July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Visit made better when you spoil the guests (09/10/07)

As I See It

By By DIANA DOLECKI-

This was life at its best! The heat of the day had dissipated. My 20-month-old granddaughter was splashing in puddles that were a result of a day of much-needed rain. My daughter and I were attempting to take pictures of her. Every once in awhile Emma would stop to study an imaginary bug and once she declared there was a snake in the water with her. She only said she saw a snake because earlier she had teased me with a fake snake while we were grocery shopping (her mother had handed it to her) and I had obligingly shrieked in mock terror. That made her laugh and do it again. I'm sure the people in the store thought I had lost my mind.

We had picked up Emma and her mom at the airport on Wednesday. The first thing I noticed was that my daughter, Beth, had lost about 20 pounds. Since we don't see her very often, she looks more beautiful every time I see her. I bet you feel the same about your kids. I have heard that old saying about absence making the heart grow fonder and I understand it completely.

The last time we saw Emma she was a baby. Now she is a tiny girl who demands hugs and talks in sentences that are sometimes intelligible. She was a little bashful at first but a bit of coaxing took care of that.

I have orders from one of her other grandmothers not to spoil her but there is not a chance in the world that I'm going to miss an opportunity to spoil both my girls. I am spoiling my daughter by letting her sleep late and not expecting her to do any housework while she is here. I remember when I was a young mother. I would have given anything to have a week off of housework. I do make her clean up after Emma when she blurps and half her breakfast comes back up, but that's only happened once so far.

I pick Emma up at the slightest cry and will hold her for hours if given the chance. It feels so good to hold a toddler again. I miss that part of motherhood. There's nothing that feels better than having a child relax in your arms and fall asleep. They are so innocent and trusting. Their skin is incredibly soft. Emma has more hair that her mother did at age three and I delight in playing with her curls.

We took her to the park yesterday and she ran from one slide to another and tried several of them before deciding the yellow one was her favorite. She made a friend and they played on the slides and bouncy things until it was almost dark. It was very different from the last time I took anybody to the park when my niece and nephew just sat on a bench until they were coerced into playing. I think the difference is that Emma is used to being around children of different ages since she has oodles of cousins who live close. She has lots of family who love her and who are not afraid to express that love. She also has family who expect her to behave in a civilized manner.

I was very impressed with her when she picked up her crayons and put them back in the box. Of course, she never did it again and I have been picking up crayons since then.

Gracie, the cat, has been awful the whole time they have been here. She hisses at Emma and glares at everybody else. My husband says she is just protecting her turf but I think she is jealous. In spite of the hissing she has let Emma touch her nose ... once. Maybe by the time the week is over they will be friends.

It seems that happiness usually comes in small bites but when seldom-seen family is around happiness expands to fill their entire visit. They will go back home soon enough and there will be a hole in my life. It will take awhile but I will get used to not stepping on stray crayons and the cat will be happy again. I intend to enjoy Beth and Emma to the fullest while they are here. And I will spoil them to my heart's content.[[In-content Ad]]
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