GRANDKID'S GAZETTE

Today I'd like to share with you a page from the Grandkid's Gazette. The idea came to me when the first grandchild arrived. I had often thought about how great it would if I could now read about my early days with my family before I could record anything for myself. The Gazette is issued monthly mainly for family members who request copies. Perhaps this will inspire other grandparents or great-grandparents to record the main events about the early days of their grandchildren. Busy mothers and grandmothers make scrapbooks, after all a picture is said to be worth a thousand words and easier now with today's handy/dandy digital cameras, but dated words present another angle and often record their quotes. The nine month old let out such a cute giggle this morning. I thought babies used only smiles when charmed or pleased. Apparently Grandpa is a master at playing peek-a-boo.

Grandparents as well as uncles and aunts often come during summer vacations to enjoy more family time together. A typical Sunday morning finds the parents with other family members at church in a rear seat row, not too far from the nursery in case one of them gets bored with the sermon. Small children usually stay in the sanctuary during the singing. Grandchildren move quietly from one grandparent or uncle and aunt's lap to another. Sometimes the Dad has Mommie cuddled in his left arm with the youngest on her lap - a bundle of three. The middle child is often on Grandpa's lap and has decided that the list in his upper left shirt pocket is not folded right and would look so much better if she fixed it. First she works with the folding ritual as she maneuvers around for a flat place to fold it right. Grandpa is a little concerned - lists are important after all and gently tries to retrieve it. She finally has it folded exactly right and places it safely at the proper angle in his pocket. Then she wreaths a lovely smile as if to thank him for being patient that seems to convey, "I knew you would understand that it had to be done just right. You deserve to look as neat and nifty as you really are." When the service is over, we move to the exit. The oldest child remembers something and reaches loving arms to her Great Grandmother saying, "You didn't get my hug yet today." They enjoy giving and receiving hugs with both sets of grandparents.

Lest you think all these grandchildren are born perfect it should be noted that their parents no doubt have been careful to regulate their sugar content at breakfast. One of the grandmothers once told that during their son's early school days he was usually the "perfect" child - unless it was the day sweets had been served at school during a birthday celebration. She even reported it to the daily newspaper and I still have the clipping that was published about it. She may have been the one who first precipitated the present day improvements of the menus for school lunches.
Love, Great Grandmother - Gazette Editor, and Copy Reader - Grandpa.