THURSDAY THOUGHTS - One Language Everyone Understands... LOVE

Guest Post:

We just spent ten days with our son and his family in Texas for the Christmas holidays. While interacting with three grandchildren (ages 6, 2 and newborn) my mind traveled back over thirty years to when I had three preschoolers at home. I discovered that many things have changed since then. Big Bird and Mr. Rogers have given way to Dora the Explorer, Baby Einstein, Bubble Guppies and Letter Frogs. While my boys played Nintendo, our six year old grandson taught me about Super Mario Wii, and the origins of Megazords. I agreed as he worked the controls, showed me what each of them was for and told me, “Grandma, you probably wouldn’t be good at this!”

We took a few car trips and found that the methods of keeping children entertained have also changed. Thirty years ago we had travel games, books, puzzles and treats. They have all been replaced by one thing….Daddy’s iPHONE (the most ingenious baby sitter ever invented). Seconds after being buckled into her car seat, our two year old granddaughter immediately said, “Daddy’s Phone!!!!”

Our little two year old is just learning to talk, however she knows her entire alphabet and the sounds they make (thanks to those letter frogs I am sure). As we drove past a drug store she chimed out with great pride, “CVS!!!!!” Kindergarten goes for a full day. One home work assignment involved writing a sentence with a setting, person and action, then drawing a picture to illustrate that sentence. I was floored… "This is kindergarten!” I thought.

Despite the fact that so much has changed, I found that many aspects of dealing with children have not changed. There is nothing that compares to the feeling of squeezing an infant or covering him with kisses as he laughs; or thinking he is a genius when he does “raspberries” for the first time. And what can match the joy that ensues when a two year old asks Grandpa to read her a story; or the pride a mother feels as she sponges off yet another splotch of baby barf (a mother’s badge of honor.)

What can replace the bonding that takes place as you hold hands together while walking through the zoo? As I remembered the excitement I felt while awaiting visits from my parents and grandparents, I marveled at the fact that I am now that grandmother.

Whether Daddy is a lawyer, a doctor, a banker or a construction worker; or Mommy is a nurse, a teacher, a counselor or a stay at home mom, there is one language everyone understands and that is LOVE. There simply never can be too much. We had 10 days full of love, hugs, stories, laughter and time together. Of course, this time can’t last forever, but my husband and I have stored enough pleasant memories to give us a good start in this New Year and we are grateful.

Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
Member of Lifting Hearts
Breast Cancer Survivor