Jaci Dawn

Was it a perfect day? Not really: I didn’t have the gumption to do everything I wanted to do and the sun set far too soon. Summertime should mean sunsets after 10, but we didn’t have much “summer” weather before the equinox and the sun is setting too early. My son in law even complained as he loaded up the babies tonight: the sun had already set by 9:00.

It was, however, a perfect day. Two of my five grandsons came to visit. It was unplanned and I had to set aside some of my plans to babysit, but it was a welcome distraction. I even saved some yard work for the grandboys.

We spread hazelnut mulch in Grandma’s garden. Two year old Javan doesn’t begin to understand the concept and picks up the hazelnut shells already in the flower beds and moves them to another spot. Three year old Zephan made hills out of the hazelnut shells. Grandma had to pick shells up out of the lawn several times. But it was oh-so-much-fun.

Zephan is so bossy. He’s like a movie director. “Let’s go watch cartoons.”

“What does Javan want to do?”

“Watch cartoons.” (Javan is oblivious to the conversation, pouring water from the dog pool onto the apple trees. I think he had no opinion whatsoever.)

We watched cartoons. We watched “Stuart Little: Call of the Wild” for the umpteenth time, finished watching Curious George and Toy Story 3 (for the umpteenth time also). We dined on macaroni and cheese, Ritz™ crackers (carckers), cheese slices and juice.

Harvey had to be tied up. Javan was in a sensitive mood and just seeing the big dog loose in the yard sent him into wailing. I totally relate. I understand. He isn’t really afraid of Harvey but he is intimidated by the size of the dog and the pure bulk of animal. And the bark. The bark sets his little Highly Sensitive Person system off.

Grandma understands. As a fellow HSP, I understand all too well.

Harvey is just a dog and can stay tied up when grandboys come to visit. Some day Javan will over come that fear. Until that time, I am not pushing it. I want to enjoy his little person-ness.

We watered grandma’s garden.

And we gave grandma tickles.

Grandma needed all of that time with little bossy people. Her grandsons remind her that life goes on, a different generation picks up the torch, and that she is loved by someone as a child. After all, who else is going to tell me to “Play, Gandma. Play wit me.”

Or “Tickle.”

Love you boys!!