Friday, November 13, 2009

Under a two-year-old thumb!

("Peace" from a two-year old.)

Two year-olds rule, there is no doubt about it. I had forgotten the power they wield. From daylight to bedtime the day revolves around my grandson. It's been twenty years since I've spent 24/7 with this particular age group. Bedtime has never felt so good! Ha.

And why is it, exactly, they seem to get more energy the more tired they get?

Of course all the incredibly cute and ridiculously funny things they do and say more than makes up for dragging tails at the end of the day.

I am helping my oldest daughter get settled in her new home. It has been a house with only one male this last week. This tiny male is an exacting supervisor. My daughter and I have missed his father and grandfather more than once in the last week. What is it about something that is put away being an attraction to take back out? We all know what it's like to move and finally get something put away, knowing you have 80 more boxes right behind that one. Naturally, this is very interesting to my grandson, who feels the need to take it back out to examine, only to abandon said objects in a heap, once he has satisfied himself that it is safe for his mom or grandma to come along behind him.

Pizza for breakfast, and late nights not-with-standing, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to be of service. It feels good to be needed, really needed, once your children are grown. It's that time between needing, and being of service, that is so good for the soul. I tend to take it for granted, sometimes. I've reminded myself that it might not always be this way. It may have been that remark my daughter made about me never dying, that she needed me to be here, that I realized that it wasn't always going to be so. I won't always be here. I won't always be strong enough to chase a two-year-old, 24/7. All things pass.

But for now, I am going to be grateful for the opportunity to feel needed. A simple thing, really. And it's the simple things that I'm paying attention to lately.

And also that only young women have babies.


29 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles. sounds like you are having a great trip! pizza is the breakfast of champions...lol.

Mike said...

You are needed! And you are still young!

Rosaria Williams said...

What a great reminder with that last line! Yes, in the second half, we want to feel that we are needed; but we also feel great when our children are self sufficient.

Unknown said...

I'll have pizza for breakfast any day!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

You have me giggling. Your last sentence makes me think - thank god for small mercies. That is truly one advantage of growing older - we get to go home - no matter how enchanting they are!

~JarieLyn~ said...

There's no way I could handle having a baby at my age. I'll just enjoy stories of your grandkids and other peoples kids and grandkids.

This is awesome.

DJan said...

How wonderful to have that bundle of energy to follow around and observe. I remember the "terrible twos" were really only that when there is nobody to help, like Grandma. What a gift!

ellen abbott said...

There's a reason we are most fertile when we are young.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Great post, Nancy. I too have been helping my daughter this week while she moves, even posted about it. Lordy, children are a lot of work, aren't they? But so precious. You made me shed a tear, or two. We won't be around forever. I've lost my mother and father. Our kids will lose us. All the more reason to cherish our time together. Pizza for breakfast and all!

Natalie said...

Or stupid perimenopausal ones!

Anonymous said...

Even though he usually takes my index finger, knows for sure how to rule my life as well - so glad about it and yes, he likes Pizza too, but Sauerkraut as well.
A wonderful weekend for you all.

Whitney Lee said...

You may feel blessed to feel needed, but I can assure you your daughter is blessed that you are happy, truly happy, to help. From this end of the spectrum I can say that knowing you can count on someone without them feeling as if it's an obligation is a very precious gift.

Marguerite said...

Sounds like the move is going well! So nice that you can help your daughter with that daunting task. I'm still in that "in between" stage and am enjoying not being needed as much! Have a great weekend!

ds said...

Yep. Two-year-olds rule the universe. (even the four footed ones)Pizza for breakfast--it has been a very long time...

L'Adelaide said...

with this post, you brought tears to my eyes and a few laughs as well....

lovely to read, lovely you have this time with your sweet family, especially helping with that cute little one...soon he will no longer be 2 and you will wonder where it went--at least I do now that my oldest one is !7!...it's ridiculous how it keeps going in circles, with one's children and then suddenly it seems, all over again with one's grandchildren--if we are lucky :)

xoxoxo and blessings for your strength to make it through the week of moving...makes me tired just thinking about it!

L'Adelaide said...

with this post, you brought tears to my eyes and a few laughs as well....

lovely to read, lovely you have this time with your sweet family, especially helping with that cute little one...soon he will no longer be 2 and you will wonder where it went--at least I do now that my oldest one is !7!...it's ridiculous how it keeps going in circles, with one's children and then suddenly it seems, all over again with one's grandchildren--if we are lucky :)

xoxoxo and blessings for your strength to make it through the week of moving...makes me tired just thinking about it!

Anonymous said...

sounds like my future (or a future I want anyway!)

Hilary said...

I so love this post.....I watched my two grandkids all day yesterday, into the evening....nine and four. They were not having a good day, they are usually good, but yesterday the nine year old was cranky and it colored everything.
By the end of the day, I was shot....and fully aware of all you speak of.
Good post, right on.

Unknown said...

So agree with lakeviewer and your last comment! I'm thankful I have independent grown children but am also glad for the times they need my advice or help in some way. I'm also glad that my grandchildren are way past the two year old stages as I simply don't have the energy to keep up anymore!;-D

Sniffles and Smiles said...

What an absolutely BEAUTIFUL perspective you have!!! You bring tears to my eyes as I miss my own dear mother so very much...and am so grateful for the 13 years that she lived with us...the first 13 of my son's life...chasing him as a two year old...I see it all! You are beautiful! I love you. Janine XO

The Good Cook said...

Amen to only young women having babies... you and I are in the same place in life. I ADORE my grandlittles, love feeling needed and helpful when my son and DIL call - but sooo glad to come home and REST.

The little darlings are a handful aren't they?

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

sounds like great fun. The toung keep us young!

Sylvia said...

My sweetness, a thumb up, specially to you! You've got a little gift in my Blog. You are needed and loved, yes!

Jo said...

Pizza for breakfast? Works for me.

I love being with my Munchkins too. It gives me a chance to be a kid again.

Enjoy your time with your family. :-)

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

I love the last line..that is so true! I have always said that someone understood women not having kids past the age of 50...we just don't have the energy but we sure do make great Grandparents! Glad you're having a good time..pizza not withstanding!

Hilary said...

I'm looking forward to the days when I be a grandmother to someone wonderful.. until then, I'll live vicariously through fine posts such as these. :)

Unknown said...

Ooooo I am ao very happy for you...and a tiny bit jealous...can't wait to be needed again..smiles.

Pat said...

It is wonderful to be needed. You'll need a vacation after this! As they say, "It's great to be around your grandchildren 'cause you can hand them back to their parents!" LOL!

Lori ann said...

You are so right Nancy. How much fun two year olds can be, and how we forget. I'm glad your enjoying the little one, and I know you'll be glad to be back home too!