This week marks the end of another school year, during which we have helped to care for our grandchildren. We have had the pleasure of doing this since Sofia was born a little more than five years ago. Marco was born almost two years ago. Their parents, my daughter and son-in-law, think we are helping them out with childcare. We are, from our point of view, both helping them and adding so much joy and love into our own lives by having them with us for two days a week during the school year.
There is no more powerful reminder of how quickly time passes than watching a child grow. Sofia will go to kindergarten next year. It seems like such a short time ago that she was born, making us grandparents for the first time. We still refer to Marco as "the baby" but, as you can see, he is quickly moving beyond babyhood.
On today's excursion to the nature park, the kids and Ray and I loved the sunshine and the blooming forest and the smell of woods. We have all been cooped up indoors for most of the past nine months and today felt like summer had arrived. Marco, who seems to be learning a new word every day, learned the word "flower." Sofia exclaimed over the yuckiness of the many giant slugs encountered on the trail. They were the only animals we saw today.
They walked, skipped and ran along the path to the end, then let Ray push them in the stroller on the return trip.
Marco wore himself out.
Next week their parents, both educators, will start a hard-earned summer break. We will see them all often, but not for our scheduled twice weekly days together. I will get a lot more artwork and blogging and drawing done. They are five minutes away, but I will miss them. The brightest little lights in my life.
Adorable. Makes me wish my kids could be able to enjoy their grandparents like that, but they all live in another state and we try to see them as much as we can.
I accidentally deleted a comment from Jean S. which said, "Beautiful little ones Terri. My grandchildren are all but grown with the oldest at 22. We helped raise her until her teens and those were wonderful special times for us. She's so busy now, no time for "Nana and Boppa." I love Joni Mitchell. You wonder how she could be so wise when she was so young at the time she wrote that song. I saw an interview with her the other day and in line with the drawing we're undertaking, she started out as an art student and sang because it gave her an "extra $15 a night" to buy art supplies. Her focus was her art but her music paid the bills."
Adorable. Makes me wish my kids could be able to enjoy their grandparents like that, but they all live in another state and we try to see them as much as we can.
ReplyDeleteSuch precious kidlets and thoughtful comments on spending time with them. I so miss when Mia and MIles were this young. Don't get as much time anymore
ReplyDeleteAdorable. I am always amazed at how quickly they grow and change. Love the song, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI accidentally deleted a comment from Jean S. which said, "Beautiful little ones Terri. My grandchildren are all but grown with the oldest at 22. We helped raise her until her teens and those were wonderful special times for us. She's so busy now, no time for "Nana and Boppa." I love Joni Mitchell. You wonder how she could be so wise when she was so young at the time she wrote that song. I saw an interview with her the other day and in line with the drawing we're undertaking, she started out as an art student and sang because it gave her an "extra $15 a night" to buy art supplies. Her focus was her art but her music paid the bills."
ReplyDeleteAdorable! You and they are fortunate to be able to spend so much time together.
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