By: JD Author, Reporter-Journalist

Grandchildren…

The only ones who can get more out of you than the IRS

Raising kids is like a walk in the park.. Jurrasic Park!

In my life, there is no greater joy than the laughter of that small voice, the snuggles given by gently arms and the soft kiss placed gently on my cheek.  My grandchildren, my “short people”, the most precious part of my world.  Until someone becomes a grandparent, they will never understand the feeling and emotions.  There are no true words to express exactly how it feels.  The moment you look at, hold and feel that first grandchild and every grandchild to follow, your heart changes, you have an overwhelming feeling of joy that is without comprehension until it happens.

I grew close to my Grandson Chase while babysitting for him for almost 4 years and the joy he brought me, made me feel 20 years younger.  Some days I felt like a kid, playing with matchbox cars in the dirt and coloring until our fingers ached.  Then when he was old enough for pre-school, we didn’t see each other as often.  I actually suffered separation anxiety for a few days.  At least we made beautiful memories that we share laughs about when I see him.

Chase has now moved to Texas with his family and my daughter gave birth last fall to another wonderful boy.

I also have Coraline Elizabeth who is now a year old, and just adorable as ever. She has such a cute giggle and beautiful blue eyes!

My other grandson and granddaughter live quite far away and I don’t see them except in pictures, and my estranged son and his wife tend to not like socializing with us because of his mental illness and narcissism draws him into a world that portrays them superior to us.  It is sad, but that is their choice and I accept that.  Despite knowing the pain of him only hurting my granddaughter and grandson Emma and Jayden.

FaceTime on my iPad is amazing!  I sit and talk to my grandson and we share stories and adventures.  He likes to tell me about his family and his classmates and all the things he is learning in school.  His favorite topic just two days ago was recess.  He said he has a play army of soldiers and followers and they work as a team to protect the playground from bugs.  He says they scan t he area for threats and take out bugs.  He says he doesn’t worry about bees or mosquitoes because his support has his back.  I chuckled.  What a beautiful thing childhood is, where innocence meets imagination.

We used to share many a moment in the imaginary world not too long ago.  When he was small enough to climb in the laundry basket and sit, he would.  Then I would grab a large plastic storage tub and climb in it next to him.  One day they were our rocket ships to explore galaxies as far away as our imagination would let us go.  We shot aliens, dodged asteroids and discovered planets far away.  Other days, they were our vessels to travel the high seas and explore new worlds.  We fought off pirates one day, and then another, we were the pirates the stuffed animal world feared, as they shivered in fright on the couch coastline.

Our adventures were always grand!  He sometimes mentions them when I visit him and I tell him one day he must take his baby brother on adventures, just like we did.  He smiles and says “Nana you can do them with us too when you visit”.  My heart fills with joy knowing the memories we have made and will continue to make over the years.  Memories I have with my grandmother inspired me to do the same.  Even at 52, I still recall how special they were to me and how much I loved her, and I want my grandkids to experience the same.

Any day when I am sitting somewhere and I feel a little blue, I try to think about the most beautiful things in my life that make me happy, and my grandkids always come to mind, and I smile inside.  The dirty fingerprints they leave on walls, the cheerios under the couch cushions and the matchbox cars that have been flushed, all make it the best experiences a person could cherish.

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©IAPP Author/Journalist   Press ID # 1007490467