You are My Sunshine...

Deu 4:25~~~ When thou shalt beget children, and children's children.....

My grandson, Jaden, is a special source of sunshine in my life today. Having kept him the first 2-1/2 years of his life during the school year when his mommy is working, I have missed him. It was MY decision to "give him up" and let him go on to K3 kindergarten this fall. I know he needs the structure, the academic training, and the socialization with children his age and that it is good for him; so back at the first of the year, I mentioned to his parents that they talk about the possibility of putting him in the nursery. They did, and they enrolled him for K3 this fall. I completed my semester of keeping him until the very end when Richard and I were making a trip to Indiana to visit our son Chip there. For that last week of school, Jaden made his first appearance at the nursery. I think it was harder on me than it was on him.

Amy was home for 6 weeks of summer vacation and enjoyed her days with her four children. I interacted with them some but tried to be conscious of the fact that she needed the time with her kids most of the time. When she started back to school in July, I kept Jaden the first couple of weeks while the big kids got to go to the Sports Center every day to swim, ice skate, bowl, play, etc. And then the nursery director where Jaden is going to be going recommended to Brian and Amy that he start attending the nursery every day so that he could get acclimated and be ready when school starts. That was all well and good. I understood the need, stepped aside, and made plans of my own to begin filling the days while Richard is at work.

All was well and good for the first couple of weeks, and then I really began missing Jaden!!! I asked Brian and Amy if perhaps I can keep him on Wednesday of every week this school year. I thought that would sort of give him a mid-week break. They thought it is a good idea too ~~ knowing that we won't have this "freedom" when he goes to K4 next year!. Well, today I have Jaden, and do you know what I have discovered? I am the happiest when he is here with me. We have so much fun together ~~ talking, playing, singing, learning, working (he loves to help me wash clothes!), potty-training (he's been dry all day!!), eating lunch together, etc. It is so much fun to have my little red-headed grandson's enthusiasm for life and cheery disposition around. I haven't had FOX NEWS on all day!!! It was the "sound" that kept my days from being too quiet, but not today.

Jaden is my child's child. That's what makes him so grand. It is a double-love. You grandmas know what I am talking about!! I don't love him one iota more than I love Jarrett, Isabella, or Joshua ~~ for they are my child's children, too. But they have to go to school and can't stay at home with me one day a week. We have to have our special times in other ways. I wish I could have had this special time with them when they were little like Jaden, but it wasn't meant to be. It's been so special to love them and "grandma" them these years since they were each adopted from Ukraine.

Jaden played all morning, pottied every hour and stayed dry, ate a good lunch, had a fun bath, and now is down for his nap. All is well in my little corner of the universe. :) There's nothing that quite compares to being a Grandma!!! God is good!! ~~ Granny Susan