From Generation to Generation: Aidan’s Great-Great Aunt Rochel

Three year old Aidan and his great-great-aunt do not concentrate on the past or the future. They both savor the present moment.

Aunt Rochel first held and spoke to  him when he was 1- day old.  Now, he converses with her in his 3-year-old way. “Sit here in this chair, and I will sit here,” he says.

Aidan doesn’t know that Aunt Rochel always had specific seating arrangements when our little family celebrated countless Shabbat and holiday dinners at her home.

Today was the first day the Jewish New Year, 5777.  She went to the temple service, and stood up for all the prayers.  She could very well have sat them out, but she refused.

“Why, I have no trouble standing, it’s just walking that’s a problem,” she says. Her balance is a bit compromised, so she uses a walker.

After services, my husband decided to take some pictures of all of us.  After all, who knows how long any of us are going to be here?  I’m betting she makes it to at least 100.

There’s a lesson to be learned from Aunt Rochel.  Tenacity and a positive attitude will get you a good, long life.

She’s outlived just about all her contemporaries. Her friends, sisters, brother-in-laws, and her beloved husband are gone. She doesn’t dwell on it. She is busy living each day, and making new friends.

Aidan had to leave earlier than Aunt Rochel. “Aunt Rochel, you can watch the rest of ‘Thomas the Train’ because I have to go,” he said.

He gave Aunt Rochel the biggest hug and kiss, because he loves her, just like the rest of us.

Unexpected Endings

Watching a baby grow into a kid

I started this blog when my grandson Aidan, was about 4 months old. What a difference 2.5 years can make.

In a way, having a grandchild is like going back in time. The song I sang to my own children, “High Hopes” resurfaced. I rocked him in the same rocking chair I rocked my own babies. I cuddled him the same way, but I knew he was not really all mine.

I did know what was coming: the first rollover, crawl, walk, and talk. Learning things: puzzles, crayons, and his first amusement park. It’s been delightful and fun.

Like my own children, these stages have gone at warp speed.

The other day my husband and I went to babysit, and for the first time he said,”I want Mommy and Daddy!”

He now has a will of his own, and he can clearly express his wants and needs. He is on his way to reaching 3. If my memory serves me correctly, that is the age where the children really start to grow into big kids.

We watched “Fraggle Rock” together, and it made me feel melancholy. There were the “Fraggles” who liked to play all day, and the “Doosiers” who work all the time. It’s the miracle of Netflix and Hulu to find those good gems.

I know Aidan’s mother remembers watching that show with her Mommy, Daddy, brother, and sister, when she was a little girl. I look at it as a compliment that she wants to share that very same show with her little one.

I’m glad I got another go round watching a baby turn into a little child. This time I got to see it from a distance and really mull it around.

June 10, 2016

 

Breaking in Grandma and Grandpa takes time

Our grandson is now 2 years and 8 months . No more baby! Two months ago he couldn’t press down on the Playdo plastic mold to make little figures. Now he can. Just like that! You can almost see that brain developing at triple speed.

He helps my husband make pancakes and cookie dough. He stands up at the counter and earnestly stirs the ingredients. He also talked me into letting him stand there to eat his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  (He’s quite a talker)

He likes to use crayons, paper and pencils. He prefers markers, but this was not a good idea. There were more markers on him than on the paper. (Quite colorful)

To change the pace, I downloaded a kid’s movement Cd. We were fire engines. We had to freeze when we got to the fire, then onto the next one. It was a sweaty workout! I recommend workout clothes, and a  nap before attempting this activity.

Once we offered him a McDonald’s hamburger and he refused it. No more fast food for him.

His latest game manipulates time. He turns off the lights says “good night” then turn them back on and says “good morning. ”  This is also a good workout, since we have to get up and lay down to represent morning and night at least 30 times. ( a good month)

Grandpa composes songs for him on his guitar, and my grandson has a special favorite about the moon. He is showing off his talents too.  Lately, he’s  been singing us all his top 10 favorites. This includes “Abc, Twinkle twinkle little star , Happy Birthday and Wheels on the bus.”

This grandchild is patiently and lovingly teaching us grand parenting skills.  We’re almost broken in, but it’s going to take more time. 

How a 2.5 year old manages his grandparents

Tonight I’m seeing my little grandson. It’s been a while since I started this “Grandmother’s Diary.” Aidan is officially 2 1/2.

It’s been interesting watching a 2-year-old develop from a distance. Since I see this child only once a week, sometimes two go by, I notice progress.

