Sunday, July 22, 2012

The silence of departed children

Yesterday, I took the kids back to their homes--well half-way, anyhow. I met my daughter (Allen's mom and the girl's grandma) at a Dairy Queen off the interstate and transferred them back to her. After having lunch, we said our goodbyes.

I admit I headed back home with mixed feelings. It's always such fun doing things with them and interacting with them. I get them just one week a year and each year they're a little older and their personalities are more developed. Kristie loves to cook and set the table. Kylah loves art and computer games and Karley, the youngest is a regular chatty Kathy. And, of course, they all love shopping and movies.

Every morning they slept late so I would get up and take my newspaper, coffee and the cats out on the patio. Karley, age 7, would wake up first, get dressed and pop out to join me. I got a bang out of the way she would talk non-stop. Karley had a hard time learning to talk but she is making up for lost time now. One morning, she told me she had gone into the room where her teenage Uncle Allen was sleeping. She told me, "I was watching him sleep and he is just adorable!"

I laughed out loud!

Allen is so cool and every inch the doting uncle. He is always watching out for them and guiding them, but is never cross or critical. They are so very lucky to have him in their life.

It was really amusing to hear Kristie and Kylah lecture each other over some supposed rudeness with, "That is inappropriate!"

On the plus side: no more macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, sloppy joes, tacos or chicken strips! Also, no more Disney kid's channel.

I sent them home with some baby hen-and-chicks to grow. They each got a drawing pad and a journal to write in. I found a treasure trove of stampers at the Unique Thrift store for a fraction of their cost and they they had a lot fun with them. Allen assembled a model Star Trek vessel and he got a copy of "The Hobbit" to read before the new movie comes out. He was an avid Harry Potter fan.

Anyway, good bye kids for another year. It was loads of fun and hard work, but I'm looking forward to doing it again next year!
                               Is it safe to come out now?

18 comments:

The Odd Essay said...

Glad your visit with the g-kids went well. Makes me miss my own! I'd like to send an e-mail to you... don't know how to do that?

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Sounds like you've really had fun with them, and it's lovely that the little one gets up and talks with you. These are treasured times for each of you. Our grandkids have been out of state, visiting other grandparents. We've missed them!

Joanne Noragon said...

I admire the older uncle's engagement and tolerance of the little girls. It reminds me of how protective my next youngest brother was of our sister. Good relationships for all.

Anonymous said...

While you treasured the visit, doesn't the peace and silence seem tenfold when they leave? After a family visit to my home, this happens when they leave and the house feels twice as large.

Janet

The Owl Wood said...

Great for you to see the sprogs, but I bet it's also great to get your daily life back!

Meggie said...

Your post reminds me of my grandchildren's visits...I'm always so happy to see them. To tell you the truth, when they leave, the silence in the house becomes very "loud".

Ms Sparrow said...

Odd essay: I'll send you my address.

Blissed: I wondered why we hadn't heard anything about Vi and Augie lately!

Joanne: Allen was only seven when his first niece was born so he has been like a big brother to them.

Revising: That is so true--especially about the house seems bigger.

Owl Wood: You bet! I'm enjoying catching up on TV shows that weren't appropriate for little kids.

Meggie: While I'm adjusting to the silence, the cats are just loving it!

Moving with Mitchell said...

What a trio of cuties. And Karley is right about Allen. How lucky you are to have them and to have some peace and quiet too!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Glad you had such a lovely time with them!

Linda said...

How wonderful! Sounds like a fantastic time.

Buttercup said...

I feel that way about having company. I enjoy it a lot, but am glad to settle back into my quiet apartment. Thanks for your encouraging comments about recovery. I'm working on patience!

Ms Sparrow said...

Mitch: Thanks, they are a great bunch of kids--but lively!

Crafty: They got me out of the house and doing things I wouldn't have thought of otherwise--like the trip to the Sculpture Garden.

Linda: It's such a nice break from the routine that it's almost like a vacation!

Buttercup: I agree, it makes returning to the routine quite pleasant.

Barbara Blundell said...

What beautiful girls and how much joy they must bring !!! I wish.....( I have six grandsons-not a girl in sight ! )

Knatolee said...

I love spending time with kids. They see the world in a different way!

Deb said...

What a fun post. I understand how it must leave you with mixed feelings when the week is over. Love the last photo. :)

Linda Starr said...

Oh they sound like wonderful children and nice you get to spend some quality time with them, nice for them they got to sleep in too. Ha.

Linda Myers said...

I did the same thing last week. I loved my granddaughters' visit, and now I am loving my own evenings and my own menus.

Jenny said...

Oh, they are just lovely!

What a beautiful family!

And that last picture of the three kitties just cracked me up!