My grandson came to visit me today. I saw once again how often we get the wrong ideas about things, especially when it comes to the needs and wants of our children.
When my first grandchild was born my first thought was to go buy every toy known to man to give him. (I’m allowed to do that because it is in the job description of a grandma.) Then my common sense kicked in and reality hit. I knew I couldn’t afford to buy all those toys.
I felt like the little drummer boy in the Christmas song who only had his music to give to the Christ child. I couldn’t afford to give the grandkids much. I only had my love and my time to give them, unlike the their other grandparents and family members who could afford to give them all the “cool” toys.
I now know how foolish I was those many years ago to think and feel that way and I was reminded of it once again today. I opened my kitchen utensil drawer and David’s eyes about popped out with excitement. He didn’t know where to start. There were all kinds of great toys like the funnel, the sieve, or that weird plastic spinny thing! We ended up playing with the turkey baster. I filled a plastic bowl with water and, to make it more interesting, I added red food coloring to the water. We spent 30 minutes squeezing water in and out of the baster.
Then we got out the Chinese Checkers game and even though we don’t know how to play it yet we had more fun putting all the marbles in different designs on the board. Then, to top it all off, we went to “Nan’s” bank, got a free bag of popcorn (our favorite), a balloon and a red sucker. Could any little man have had a better day then that? I don’t think so.
As parents and grandparents, we worry about not being able to give our children or grandchildren “everything”. At times we get so busy and so focused on trying to give the children everything that we don’t have the strength left to give them the things they want and need the most: our time and love. These are very simple things but they’re also very meaningful.
To a child, everything is new and exciting. We need to remember that it doesn’t take much to make them happy– just you and them and a turkey baster! 🙂 🙂
      -Jill
Photo By: Katie
Need Encouragment?
Leave a Reply