Grandchild

Do parents realize what a blessing it is for everyone when they share their children with their parents? The bond that is created between a grandchild and a grandparent is a wonderful thing.

I don't have grandchildren of my own but I have a step-grandchild that has always been a blessing in my life.
When Susie was four years old, her mother allowed her to spend a week with us in the summer. After that it got to be an annual thing. We looked forward to that week. We got to watch her grow up and listen to things that she was interested in and watch how she did things. I remember watching her pack her suitcase when she was about five and she packed like a little old lady. Everything was folded and put in just so. It was adorable.

Every year we had her stand by the closet door in the kitchen and we would mark how tall she had gotten in the last year.

It is the little things that are so important. She and I would exchange secrets and years later we would talk about them. She would parrot my words years later, "I couldn't go on certain rides because I didn't have my play shoes on."

Grandpa was always working so she and I would go to the beach where she could swim in Lake Michigan. She would collect rocks from the beach and bring them home. I would set up a painting area and whenever she wanted, she would go to that area and paint on her rocks.

One year she and I made some watercolor pictures. I had one framed that she made and sent it to her Mother for her Mother's birthday.

We made furniture for her doll house. She and I even got to ride Amtrak from where she lived to our town.

We would go shopping for school clothes. I don't think she really liked to trying on sweaters in July but she did it. One very hot summer, she really was unhappy about this event. She always went home with a bunch of new clothes of her choosing.

One of the things that was nice about having her at our house was that Susie didn't need to be entertained. We didn't have to be going all the time to fly a kite or ride a bike. (By the way, she didn't enjoy flying kites.) If I wanted to read a book, she would skate in the driveway or maybe paint or some other thing and I didn't have to suggest things to do. I see so many children that have to be entertained all the time. Will they grow up unable to be alone?

As she got older, she had more activities in the summer at home, like her job and ball games so we didn't get to see her as much but we did stay in touch. When she had an event; Basketball game, school play or when she was modeling, we would drive to it. She was good at modeling because in high school she was five foot ten inches tall. (Both of her parents are tall)

The last four years she has been in College and we e-mail each other. At first it was once a week and I knew that would settle down as she felt more comfortable away from home. It did. Then she got so busy, a job and tutoring after school that we only heard from her now and then.

Grandpa and I started something with her when she was very little. We called it the "Peanut Can." When we had change in our pockets or purses, we would put it in a peanut can and that was what she could spend when she was at our house for the week. Later when we didn't see her as often, we would take the "Peanut Can" and give it to her when we went up to her school. We told her it was the tip for being her.

Grandpa would ask her what she wanted for Christmas and she would usually get it. (Grandpa is a softy when it comes to Susan.) Maybe it would be a certain sports jacket or money to add to what she had for a trip etc. Susie was always polite enough to thank us for whatever she got.

She has moved on to her first "real" job in Colorado, so we probably won't see her that much but there is still the e-mail. She has turned out to be a very loving/responsible adult.

I feel sorry for Grandparent who have never had this opportunity to bond with one or more of their grandchildren. It is a wonderful feeling and wonderful experience for everyone.