My grandson, Timothy, is in his second sleep regression at five months. He was sleeping several hour stretches each night and now he’s not, maybe because he’s teething or developing motor skills like rolling and sitting more rapidly at this stage. My generation was lacking the labels this generation enjoys but maybe there was some …
Default Mode
The meltdown had come out of nowhere. His mom managed bath time as quickly as possible and held him through the snubs that followed. The embodiment of sheer exhaustion, Thomas climbed into bed, giggled once subconsciously, exhaled and was instantly asleep. Thomas will be three next week and he embraces life with such passion. He …
Believe It Or Not
“I want to see the barn!” said Amelia for the fifteenth time. She watches to a video about a farm with a barn and there is a cow and chickens. We were visiting my parents for the day and her dad had gone to the barn with my dad to work on his lawnmower. I …
Practice What You Preach
“Shhhh!” scolded Amelia, her little finger up to her mouth. “I can talk,” answered Thomas. This exchange was happening across my lap during worship. The deacon voiced the closing prayer and service was nearly over. We would just barely make it through the final song. The snacks ran out before the sermon and the toddlers …
But Are We?
Our grandson was fishing across the lake with his friend when the thunderhead began forming to the southwest. I was away for the day but my husband was in the backyard with the dog when the wind began to pick up. Storms move fast over water and by the time Paul was inside, the first …
Worked Together For Good
Amelia wanted “eggy cheese” for breakfast and she wanted to help. Her only experience cracking eggs has been with her plastic color matching half dozen in her toy bin. She chose her egg from the carton on the kitchen counter and I gently wrapped my hand around hers, guiding her to tap, tap, tap on …
Who’s Leading?
“Amelia,” I voiced in my most animated Lolly accent. “Let’s go take Jake outside and check the mail. You need your shoes.” She plopped down on the welcome mat, waiting for help with her slip-ons, then she ran out the door ahead of me, alternately dancing and running every step of the way. My granddaughter …
The Right Words
“No, thank you!” Thomas said for the third time, his little voice steadily rising with each repetition. He is learning to respond with manners, at least with the right words, but he’s still getting the hang of appropriate responses. Like when he first learned he needed to ask for something he wanted but he still …
Who? Me?
Ready or not, here I come. Our neighbors’ children walked over to play with Thomas. The older just completed kindergarten. Her sibling is three and Thomas is two. The oldest counted to ten. Her sister darted behind a porch column and hid her own eyes. Thomas followed her, giggling happily, then circled back to where …
Can God Read?
“G-O-D, God,” read Thomas. It’s the first sight word I taught him, and why not? It’s the most important word to know, for him and for you and for me. It’s the beginning of understanding everything. Origin of man and the universe? God. Giver of life? God. Sustainer, Creator, Provider, Author, Purpose-Giver, Indwelling Spirit. The …
A Fitting Reply 