“Tree! Crash! Boom! Bang!” Ezra fairly shrieked, little hands motioning above his head. We were playing on the front porch together when the last two aged hardwoods came down. We waited for spring to see how they would fill out before deciding to take them down. Once they were on the ground and the rotted …
Withholding
“You can’t reach it! You can’t reach it!” Thomas chanted as he circled the room, full speed ahead, ball held high above his head. Timothy and Ezra followed him in circles, temporarily entertained. Amelia caught up to him but he evaded her grasp. She quickly tired of his game and wandered off in search of …
Shortsighted
“Timothy, would you like to help Lolly?” I invited. The others were caught up in their own game on a cluster of ride on toys on one side of the room. Timothy stood a little aside, sleepy and frustrated that he had not gotten to the zebra ride on first. In an instant, I was …
Transplants
“Ok, baby, it’s time for your surgery.” I said to Amelia’s doll as I sat down, donned my reading glasses and threaded pink thread onto my sewing needle. “I promise it won’t hurt a bit.” Amelia peered over my shoulder as I stitched the slit along the seam where the tag had been torn off. …
Earth Moving
“Amelia dug up a worm,” Thomas announced as I turned from pushing Timothy and Ezra in the swings to be sure my mulch bed was still intact. They knelt in front of their toy excavators, eyes trained on something between them that I could not see. “Are you sure it’s a worm?” I asked, wary …
How Do You Love?
“Can you find the baby puffer fish?” Amelia asked Ezra after bringing him one of his favorite lift-the-flap board books and climbing up into the chair at the kitchen table next to his. Valentina had already fed the kids and we were finally sitting down to our lunch. Ezra had been clingy all morning and …
Distracted
Four hours of outdoor play meant early dinner, bath and bedtime for my grandchildren. The second day of spring offered nearly perfect weather punctuated by an unexpected thunderstorm. The parents coaxed the siblings through baths while I layered peanut butter and jelly on toasty blueberry bagels with strawberry cheesecake yogurts on the side for everyone …
Want or Need
With a pair grandsons tottering into the twos at roughly the same time, my daughters have each determined to nix nap time when at all possible. Some days, naps are still essential but days are measured on a case by case basis. Four children under five is more manageable when the weather is mild and …
Ransomed
“I want a turn to ride the scooter,” Thomas repeated as Amelia sped past him through the living room. “If you catch me, you can have a turn,” Amelia replied, circling around again. She laughed heartily as Thomas ran after her several laps through the kitchen. Finally he planted his feet and declared, “I caught …
Poured Out
“Amelia keeps taking the stopper out and the water is almost gone!” Thomas announced, sounding none too pleased. Temperatures in the eighties meant I could finally say yes to the constant pleas to play water table outside. “Can we add soap bubbles?” Amelia had asked as I headed back into the kitchen to refill the …
A Fitting Reply 