Out of the Mouths of Babes

I love quoting kids.
Kids have a way of telling it like it is without coloring the story or embellishing the moment. They can say it all with a minimum of words.....and you usually know exactly what they wanted you to know. No more....no less.

We spend alot of time with our nearly-three-year-old granddaughter Kayla. She has really learned our personalities, our idiosyncracies and so much more. Nothing much slips by her. She knows that Poppi means business and there is very little grey with him; really just black and white. I tend to be the one who is a little more lenient with the lighter approach.

The other day we were working a puzzle of shapes with her. I had no idea she had a clue about octagons, pentagons and trapezoids but she worked her way through the puzzle with flying colors. (No doubt she has done it at nursery school, but we can pretend it was just a genius moment!! :) )
Well, Poppi wanted to see if she really knew them as I described. He quickly picked up each piece..."What's this Kayla? Correct, a pentagon. And what's this? Yes, its an octagon. And this? Kayla, what's this? Kayla? Kaaayla? What's this? " I must interject here that most nearly-3-year-olds can have the attention span of a gnat, so I always allow for that, but not Poppi. After a bit of a pause.....Kayla took his face in her hands and said "Poppi, relax!!!!"

There is just no response to that.

My Nanny

It's ages since I have blogged. It's not for the lack of thoughts, reflections, ideas and opinions. I have alot of those; perhaps too many.

Its Thanksgiving. I always find this a reflective time of year...particularly this day. I have many things in my life to be grateful for. A loving husband, children and grandchildren, a big extended family that stays in touch, a warm and welcoming home, good and loyal friends and so much more.
On this day, I always have special memories of my Nanny. Its probably all the cooking, the delicious smells of roasting turkey, fresh baked pies, the kitchen hopping (well not hopping but moving at a faster pace than usual) with activity. I remember the excitement of the day in years past and the buildup of our family walking on the path through the woods to our grandparents house where all the aunts, uncles, cousins would meet for a feast to beat all feasts. Our Nanny was the grandest of cooks I have ever known. She could run circles around most of the Food Network shows. I think I learned alot from her....or at least I hope I did. She had alot to teach all of us kids.

Once I start thinking of her and Thanksgiving cooking each year I naturally progress to thinking what an impact she had on my life and most of my childhood memories revolve around her. Its not that we didnt have a loving mother....but our mother was caught up in the raising and caring of 5 children whereas my Nanny could make each of us feel very important, very special. I loved her for that.

Time spent with Nanny was special time. She taught me to darn socks. Who actually does that anymore? No one. But the weekly sewing classes with Nanny were an important part of my life and an opportunity to have the undivided attention of a caring adult. Bi-weekly manicures with Nanny were special moments too. I would sit on a small stool in front of her bedroom easy chair while she pushed cuticles, trimmed nails and buffed a shine on my nails that sparkled!

Nanny was an avid reader and set the standard by which I read today. She always made time for reading, as busy a life as she had. She read to us when we were little and as we grew up we could discuss various books with her. She was always a listener.

I could not let another Thanksgiving go by without making a special remembrance about my Nanny. She made me so much of what I am today. The fact that I can open my home and share a meal with family, can pick up a piece of needlework at any time and read with such joy almost any kind of book. I hope I can make my grandkids feel as special as she made me feel.

There is something very special about the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter. If you have had that relationship, or are building on one now.....you are a lucky person indeed!!