Watching Aidan try to separate from his parents is a revelation. Asserting independence, and testing the limits. This has included eating, getting dressed in a timely fashion, and not wanting to go to sleep. This kid is a big tester. I think his mom and dad have found appropriate ways to outsmart him.

Pushover grandparents

When he comes over to see Bubbe and Papa it’s a different story. First of all, we are both complete suckers for this child. I think when you’re a parent, you know it’s your responsibility to teach your kids that life is not always sunshine, so you can be strict.

When you’re a grandparent, if the child is not really living with you, it’s a whole different story. I do not want to cause this child to pitifully cry when I leave the room. I just can’t stand it. My husband is just as bad.

Last time we put him to bed, we just couldn’t walk out. We sing, he sings, We lay down, he lays down. We start to tiptoe out, and he pops up. He look at us with a puzzling look. He’s thinking, I know I’ve got them both under my thumb. Time marches on. Hours go by. Somehow we outlast him, and he falls asleep.

In the morning at 7 a.m he can’t wait to start a new day. If only we could all stay like that!

Getting him dressed is a real drawn out affair. He runs around and refuses.  Letting him pick out what he’s going to wear seems to speed things along. I do put on my sterner grandmother voice, and he seems to respond.

Only 6 months ago, he was saying only a few words. Now he’s talking in paragraphs. Now, I know what he’s thinking. So do his parents. “Mommy don’t leave, stay.” (My kids used to just cry, not talk.) Sometimes, he does tell them it’s time to go, and looks forward to us spoiling him. “Go now mommy,” he says.

This child is adored by both sides of the family. That’s a lot of responsibility for one little kid. He seems to sense that he has to spread himself around. I am happiest to see this empathy showing through.

I am shocked how much a child develops in 2 1/2 years.

It’s pretty cool to watch.

Are you a pushover for your grandchild? How?

The two-year old acts his age !

Our little one is talking up a storm. He tells you what he’s doing, even if he thinks it’s naughty. ” I’m going to stand under the table now.”

He won’t fit under there long. Every time we see this child he seems to have a new pair of shoes because he’s growing so fast!

He has a little stuffed bear that is programmed to say his name. Aidan pretended with that bear and other stuffed animals. He gave them hugs. He lined them up inside his little toy tent and showed them his “Paddington Bear” book.

There’s also the other tell -tale signs of the two -year old. “I want to do it myself! That’s mine! This formerly good eater is now reluctant to try every food put in front of him. He is developing his own taste for food.

It’s difficult to ignore the signs of independence. We wait and wait for them to crawl, walk, and start growing up. Then, we are startled when they grow so quickly. We see their world expanding every time we turn around; nevertheless, this age is fascinating and fun to watch.

It’s really fun when you’re a grandparent and can keep a distance.  The disciplining is left to Mom and Dad who are real pros!

Celebrating “Grandparents Day”at a daycare center

All these grandparents for 1 little kid.

The Columbus Zoo provides fun, happiness, and amazement

 

1.Entering the zoo, and watching all the toddlers in their strollers. It looked like a kiddie parade. Children of all sizes, shapes, and colors, looking so delighted to be at the Columbus Zoo.
2. My grandson laughing aloud at the little bonobo monkeys playing, almost like him. (They are better swingers). He liked one little bonobo who was playing with a haystack.
3. Watching him looking at the penguins swimming around. Thinking he can say “hi” and they can hear him. He also said “hi” to the animated pirate that greets us when we enter and leave the park. (Does he knew he’s not real?)

4. Enjoying the  new African area where the animals don’t look quite as caged. I really could’ve watched them for a while, the giraffes looked so free, powerful and tall.

5. Going on the little train that makes a circle in the zoo. Hearing the whistle blow, and sitting on the shiny train. He moves his little shoulders and sits up really straight when he’s happy, and he did!

6. How delighted he was to sit in between his mommy and bubbe with Grandpa sitting behind us.

7. Watching my daughter plant kisses on him, just like I did

Giraffes hanging together

The train at Columbus zoo

3 generations

Bonobo toddlers acting like human toddlers!

Mom and child

Riding the horse

on her. Waving at people at the stops and having them wave back. How nice if life always was like that!
8. Going to the carousel; my grandson was not so sure he wanted to go on a horse, but he knew his own ” Grandpa” would keep him safe. He weathered it.

9.Remembering  my father waving to me when I went around the carousel. I always think of him when I see one. A tear always comes to my eye, and I treasure the memory.

