Kids are wonderful little people and no one appreciates their warmth, wit, and humour more than their grandparents. We’d like to share some quick tidbits sent to us by readers—proud grandparents, one and all.
When my daughter’s oldest was 3, they lived in an apartment that didn’t have the newest appliances. That Thanksgiving, a few too many potato peelings had been put down the disposal.
The ground up mess somehow got stuck in the plumbing so that when the dishwasher ran, the drain backed up in the sink and exploded all over the kitchen.
Water was inches deep on the kitchen floor and my granddaughter wanted to play in the new pool. My daughter removed her from the mess and went to find a mop and bucket.
When she came back, Darby was kneeling in the middle of the small lake, a sponge in each hand. When my daughter asked her what she was doing, why she wasn’t listening to Mummy, she replied in the sweetest of voices: “but Mummy, I wanted to be Cinderella…just like you!
“My granddaughter, Trin, found some glitter in a bathroom cabinet. After her discovery, she had the following conversation with her mother:
T: Mummy, is that Pixie Dust?
M: Yes.
T: Can you sprinkle some on me so I can fly?
M: No.
T: Why?
M: Because I don’t want the mess in the house.
T: No… you just don’t want footprints on the ceiling!”
~ Both from Peggy, grandmother of 6
When she was just barely three, my granddaughter asked her mum why the stuff on her plate was called ‘chicken’ because the word was already used for something else. “You know, the farm bird.”
My daughter explained, and her daughter was horrified. “Do I have to eat it?”
Sadie went meatless for a while, off and on, and her parents were fine with that and loved the idea that their little one had a mind of her own as well as a compassionate heart. Sadie is allowed to take a pass on meat whenever she chooses, as long as she is willing to eat plenty of healthy foods. She happily agrees.
By the time that she turned four, she was a “sometimes” meat eater, but still had qualms about eating her animal friends. Her parents have allowed her to go in and out of vegetarian phases at her choosing, supporting her decision either way.
Now Sadie is five, and eats an almost meat-free diet. She doesn’t eat chicken or beef, and she is very polite about it. She just fills her plate with the other offerings, eats her meal, and doesn’t chide anyone else for their choices. Perfect.
She does eat turkey, willingly and without so much as a second thought, it seemed to me. Strange I thought, so I asked her about it. Her answer was simple. “I don’t mind eating turkeys, Grammy, because they’re ugly.”
~ Elizabeth, grandmother of 5
I had an engagement to speak to a Christian group on the campus of the local junior college. My five year old grandson went with me and sat right up front. I began my talk by asking the college students, “What were you doing five years ago today?” When the little guy raised his hand, I called on him. He said “I know what I was doing, I was crying like a baby!”
I went to Singapore to pick up my grandsons, who had spent the summer in Shanghai and Singapore. They had eaten everything from duck tongues, to calf brains, to pig’s ears to snake that summer.
Before they left for home, they met friends at a restaurant that served fish caught by the patrons in the lake outside the dining room.
When the fish was served, the older of the boys asked for the eyes of the fish. His little brother then asked for the center bone. I asked, “Zack, can you handle that?” The boys answered, “It’s just like eating snake!”
~ Both from Ralph, grandfather of 4
My granddaughter, when about five said to me, ‘Do you know what I wish, Grandma? I wish that you could live forever and chocolate was good for you.’
Another granddaughter, now nine, recently emailed me, ‘I have been thinking about my choice of CD player and I have therefore decided to ask you if I may have a CD player very similar to the one I had before. Still, if it is possible, please may I have the silver version? I am not a very pink person!’
~ Both from Jackie, grandmother of 4
I’m ‘Ollie’ to my grandkids and I say to each one when I see them, “Come here Ollie wants to tell you a secret.” Once I get them in my lap I whisper, “I love you high as the sky–deep as the ocean,” then I tickle them.
They were so precious as the learned to say it with me…we still do that. The oldest, Evan, who is eight now–when I say that to him he says “I love you infinity so I win!” and I say “Yes, you do.” My littlest grandson is Nolan (age 4). His parents always tell him he must obey with a happy heart.
One day his mom heard him telling their dog, (who they are having a hard time potty training) that he needed to obey with a happy heart.
~ Both from Ileene, grandmother of 4 (with another on the way!)
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