Both of her parents had work obligations and were unable to care for my seven-year-old granddaughter, Katherine. I was happy to step in for the day and after her father delivered her to my home, we ate some breakfast – fruit, yogurt, toast, and then we were off.
I am called “Mamaw,” after my most favorite grandmother, my father’s mother. She used to dote on me and take me on special trips when I was a small girl. I asked both of my brothers if I could resurrect the cherished name and they loved the idea. So, my grandchildren call me “Mamaw” - old fashioned and Southern - yes, but it really makes me smile when I hear it.
First, we were off to BookPeople, an independent bookstore in Austin with a huge children’s section. She did not want to stay for story time, and instead asked me to help her search for The Babysitters Club.
We found the first book in that series, and then I grabbed Beezus and Ramona
and The Boxcar Children
. I can’t wait to read all three with her. My granddaughter is no longer fearful of reading like she was at the beginning of first grade. Her reading buddies’ group at school and a private tutor helped her greatly.
Next, we traveled to the Trianon Coffee shop filled with adults on computers and folks talking. She ate a chocolate muffin and drank a glass of milk, while I enjoyed a delicious cappuccino. I explained to her why all these grownups were just sitting around in a coffee shop. Next, we struck out for the Birds Unlimited store to get her grandfather some bird seed and suet for the bird feeders hanging outside of our breakfast room. I allowed her to buy a small stuffed eagle that chirped. She loved his sounds! Back at home, Katherine helped her grandfather load the feeders and helped to scare away the squirrels with her chirping eagle!
After a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and milk, she pulled on her swimsuit and headed for the pool. I threw plastic rings out into the pool, and she dove to retrieve them. Katherine swam for over an hour and asked me to take videos of her swimming to send to her parents. (As she swam, I remembered her mother in the pool thirty years ago, loving the water, and performing those same dives.)
We had so much fun together with the rings. Afterwards, I helped her wash, condition, and rinse her long blonde hair to prepare for our next event.
I had located a lady in a nearby neighborhood who wove tinsel into hair, and we drove over to her home. There Katherine was adorned with sixteen blue and purple silk threads woven throughout her hair. She sat in the chair, wide-eyed and still the entire time the lady worked. Afterwards, she shimmied her hair while smiling broadly to show us the shiny colors.
New chapter books, coffee shop goodies, birdseed, stuffed eagle, swimming and diving for rings, and hair tinsel. What a glorious Mamaw day it was, indeed! I was making memories, and she was feeling special, just like my Mamaw used to make me feel.
It’s so difficult to be a mother some days, but it’s easy to be a grandmother. Just imagine how you might feel one day when you are caring for your children’s children. It is delightful!
Sounds like a beautfiul day Susan!
We just had our very first grandchild in March, a little boy named Lorenzo (Enzo). My husband and I will begin babysitting this coming Monday. We are so excited — and a bit nervous. It’s been quite a while since we had our own sons. Being a grandmother (Nonni) is beyond any joy I could have ever imagined! I didn’t think I could love anyone more than my own children and then this incredible gift was delivered straight to my heart and he’s been lodged there ever since. I can’t get enough of my precious grandson!