10. Eating a picnic that my daughter thoughtfully put together. Feeling the tables are really turned. I still feel almost the same, but things are different. I am older and slower.

11. Watching my husband talk to my grandson about the animals; just like he did with all my children.

12. Knowing it was time to leave because both my grandson and I both needed a nap.

 

 

 

All you need is love!

 

It’s been fun and interesting watching my grandson, Aidan, develop in the last 2 years.

He’s turned from a needy creature that required food, sleep, comfort, and love. At first, he was fighting the fight we all go through, survival.

I watched his parents go through it with him. They did the best they could to comfort him, and they did it together. I watched things I hadn’t seen before: babies sleeping in a comforting sleep wrap, diapers that register colors when the child is damp, and squeeze bottles of yogurt.

A loving family

I saw the progression of rolling, crawling and finally walking. I heard sounds turn into words, and understandable sentences.

The most rewarding thing I watched was my daughter and son-in-law evolving into responsible loving parents.

Love is the answer

Today, while interacting with Aidan, I clearly saw empathy.  I’ve seen flashes of it all along. Starting very small, he always wanted to give us turns: feeding him, and even playing with him.

Before putting him to bed, I told him a story about me. I told him that once upon a time his mommy lived with Grandpa and me in our house, the one he stays at sometimes.

” Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Brian lived there too,” I said.

He really listened to my story and repeated parts of it back to me. His face showed a new type of understanding that I’d never really seen before. Maybe he picked up on my sentimentality about those days being long over.

I told him it made me sad when he cries. He usually protests when we put him to sleep. He does enjoy our company.

My husband decided to get the guitar from the basement and sing Aidan some songs. While my husband was getting the guitar, he clapped his hands anticipating Grandpa’s impending concert.  Then, he sat down Indian style waiting for him to start.

He looked me straight in the eye, and said, “See Bubbe, no crying.” After the concert, spur of the moment Grandpa songs about Aidan’s day, we allowed him play before bedtime.  He cooperatively got into his crib.

I couldn’t help thinking that the world would be a better place if every child got their needs met and was given boundless love by all the caregivers around them.

It’s as simple as that.

 

A Day at COSI

COSI provides fun and learning.

Today we went over to our grandson, Aidan’s, house. We were going to spend the day at COSI (Center of Science and Industry). This museum has been in Columbus for a while. It’s a very innovative, hands-on, science museum. There are shows, and explanations of science included with the admission place. There are also 3D movies for an extra fee. It is well-worth the cost.
We knocked on the door and we could hear Aidan getting excited behind the door. He loves us! And he enjoys going to COSI. There is a

flat membership family fee, and the family can take him there any time they want. The family can bring two guests with them too.

We went to the car to start our fun day at COSI. He pointed to the seat next to him, and said, “Bubbe, sit down right here. Let the talking really begin! It is so cool to watch speech development. It goes from sounds to words, phrases, sentences, and finally strong requests.

COSI is cool

We finally got to COSI where all kinds of trucks were parked

 

Making memories at COSI

COSI provides fun and learning.

Making memories at COSI

outside, and the kids and parents could get on them and pretend to be truck drivers. There were also yellow, plastic pretend hard hats available for everyone.  (This was a special event for Father’s Day. )

Aidan couldn’t decide if he wanted to wear the hat, so he kept taking it on and off. Since we all wanted him to wear the hat, we put the hard hats on too. What people will do for their children and grandchildren!

His Papa and Daddy, David, seemed to be just as excited about the trucks as the youngsters. They took Aidan’s hand and led him from one giant truck to the other.

I looked around and saw a few enthusiastic girls.  I did see a lot more excited boys and men.

Kid space

Kid space  is the most imaginative place for little kids.  There is  a pretend kitchen, doctor center, barn, doctor office, car, ambulance, play water tables, and an inside playground.

Aidan’s other Grandma, Gerry, and I stayed there with Aidan while his parents went to the planetarium with Papa. Aidan has a fair sense of play already. If he gave me a plastic banana, Gerry got one. He already knows that he shouldn’t show preference for one grandma over the other. How smart is that?

His favorite place was the water area. They have all kinds of water tables, boats, balls, and different contraptions powered by water. He was drenched even though they have little plastic blue aprons. All the kids playing there seemed so happy.

I couldn’t help but remember taking Aidan’s mom, Stacey, to COSI when she was little. She loved it just as much as he does. It’s nice to be able to go back with her little one. It’s almost like getting that golden time back again.

Columbus, Ohio, is so lucky to have such a wonderful place to take children! Like Aidan says when he gets there, “Wow!”