Larry McGee
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Grandparents get chance to watch growth
Fibber's Closet
By Larry McGee
It would appear that parents have the ring-side seat when it comes to watching children grow. Not true. When you are so close to the action that blood spills on you, you don’t have a chance to sit back and observe. When you are so busy fixing lunches and washing clothes and supporting a growing family, you don’t have time to notice children grow. Watching children grow is the task of grandparents. Grandparents visit sporadically, and between visits children grow and change immensely.
Grandparents have the advantage of backing off and observing. They don’t have to scold, cajole and discipline. They don’t have to pick up, clean up or prepare meals for rapidly evolving children. Having no experience as a grandparent is a real bonus to child-watching. You never know what to expect.
I had an occasion last fall to reflect on the growth of my younger grandchildren. The five-year-old was playing his first soccer game. He began the game as a forward and dribbled the ball down the field like a pro. Where did he learn that? The last time I watched him with a soccer ball he couldn’t keep his hands off it. As I sat there amazed, he scored a goal and high fives were given to all his teammates. Later, he replaced the goalie and blocked a shot and then dove for another and saved a second. His coach was so proud of him that he gave Seth a high five. Wow, this kid is only 5 years old going on 16!
After the soccer game, we stopped by to watch my fifth-grade grandson, Ethan, practice football. He certainly looked the part of a player with his shoulder pads, helmet and jersey. It wasn’t long until he made his grandpa proud with a jarring tackle on one of his teammates. It was obvious that he enjoyed playing the game.
My granddaughter was playing her first volleyball game of the season. Before attending, I reflected on the games we played in her backyard. I recalled the whiffs and misses as she swung the bat or mallet. Now I was about to see her compete against other girls her age in a contest of real skill.
She looked the part of a player. She had all the right equipment. Her tall lean figure, which had been of concern to her off the court, looked to be an advantage on the court. Apparently her coach agreed. Sara started on the front line. She did all the required stretches just like a pro. Where had she learned all that? The last time I saw her attempt anything athletic she was still the gangly awkward girl, all legs, elbows and feet. Now she was a well-coordinated gazelle diving to save balls and jumping to spike them over the net. She made grandpa proud. Through tears in my eyes I watched as her team won and they all embraced each other as team players are supposed to do.
Wow, this is fun watching my baby grow into a young woman. Whoops! Slow down. Grandparents are to keep those babies young forever. Growing to adulthood too quickly is not the way it should be. My own children grew too fast, and now that I have time to enjoy the second generation, I want to do just that. Parents are the ones too busy with rearing children to see that they have grown in to adults. Grandparents aren’t supposed to notice their grandchildren are no longer children. Can we put a book on her head and hold her down? I doubt it. She’s had a taste of growing up, and it tastes pretty good. Go for it babe!
printable version
e-mail this story
Grandparents have the advantage of backing off and observing. They don’t have to scold, cajole and discipline. They don’t have to pick up, clean up or prepare meals for rapidly evolving children. Having no experience as a grandparent is a real bonus to child-watching. You never know what to expect.
I had an occasion last fall to reflect on the growth of my younger grandchildren. The five-year-old was playing his first soccer game. He began the game as a forward and dribbled the ball down the field like a pro. Where did he learn that? The last time I watched him with a soccer ball he couldn’t keep his hands off it. As I sat there amazed, he scored a goal and high fives were given to all his teammates. Later, he replaced the goalie and blocked a shot and then dove for another and saved a second. His coach was so proud of him that he gave Seth a high five. Wow, this kid is only 5 years old going on 16!
After the soccer game, we stopped by to watch my fifth-grade grandson, Ethan, practice football. He certainly looked the part of a player with his shoulder pads, helmet and jersey. It wasn’t long until he made his grandpa proud with a jarring tackle on one of his teammates. It was obvious that he enjoyed playing the game.
My granddaughter was playing her first volleyball game of the season. Before attending, I reflected on the games we played in her backyard. I recalled the whiffs and misses as she swung the bat or mallet. Now I was about to see her compete against other girls her age in a contest of real skill.
She looked the part of a player. She had all the right equipment. Her tall lean figure, which had been of concern to her off the court, looked to be an advantage on the court. Apparently her coach agreed. Sara started on the front line. She did all the required stretches just like a pro. Where had she learned all that? The last time I saw her attempt anything athletic she was still the gangly awkward girl, all legs, elbows and feet. Now she was a well-coordinated gazelle diving to save balls and jumping to spike them over the net. She made grandpa proud. Through tears in my eyes I watched as her team won and they all embraced each other as team players are supposed to do.
Wow, this is fun watching my baby grow into a young woman. Whoops! Slow down. Grandparents are to keep those babies young forever. Growing to adulthood too quickly is not the way it should be. My own children grew too fast, and now that I have time to enjoy the second generation, I want to do just that. Parents are the ones too busy with rearing children to see that they have grown in to adults. Grandparents aren’t supposed to notice their grandchildren are no longer children. Can we put a book on her head and hold her down? I doubt it. She’s had a taste of growing up, and it tastes pretty good. Go for it babe!