If you've had the privilege of being a parent, like I have, you know that among your best memories are the wonderful, smart and funny things your children have said and done through the years. On this Mother's Day, I like to remember those certain amazing incidents when my kids proved that they were the greatest!
Daughter Beverly came home from kindergarten one day and announced that she was the leader of her class. "Really?" her dad asked, immediately impressed.
"Yes," Bev replied, "I lead the class to the bathroom."
And when son, Howard, was a little boy, he was taken to nearby Bear Mountain Zoo. He lingered a long time in front of the rabbit cage, staring at one large brown bunny who hopped hurriedly back and forth behind the chicken wire. All of a sudden Howie sang out, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date," in strict rhythm with the rabbit. I knew at that moment that our son was destined to be a poet.
Then came the grandchildren, Chris, Andy, Sarah, Zack and Tess. They, too, have provided memorable moments. I remember the remark of 2-year-old Chris when he was shown his Christmas stocking. "What's Santa going to put in there?" his mother asked him.
"Put FOOT in there." was Chris' delighted answer.
One time, my artist grandson, Andy, visited me in the hospital. To fill time while I rested, he sat at my bedside and sketched one of his realistic country scenes. Before he left, he handed it to me and said, "Feel better, Grandma." I treasure that drawing.
On one of his early visits to New Jersey, where we lived then, 3-year-old Zachary got homesick. We did everything we could think of to cheer him, but nothing seemed to work. As Zach sat watching cartoons on our TV, licking on an ice cream cone, he looked up at me tearfully and said, "You know Grandma, I'd really rather be at my house." Hard to forget that one!
Our musical granddaughter, Sarah, has created special scrapbooks, poems and songs. One verse, dedicated to me, is framed in the hall. I play the cassette of her singing her "Song for Gramma" often.
But it was little Tess who was the most unique in her thoughtfulness. I sat in my wheelchair with a broken ankle, when she visited me in my bedroom. Wanting to be helpful, Tess picked up the lint-remover from my dresser and brought it to me.
"Do you want any lint removed from you, Grandma?" said my blond 4-year-old seriously. So, of course, I accepted her helpfulness and let her work on my sweater.
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And now there are great-grandchildren adding to my mosaic of memories. There is 11-year-old Ian Christopher, our soccer player who comes up with some quick wise-cracks, and Miles David, nearly 2, who has some very original pronunciations of many words, to make us smile.
So on this Mother's Day, I once again find myself counting blessings. I know I am one of the fortunate ones to be able to stick around and see my young families grow and thrive in 2005. You could say that it's the most precious part of my "super years."
Dorothy Nelson lives and writes in Auburn
"Yes," Bev replied, "I lead the class to the bathroom."
And when son, Howard, was a little boy, he was taken to nearby Bear Mountain Zoo. He lingered a long time in front of the rabbit cage, staring at one large brown bunny who hopped hurriedly back and forth behind the chicken wire. All of a sudden Howie sang out, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date," in strict rhythm with the rabbit. I knew at that moment that our son was destined to be a poet.
Then came the grandchildren, Chris, Andy, Sarah, Zack and Tess. They, too, have provided memorable moments. I remember the remark of 2-year-old Chris when he was shown his Christmas stocking. "What's Santa going to put in there?" his mother asked him.
"Put FOOT in there." was Chris' delighted answer.
One time, my artist grandson, Andy, visited me in the hospital. To fill time while I rested, he sat at my bedside and sketched one of his realistic country scenes. Before he left, he handed it to me and said, "Feel better, Grandma." I treasure that drawing.
On one of his early visits to New Jersey, where we lived then, 3-year-old Zachary got homesick. We did everything we could think of to cheer him, but nothing seemed to work. As Zach sat watching cartoons on our TV, licking on an ice cream cone, he looked up at me tearfully and said, "You know Grandma, I'd really rather be at my house." Hard to forget that one!
Our musical granddaughter, Sarah, has created special scrapbooks, poems and songs. One verse, dedicated to me, is framed in the hall. I play the cassette of her singing her "Song for Gramma" often.
But it was little Tess who was the most unique in her thoughtfulness. I sat in my wheelchair with a broken ankle, when she visited me in my bedroom. Wanting to be helpful, Tess picked up the lint-remover from my dresser and brought it to me.
"Do you want any lint removed from you, Grandma?" said my blond 4-year-old seriously. So, of course, I accepted her helpfulness and let her work on my sweater.
&#_149&#_149&#_149&#_149&#_149
And now there are great-grandchildren adding to my mosaic of memories. There is 11-year-old Ian Christopher, our soccer player who comes up with some quick wise-cracks, and Miles David, nearly 2, who has some very original pronunciations of many words, to make us smile.
So on this Mother's Day, I once again find myself counting blessings. I know I am one of the fortunate ones to be able to stick around and see my young families grow and thrive in 2005. You could say that it's the most precious part of my "super years."
Dorothy Nelson lives and writes in Auburn
The Citizens' Say
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