I suppose that we can all learn something everyday. And, for that I am thankful. Imagine how dull life would be otherwise. Anyway, I don’t know how it happens, but it seems that everywhere we go there are kids. For those who have read this journal from the beginning you are well aware that I have step-children, not biological children. And, you know that it was a matter of personal choice. I was so caught up in going places and living my life that I decided to omit the having children part of it. But, I got really lucky and have four of the best stepchildren in the world. Of course, they are all grown and now I am a grandma. How lucky can one woman get?
Now, it seems that everywhere I go there are children and for some reason they seem to keep coming — out of the woodwork, so to speak. That brings me to the part of being a crazy old lady.
You see, kids love my husband. He has some miraculous way of getting kids interested in things they never thought about. He has a unique way of getting kids who say “I can’t” into doing it anyway. I related the story of how he tricked one kid into doing something. To recap it briefly, every time the kid would say “I can’t” or “I don’t know how” my husband would agree and then ask, “But, if you could what would you do next?” Anyway, by the end of the day, the kid had done what he could not do.
So, here we are at the beach and kids keep knocking on the door to see if my husband can come out and play. We are now a few weeks into it and some of the older kids have already offered to help me get him up and out each day. Most mornings my hubby is outside on the porch drinking coffee when the first wave of kids show up, but sometimes he is still in bed.
These rowdy beach kids have even taken my husband out on the boat. I know for most of us that isn’t a big deal, but it is an ordeal for my husband. Let’s face it, boats in general are not designed for wheelchairs. But, that’s for another day.
Today the kids are here on the porch with my husband charting nautical maps and discussing the oil spill and how to protect the coastline. I know that all those “smart” people have been saying that the spill won’t hit the coast, but here’s the thing about that. Some important lady from NOAA was on the television last night being interviewed. She was saying that the spill would not hit the Florida keys for at least nine days and the spill balls would be the size of marbles or maybe a little larger — no real threat. Well, today the spill balls are hitting the Florida coast and have been reported to be about 8″ across. So much for those authority figures.
Anyway, I’m not going off on my oil spill tangent today. Instead, I am thinking about some of the kids who keep showing up. You see, I have been told by some of the locals that these kids are useless and misfits, etc. They have been described as lazy and “trifling”. Now, trifling is about as bad as it gets if you are a southerner. But here is what I have noticed. These kids are just as bright and energetic as they can be — and polite, I might add.
I really don’t know why they seem so engaged when they are here and so “trifling” around some people. My husband tells me that it is all about expectations. I must admit that I am a rather blunt person sometimes. But, I always tell the kids the rules before they make our house a stop on the daily rounds. I guess I’m just too old to have to deal with miscreants. And, I certainly don’t intend to. I guess the kids know our expectations for them and their behavior when they are here. Maybe my hubby is right. We set rather high standards for our young guests. It is really interesting how they live up to our expectations rather than down to the expectations some have of them — at least when they visit our house. For that I am really thankful. Yep, I am thankful for kids who understand the expectations and live up to them.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am thankful for your blog. You.
Thanks! I enjoy your comments on life, as well. As a new grandmother — one ganddaughter that is almost 2 and one that is about 1 month — I have referred my daughter-in-law to your site. She recently called to tell me that she was grateful for the reference. She has an idea what to expect and doesn’t as “overwhelmed.”
Good to hear from you, as always.