Moments with Grandparents

Some of life's best moments seem to take place when the grandparents are visiting. For example, knowing that my Mom is scared of snakes, my son threatened to bring his snakes from downstairs. Grandma said, "Then I'll hid under this pillow." My son replied, "Snakes are really sneaky," then ran off to his room with a gleeful giggle/mad-scientist laugh to get his plastic snakes. He then threw them on Grandma's tummy as she was sitting on our couch and scared her. Our toddler also took to Grandma because they wore matching dresses to church today. Since that time she only wanted Grandma today, to play, to snuggle, to put her to bed, to take her potty, to take her to nursery at church, etc. We're not complaining, of course. It made our lives easier. When she went to bed she said, "Don't let her go anywhere." I assured her that she would stay all night and be here when she wakes up. And our baby girl was smitten by Grandpa. She smiled at him and charmed him all day long, except for fits. It seems her aim is not only to have her father wrapped around her finger, but also her grandfather. But one of my favorite moments with the grandparents today was family dinner around the kids' table. Our dining room table is packed away, so seven of us surrounded our 2 x 5 x 2 table for a wonderful Sunday dinner. I love having my parents over for another reason. They are the parents I want to be. They have an amazing influence over our kids that comes from deep and unconditional love that our kids can feel. They had that influence over me when I was young, and I hope I can develop the same ability now that I am a parent.