The grandchildren are growing up and changing. I was babysitting one morning while Mom and Dad were at work. I was a little surprised when Jasmine greeted me perfectly groomed for a 10 year old and wearing a skirt! I thought she would be dressed in outdoor play clothes.
I didn't comment as I knew it would only invoke "Oh Grandma!" and eye-rolling.
Off to the park we went anyway. There were others around on play structures despite the residual piles of snow and huge puddles. I should not have been surprised, but I was as this young lady couldn't wait to skip into the deepest part of the frigid water just because. Just because she was still a little girl.
Eight-year-old Nathan had no qualms about jumping off this neglected planter and into the icy water.
"All right you two - I need a pic of both of you for Mom and Dad!" Can't wait until the really nice weather is here and we can properly play in the park.
In a few more years, they won't want to play on slides and swings and rock climbing structures, but for now I will spend as much time as I can while they're still children.
And as a grandparent, I am grateful to be part of it all; to sit back and watch the rich process of transformation, as they blossom into pre-teens some of the time, yet on other days they backslide into gleeful little ones playing in mud puddles and hugging teddy bears.
