tickled than they were to share an evening with them.

First I took them downtown with me while I ran an errand. It took awhile, but they just waited patiently for me to finish—no whining, and no interruptions. They thought it was really cool to be on Broadway after dark.

Shortly after we got home the younger one disappeared. Before I could get up to look for him, I heard him coming down the stairs. “Where were you? I asked.

“Oh, I just had to go to the bathroom,” he announced nonchalantly. This is the kid who wouldn’t go upstairs alone for anything just this past summer. I said nothing.

They played with the available toys, sharing nicely, no arguments. They took turns playing games on the computer. Then they remembered the toys in the basement and asked if I’d go down with them. I felt better. They still needed me.

Down we went. The old toys were like new ones to them. They were busy playing, but I was getting tired. “Hey guys, I’m going upstairs. Turn the light off when you’re ready to come back upstairs.”

I walked toward the steps absolutely certain they would shriek, pick up a couple of toys and run upstairs ahead of me. They just said OK, and I went back upstairs alone.

After awhile they came upstairs with a few toys to share with me. “Did you turn off the lights?” I asked. “Yep,” the older one assured me. I was proud of them, but I thought they were growing up entirely too fast.

Finally they got tired and nestled down in separate recliners instead of on my lap to watch some old TV shows I watched with our children years ago. We laughed at the shows together and chatted a little bit about their mom and her brothers and sisters. It was nice, and it was fun, but I think I miss the little guys they used to be.

The next day I went to the basement to do the laundry. After I turned on the light and descended the steps, I was pleased to discover the furnace room light was still one. It was too high for them to reach. I’m glad. They need me.

I heard about another little boy who is four years old. His parents had given a friend permission to put an election campaign sign in their yard. A little later the friend called and asked why they removed the sign.

The puzzled mother asked the little one if he knew where the sign went. He told her he had pulled it up and put it in the trash can.

When she asked why, he told her, “My house is not for sale.”

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By Kathleen Floyd

Back Around the House II

Kathleen Floyd is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with her column Back Around the House II. She can be reached at [email protected]. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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