My Best "Grandma Advice"

As grandmas we tend to know a thing or two about raising children - we have done it with our own and have hopefully learned things which work and things which do not. But, we do have to be careful about giving unsolicited advice. However; there are times when it is not only okay, but is welcome. I remember one such time six years ago when my son and his family were at my house. At one point Caleb, my then one-year old grandson, grabbed his momma's purse and pulled it off a table . . . one-year olds do tend to get into things! The following morning I heard "music" I was not familiar with! Dave (my hubby) and I began looking all around the dining room - where the music was coming from - and lo and behold, apparently our daughter-in-law's phone had fallen out of her purse when Caleb pulled it off the table!!!

I called my son to let him know we had Jackie's phone, (it was 7am) and heard a very groggy voice answer. I told him we had the phone and said I was sorry for waking him up. He said I was not actually the one who woke him up . . . apparently two "short" people did that! I could hear Josiah and Caleb in the background, so I said, "Oh! I remember those days! You and your sister used to climb in bed with us when you were little!" I laughed and said, "Enjoy it! They grow up so fast. Before you know it they won't climb in bed with you any more and you'll just remember when they did!"

This is one of my best pieces of "grandma advice" . . . enjoy it!!! Children are little for such a short time. Take a breath. Relax. Enjoy it! Snuggle them! Hold them close! Read to them! Laugh with them! Enjoy! They grow up so fast. You will never look back and regret the time you spent playing with your children when they were little. You will never regret the time you spent snuggling and holding them close! You will regret cross words (which Dave did not have cross words for the boys, he did have a tired and groggy start to the day!) or the busyness you allowed to keep you from enjoying the time when they were little. Children grow up so very fast, so enjoy it when they climb into your bed and wake you up . . . even if you are tired! Children are such an amazing gift from God . . . enjoy the time you have for these moments when they are little! :^)