When I was
little, my mom used to send us to Grandma's for part of the summer. I think
back now and it was probably for only a couple weeks, but back then, it seemed
a lot longer. It is the only part of those summers that I still remember. The
rest of those hot childhood days have slipped from my mind. So, obviously,
those were the most important days.
She lived in a large two story house, with a nice sized yard and raspberry bushes in the back. Grandma was a stickler for manners, but she certainly knew how to spoil us children properly. Grandma bought us cereal with marshmallows in it. Grandma had a small candy dish hidden away, but she made sure I knew where it was, and that I was allowed to get some whenever I wanted...amazingly, that wasn't very often.
Just knowing I could was enough for me. Grandma sent us to summer camp - a day camp through the YMCA. We learned to swim, to make sand candles, to tie dye shirts and all those wonderful 1970's kind of childhood summer things which were so important back then.
I remember watching her pack our lunches. She always asked us what we wanted, and as long as it made a healthy lunch, in the bag it went. She bought the snack sized chip bags instead of buying the big ones and dishing the chips out into small baggies, like Mom did during the school year. I remember Grandma driving us to the spot where the camp bus would pick us up, and waiting there with us until the bus came, then being there waiting when the bus dropped us off.
Grandma taught us the most important things in life when we were children. Go to church/Sunday School every Sunday. Pray to God at each meal. Don't let your hair hang in your eyes. Get dressed before coming down for breakfast. Make your bed. Bathe every day. Give thirsty people water, even if
you don't know them. Splurge on breakfast cereal. (It is the most important meal of the day, so it should be the most enjoyable, too.) Don't put your shoes on the furniture. Don't put your elbows on the table. Use silverware. Speak properly, with good English. Don't smack your lips at the table. Don't jump down the stairs, going up farther and farther with each jump until you hurt yourself. Ain't is not a word. Don't be afraid of the basement. Ma is not a nice thing to call my mother. Thank God for a great day each night when you go to bed. Don't put your fingers on a hot stove. (But if you do, Grandma's make the pain go away faster.) Jiffy Pop Popcorn is the best kind, because you can watch the foil grow. Playing outside is better than playing inside. There is ALWAYS something to do, and it's best to find it on your own or it might not be something you want to do. Fresh off the vine raspberries taste the best. It always takes at least 2 quarts of raspberries picked to guarantee 1 quart of raspberries in the kitchen. Homemade apple sauce is worth the effort.
Looking back, Grandma also taught me important things for now that I'm an adult. Vacuum cleaners can pick up sand tracked in by children, but nothing can take the place of a sand candle made for you with love by a child. Children have feelings, too, and sometimes just letting them pick is the biggest lift in their self-esteem you can give them. Bored children don't stay bored for long when you mention how the house needs to be cleaned. Table manners are more important than you think. Respect goes a long way. A clean house is a sign of love. Flower gardens are just as important as grass. Fresh flowers in the house are a sign of warmth and gratitude. Cereal with marshmallows is an easy way to make children happy. Teaching a child something is the best present you can give them. Everything you do has an influence on the child in your presence. Take pride in yourself and your belongings. Dress nicely. Be kind.
I'm lucky that God blessed me with such a wonderful Grandma. If I could only do one more thing for my grandma, I would want her to feel all the love and joy and happiness she has made me feel by being the best grandma she could be.
