Funny-isms...

Do you jot down the funny things your kids say and do?  We had one of those moments today and I thought it might be worth sharing, especially if you have a sense of humor.

School has started and we are one week into it which also means we have started homework and bringing home the 2nd grade reading book.  It is one HEAVY book.  Molly was telling me that today they learned about people who are blind and able to read braille.  She was explaining to me how they are talented to learn how to feel the bumps, which are letters, so they can read.

I asked Molly if she shared with her class that her Grandma was blind.  Molly told me no, she didn't share that.  I said maybe your classmates would like to hear about someone who is blind.  Molly said that Grandma was the only person she knows who is blind and she didn't know anyone else who was.  I told her that it was OK to only know one blind person and that although Grandma doesn't know braille her classmates might like to hear about her Grandma and how she listens to book on CD's.

Molly told me that Grandma can't read braille because she isn't talented.

Apparently talented and braille are one in the same. :)

From the mouths of babes...

Thank goodness my Mom would agree with her lack of talent and thank goodness my Mom would also find Molly's comment funny.  Because when you lose your sight or have something debilitating happen to you laughter helps you get through many tougher times.  Believe me we've had our share and we laugh about them all the time!  Even when one isn't talented! 

Our Angel...

Yesterday my Grandmother would have been 90 years old. She died in 2006 and she lived a very good life. But, it wasn't without daily pain as she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and that disease was very debilitating. My Grandma could hardly walk at the end without any assistance. It got to the point where she had to be taken care of around the clock in a care facility. The care givers were wonderful to both my Grandma and my Grandpa, who visited her every day. They were married 64 years and devoted to each other until the end. It is a great example for my whole family of enduring love.

At dinner last night I was explaining to Cameron and Molly that today my Grandma would have been 90 years old. I asked them if they knew anyone else that old. We talked about what a long life that would be.

Then the questions started.

My, had I opened a can of worms.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we opened them but the conversation went in a completely different direction that I imagined.

The kids don't remember my Grandma so I got out some pictures to show her to them. They thought it was funny that one of the pictures is my Grandma holding Cameron when he was just an infant. They were having a hard time understanding that this Grandma is the Mom to Grandma Choo (my Mom). Then the questions began with "where is Great-Grandma now?, why does Papa Mac (my Grandfather) live by himself?, does Great-Grandma have a rock on her head? (I'm pretty sure this means a tombstone), and what does Great-Grandma do in heaven?"

Oh my.

Of course, I did all of this solo while Mike was not home.

We talked about heaven, we decided that Great-Grandma is now our angel and she watches over us. I explained how my Grandpa takes care of himself but now lives in a smaller apartment where nice people help him (he lives in assisted living now). Molly cried and told me that she doesn't want to die and wants to live to be 100.


Sweetie, I hope you do to. You have a long life ahead of you.

I told her she had to become a Mommy first and I had to be a Grandma some day. We called all of her Grandparents and they all assured her they were doing just fine. She seemed much better after that but I'm sure little therapy will be in order. It was a healthy, beautiful conversation that made me cry, too. We try to be as honest as we can with our children. My parents always were when we were growing up and it made things less scary. I think some day, when necessary, we will have kids who can face some of these fears with confidence and not feel blind-sided.

It makes me sad to know that my Grandma never met, never held, never had a chance to make a blanket for my Amanda. There have been 3 more babies in our family also. Lily, Evan and Sadie. My Grandparents have 8 great grandchildren!! My Grandma would have loved all of them.

But, I feel reassured knowing we all have our own Angel...