When my children got to the age where they wanted more independence, I had a difficult time trusting others with my kids or trusting my kids. So when they asked to do something, I would compare that child to a bag of diamonds. For example, one would ask if they could go to the mall with a friend who we both knew could sometimes get into trouble. So I would say, “No, I don’t think I can trust your friend X with my bag of diamonds.” Or, one would ask if they could spend the night with a friend and I wasn’t sure the home was safe. So I would remind them I couldn’t trust that parent with my sack of diamonds. It made them realize how important they were to me. It also made them realize they had great worth, and should be careful with themselves. It also gave them ammunition when they looked in their arsenals for something to tease me about later in life.

I adored my children. They grew up quickly, though. I hated that they left, but I soon learned the perks of daughter and son-in-laws. More people to love! They brought new interests and insights with them, not to mention whole other families to get to know. That was nice. But then, in 2010, I was introduced to the grandparent’s club. That club was filled with delights.

I am crazy about my grandchildren. I love to see them, and I know my eyes linger over them because I know they are constantly changing plus I see them for the treasures they are. While I was so busy as a parent, I am not so busy as a grandparent, and I have time to listen to their stories and marvel at how kind and smart and wonderful they are. We play games together, and enjoy movies together. I also love watching them play sports. I am a klutz, but all my kids and grandkids take after my husband in that department, and they are all very talented at athletics. My oldest granddaughter played high school basketball this year, and I loved to watch her play and improve over the season.

There is a legend that leprechauns hide their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. When I was little, I wanted to search for the end of the rainbow and find that precious reward. While you can never find a rainbow’s end in real life, I feel I have hit the jackpot. I often say that my grandchildren are my pot of gold. I am a very rich woman, indeed.

#3TC #threethingschallenge #TTC

The three words to use are Linger, Listen and Watch

Three Things Challenge #MM40