As most any grandparent can tell you, grandchildren say and do the cutest things. Following are a few stories about our grandchildren.  
 Stories

 

Meredith *****************************************************************

My wife is an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists are famous for adapting whatever is available to facilitate a client's therapy. My wife works with impaired children, many of whom come from low income homes. She had created a toy-like therapy device from an empty squeezable plastic syrup bottle and some yarn. When the bottle's sides are squeezed the yarn "squirts" out about 8 inches and looks as if a liquid were squirting from the bottle. Upon releasing the sides of the bottle the yarn is sucked back inside. This device/toy is used to develop hand/grip strength. Our youngest granddaughter who was not quite two was visiting and having observed others squeezing the bottle and the resulting yarn "squirts," tried to duplicate the feat. A toddler doesn't have the required hand strength to make the device function and after a few unsuccessful tries she handed it to me. The look on her face was precious to say the least. It conveyed to me complete confidence that she knew what the problem was and who she could get to fix it. She said, "Grandpa, this needs batteries!"


About a month before her 3rd birthday on an overcast day Meredith and I had discussed the possibility of rain. Meredith was riding a tricycle on the driveway when she pronounced that it was beginning to rain. I didn't feel any thing so I said "No Meredith, it is not raining." Convinced that she had detected some moisture she said, "It must have been bug pee."


The weekend after Meredith's 3rd birthday grandma and grandpa came for a visit. Meredith's parents were invited to a party on Saturday night so the grandparents gladly agreed to take care of the grandchildren. After supper, reading some stories, and watching a little TV until about 8:45, it was time for bed. The grandchildren then went through the ritual of getting on the jammies and brushing teeth. The two older kids were ready for bed and didn't try any delaying tactics. Meredith, however, had to be tucked in just so, and then she needed a different stuffed animal in her bed, and then she needed a drink. Grandpa rather sternly told Meredith it was time to shut her eyes and go to sleep. About halfway down the hall grandpa heard Meredith's little girl voice complaining, "Grandpa, my eyes won't stay closed."

 
 

 

David ****************************************************************

In 1999 at age 4, David was not at all familiar with the popular 1950s Volkswagen beetle shaped automobile. Volkswagen released an updated version of the classic bug shape in 1998 or so and by 1999 it was not uncommon to spot one of the retro Volkswagens. Upon seeing one of the modern classics for the first time, David exclaimed, "Dad, I just saw a car that looked like a snail."

 
 

 

Alison *****************************************************************

As a kindergartner Alison told me, "Grandpa, I'm going to count my fingers. Watch me." Using her right index finger to touch her left thumb, she pronounced, "one" then touching her left fore finger, "two." Next she grasped the last three fingers of her left hand and said, "skip these three." Then she ticked off the fingers of her right hand, "four, five, six, seven, eight." Returning to the last three fingers of her left hand she continued, "nine, ten, eleven." Then with an impish grin she queried, "Do you get it? Do you get it?"

 
 

Andrew *****************************************************************

At age 2, Andrew had not developed the articulation to pronounce initial s sounds. Somewhat inconguously his vocabulary was quite good. Upon hearing some comment in the adult's conversation, Andrew proclaimed, "HOLY MOKE."

A few weeks before Andrew's 4th birthday his brother and sisters had been playing on a mini-trampoline. They were seeing how fast they could jump and were calling it "jumping full blast." When Andrew's turn came he stood at the center of the mini-tramp as his siblings encouraged him to "jump full blast." Andrew responded, "I'm standing full blast."