Grandkids have variety of interests

Granddaughter, Emma, painted a picture to give to her cousin, Tristan, for his birthday. I was surprised at how good it was. My sister-in-law and one of her daughters are artists and they put me to shame when it comes to creativity. I am not sure where Emma gets her talent, but it wasn’t from me.

Another thing that pleased me was her mom’s reaction. Beth, Emma’s mom, put the picture on her Facebook page for all to see. Then Beth went on the hunt for brushes and watercolors for the budding artist. She was looking for some things that were not the cheap supplies that one usually buys for children. Then, again, she also didn’t want to break the bank.

At various times Emma has wanted to be a waitress, an employee of Sea World, an actress, and her current ambition, a marine biologist. I’m not sure if painting will be a way of expressing herself outside of whatever she chooses to do for a living or is just a passing fancy.

We are hoping that Emma doesn’t choose waitressing for a profession, as it is often too much work for too little pay. However, I do think that most people should work as a server at least once in their lives. Dealing with the public can be difficult. The experience would remind her that everybody has good and bad days. It would show her that everyone should have compassion for the overworked and underpaid people who make our lives easier.

Beth’s other two offspring, Jacob and Nicholas, have their own ambitions. Jacob wants to be a paleontologist, at least for now. I’m not sure of Nicholas’ choices but I’m sure it will be something creative.

I recently found a small booklet. It contained a picture of me and a set of questions. It looked like it was from when I was in first or second grade. It had space for such things as best friend and such. In the space where it asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I listed that most coveted position of wife. Yes. I wanted to be a wife when I grew up. As you can see, I had high aspirations for my future.

I am so pleased that Beth is able to cater to her children’s ambitions. When I was young, everything cost too much. A 64-pack of crayons was too expensive, so we bought the smallest box of crayons we could find. After school activities were out of the question. Even school clothes were expensive. One of my grandmother’s friends had granddaughters and their castoffs were what I wore. I was in my teens before I got a new dress to wear to school.

If there are any young readers out there I should tell you that back then girls were required to wear dresses and boys were expected to wear dress pants and button down shirts to school. My senior class worked to get permission to change the dress code. Future students were allowed to wear pants and even jeans to school. As I watch the local students on their way to or from school, I wonder what their reaction would be at being told to wear dress clothes to class.

It is a real joy to hear that the grandchildren are able to try a variety of activities without worrying about price. One week it is acting, the next week painting comes front and center as a favorite activity. For the boys, they go through sharks, dinosaurs, fishing, hunting and who knows what.

Perhaps when all is said and done they will choose something that has nothing to do with their current choices. It is a big world we live on and I sincerely hope that Emma and the rest of her generation experience the best it has to offer.

Meanwhile, if you need an artist, I know a few.