I find it interesting to be on the grandparent side of things. It’s great to have the kids for a day or two and then send them back home. The time Nonnie and I spend with our grandkids is very special to us. When they are here we, well Nonnie more than me, give them our undivided attention. We play games, read, eat what they want, (that doesn’t mean junk food) cook with Mary Alice, play cars, and catch with Major. If we have Milla, or Ranger I’ll even lay down on the floor to play with them. Thankfully that deal will soon be over, with both of them crawling they can now come to me and I can just pick them up. Now I really like that. Last weekend Miss Milla crawled over several times, grabbed one of my pants legs and pulled herself up to a standing position. I’d reach down and pick her up; we would then cuddle, bonk heads, and steal sugar. Just in case you don’t know it let me tell you, that’s special.

One of the things I find ironically funny is the way the tables have turned from when I was a very demanding dad until now. Wait a minute now, don’t go thinking I’ve gone soft, I haven’t. The thing I’m talking about is realizing that the kids must act differently around Nonnie and I then they do at home. Let me tell you what I’m talking about.

Josh was a very headstrong kid. Actually headstrong is too nice a term. He was hardheaded. That boy was always in trouble. He had a temper, and yes he got it from me, that would not quit. He was always doing things he shouldn’t be doing and he was always in trouble…. at our house. He would go to visit mom and dad and was a perfect little angel while he was with them. Now Paula and I see the same thing. Major is not even close to being as bull headed as his dad was, but he does do some things he knows he shouldn’t do, and he pays the price. We hear from time to time how he has mistreated his sister, or gotten a little upset about having to clean his room or something like that. We know he does some boneheaded things on occasion, but he rarely does them when he is with us.

Mom, and Dad, I now understand how things were when Josh was with you. I now understand that things are different at grandmother and granddad’s house. It didn’t mean that you two didn’t expect Josh to behave; it means it was easier for him to behave at your house, than it was at ours.

Till next time,

Grump