I think every older adult should spend some amount of time with a happy, funny child. I love spending time with Addie .. of course, I am the grandma and I’m supposed to love spending time with her.
This morning she was sleeping late and I was about to start breakfast so I went in to wake her. She wasn’t really ready to wake up but I said “Breakfast is going to be ready soon.” She wanted to know what we were having. I told her scrambled eggs, flour tortillas, sausage, cheese and homemade hash browns. She jumped up and started cheering “Breakfast burritos! I love breakfast burritos!” She grabbed me and hugged me and said “Thank you for making my favorite breakfast!”
Then I was helping her with a sheet of her homework and she was giggling about something. Vince said “That doesn’t sound like work to me!” Addie said “Always make whatever you’re doing fun!!”
Then she was marking words that had the long “O” sound. One was rote and she didn’t know what that meant so I had her look it up in the dictionary. She still wasn’t sure so I said “It’s like if you had to learn my phone number and you kept saying it over and over to learn it.” She grabbed her backpack and pulled out an index card that has been taped over and over to keep it from falling apart. It had her mom and dad’s numbers on it, plus their address. She said “Mom put this in my backpack and told me to keep it in there always!”
It was after Addie’s school bus had an accident and the kids had to give the authorities their parents numbers so they could all be called. Addie didn’t know any of their numbers. I said “What did they do?” She said “They stuck me over in the pile of other kids who didn’t know their phone numbers!” A pile of other kids. Isn’t that funny?
Me: You know my number, don’t you?
Addie: Yes, that’s the ONLY number I know.
Me: You could have given them my number.
Addie: Granny . . you live halfway across the world! They needed to notify someone who could come and get me.
Me: Well, you need to KNOW your parents’ numbers but if something like that ever happens again, they could call me and I can give them your parents’ numbers.
Addie: I never thought of that!
It’s funny that she thinks 45 minutes away is “halfway across the world!” That’s ok . . some days it feels the same way to me. 🙂
The next word was “mope”. She wasn’t sure what that meant so she looked it up and we talked about that.
This was her moping face. She couldn’t stop laughing and even had Vince laughing.
It’s so much fun spending time with her.
Joyce says
I can’t believe kids don’t know their phone number and/or address any more. I remember having to learn that early on in grade school–especially the address.
Helen says
Almost all important information that we need to know is on our cell phones. I’m guilty of not knowing peoples numbers anymore. I can tell you my friends numbers from when I was a kid, I can tell you the number of our church office. But don’t ask me what my sisters number is or even my children. That’s on my cell phone.
I fell and got injured a few years ago while I was home alone. I didn’t know my husband’s cell number but it was the strangest thing – – I saw it! Our television has caller ID that shows on the screen and evidently I recalled a memory of seeing it. I dialed the number that I saw in my mind and got him. I was unable to move as I lay on the basement floor. I call that my divine intervention.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I don’t even know Vince’s cell phone number or Nicole’s number. I know Chad’s because he and I got our new numbers when we moved to MO in 2007 and his is one digit off from mine. I’m the same way . . I remember my uncle’s number from when I was 8 years old, our old home phone, most of the numbers I’ve had through the years, numbers at places I’ve worked but I just say “call Vince” and never punch in the number.
Oh, my goodness .. that is an amazing story about your husband’s cell phone number. I’m so glad you remembered seeing that. Definitely divine intervention.
This morning Vince went to pick up an online grocery order. He took my phone because it has the Walmart app and he took his phone because it has the app for the place he likes to buy gas. I said “You’re taking two phones and leaving me with none!” He said “You have everything you need. You’ll be fine!” He was gone all of 15 minutes and I survived. 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
It is even fun for me to see her growing up and spending time with you. Some of the things she comes up with are absolutely precious!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I love spending time with her. She pretty much entertains herself most of the time. Poor Boots. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s had enough of her carrying him around by the second day she’s here. When she left on Monday and came back on Tuesday, I know he wanted to say “Tell me what I’m seeing isn’t real!” 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
Poor Boots! But I bet he does miss her as much as you do when she is gone. And just like you, he needs a nap or a long rest! LOL
judy.blog@gmail.com says
He’s always happy to see her but happy to see her go too.
Claudia Duke says
Kids are too funny. Addie’s moping face reminds me of my nephew. He was about Addie’s age at the time this happened. He and his family got to Granny and Paw Paw’s house before us. Apparently something happened and he was not happy about it. When we got there, my husband went over to talk to him. He replied, “I can’t talk to you right now, I’m pouting.” About 10 minutes later, he got over it and came to give us hugs. He is in college now. Friendliest kid you’d ever meet.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That is too funny! I love how kids think and share their thoughts.
Twyla says
When my grandson was about 4 or 5 (he lived with us) I tried to teach him our home number. I got frustrated and ask him what he would do if he got lost from me? He told me he would tell that policeman his Pa drove a truck for Walmart. OMG. So James went to work and was telling his dispatcher and she passed it on. When James came back in he had a message that the child was correct. Walmart would find his Pa by taking his picture and sending it out over the truckers information board. Pa would be found. Whew!
We did eventually get the number memorized.
Now I wonder at 25 does he know my cell number?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Dang! That’s probably better than knowing the phone number!