I have grandkids, but they all live a ways away from where I live. The closest ones live a little over an hour away…the ones that live the farthest live like 14 hours away. I never get as much time as I would love to have with any of them…so when the opportunity presents itself…I grab it with gusto.
My daughter had 3 children in a fairly short period of time. The youngest is about 5 months old (and teething at present time). So when she said, the other day, how would you like to take the two older children for a day or two? I said oh yeah. She could use some much needed rest…and, I could have some fun.
So tonight, I added a 2 year old and a 4 year to my already busy household of a 10 year old, a 17 year old, an 18 year old and a 19 year old. Ahhhhh busy-ness. So in preparation, I made a double- batch of home-made play dough. I cooked, baked and I planned us a time of over- night bliss. We’re having a campout in the living room with a video marathon. LOL I told them, at bedtime, we could all make nests in the living room with our sleeping bags and watch their favorite movies. His is CARS and hers, is Hannah Montanna. 
Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into? That is a long time to watch movies… I do love CARS though.
In the meantime, we have played on the swing set, rode bikes on the driveway…looked in on the baby chicks and the watched the fish in the pond. A few minutes ago….they were dragging out their sleeping bags, their stuffed toys, and asking when it would be bed time. Hahahahahah…their mother would be very un-impressed that they are in a hurry to go to bed at grandma’s house. Not because I have the magic touch; oh no, it is because they can’t wait to watch the movies; now that their bellies are full…and they are anticipating the joy of sleeping on the floor and having fun. I hate to tell their mother that it is only 7:15 pm. They never want to go to bed early, just like most kids. I should suggest a campout to their mom; for the days when they are giving her a hard time. You know the kind of really loooooooooooong days that every family experiences, at one time or another as the children are growing up.
All of this day’s events have been celebrated amongst laughter and giggling. I love this. I’ve been a grandma a long time…and, it never gets old. The only thing better, would be if all of the grandkids were here together! Woohoo…then we would have a grand time for sure. So, that had me thinking about a really sad (and angering) news story that I read about yesterday.
The story revolved around a 21 year old woman (old enough to know better-old enough to be ashamed of herself) who was caught prank calling her, own 69 year old, grandmother and allegedly threatening to kill her. The young woman and a “friend” allegedly called the grandmother 45 times in the same day… allegedly saying things like, they were watching her and that she was going to die.
When the police got involved…they too, heard the female caller. The young womans alleged explanation to the investigators was that she was “bored and she wanted to scare the grandmother…not kill her”. I don’t know if there is any kind of mental illness involved, or any other kind of explanation for such behavior; but, I can never imagine having a relationship, with the children of my children, that would leave room for that kind of treatment. It is an awful thing to even consider.
I don’t imagine that grandmother ever considered such a thing happening in her family either. Imagine standing in a hospital room, looking down at your newborn grandchild and envisioning a future where your grandchild could do such of a thing to you. It is heartbreaking…where is the natural connection between one generation to another? Our society is breaking down in ways that a compassionate heart can not imagine. We are becoming a nation of selfish and cruel people; when this kind of thing, and worse, happens between people who are supposed to love and support one another. It begs the question, is time with the grandkids found to be filled with an attitude of love, indifference, insensitivity, or is it hate? What is happening, or not happening, that is allowing some of the younger generation to be insensitive to the needs and feelings of the elders in our society? Is anyone else shocked by some of the things that are happening in our country, even within our own families? Elder abuse is becoming more common and it is wrong!
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Shocked? Oh, Rainy, what shocks me is that YOU make “nests” and so do we! Kids much prefer having their own “nest” over sleeping in the big guest bed. The “nests” are closer to Grandma and Grandpa’s bedroom…you know, just in case the monsters might pop by to visit.
It’s a pity this Grandma and Grandpa aren’t there to share in the fun because I personally love play dough; Grandpa Norm loves PIE and would you like to know what I found today? A PAPER DOLL, right on the sidewalk in front of the grocery store! Now I’m set for fun. I just need some playmates.
We’ll be right over. Save us at least a sliver of pie, won’t you please?
Grin/Hugs
The Funny GREAT Grandma and The Normanator
aka Mother Connie