Interacting With The Young

Yes, I missed a day. That wasn't noticed when I first started this thing but now, readers say, "you didn't blog today". There will be times when I have nothing to say. I know that's hard to believe for those who know me really well but yesterday, I felt as if I had nothing to say. My memories hadn't been triggered and there wasn't anything on my mind that needed to get off. I even asked the Lord if He had anything He wanted me to say, and there was silence. So, I took a break.

I almost hate to admit this, but Lauri and I went shopping again yesterday. I hate to admit that we were gone the whole day again. Lauri and I both have an eye for clearance tags. We do our best shopping at 70-90 % off. We really do. I've had people question my integrity on that statement but once they shop with me they find I was telling the truth all along. Well, this is the stores' end of summer so the sales are abundant. That makes for shopping heaven for both of us. We took Lauri's three girls with us. They are ages fourteen, eleven and eight. One could tell they were thrilled to have a "ladies day out" with their mama and their grandma. They all sat so proper in the van as we headed to Merrillville. As the day wore on they got funnier and funnier. You would have grinned to watch us in DWS looking at the sale rack and trying on shoes. Sidney realized that even though she wore a size 3 girl's shoe, she could also wear a size six women's shoe. She pranced all over on this high heel and that feeling very grown up. Poor Alex and I wear size nine like so many other American women so there were no good bargains for us. Lauri, Sydney and Mackenna made out like bandits. The trick in DWS is to ONLY look at shoes with a yellow sticker; they are the 70% shoes.

Some of our other stops were Penneys, Hobby Lobby, Claires, Limited, Too, and Rave. You can tell I was with the young. At Rave, they had boxes of clearance items near the front of the store. There were the five of us digging and throwing. It was a ball and the kids were having the time of their lives as they evaluated each item they found. Grandma pulled out a brown furry bolero. Cute as a button in Grandma's evaluation. The girls laughed as I put it on and my daughter said, "I really like it Mom, you need to get that." So, I have a new fun garment for winter. Alex said, "Wait until I tell my friends that my grandmother shops at Rave!" I pleaded that she not do that but she laughed in a way that I knew I was dead in the water on that hope.

For lunch we splurged at Costco; a long hotdog and drink for a buck and a half. We had other treats throughout the day so we weren't denied anything. Starbucks was one of our last hurrays and we went home carrying our white cups with green lettering in a brown sleeve feeling very satisfied. There is nothing that compares with it.

I've thought some about the significance of such a day as yesterday. Spending time with those we love and just letting go of all inhibitions (at least with each other). We shared so many laughs. One of my grandaughters confessed that she lies to her mother because she doesn't want her mother to worry. What a bitter sweet thing that revelation was. Her mommy explained that that was betrayal. Even though her motive was loving, it is better to tell mom the truth because there may be important decisions hanging on that truth. We learned that one of the girls is the perfect one (at least in her estimation). That brought much laughter as well. And we learned that the little girl who can spend money faster than her daddy can make it is growing up and evaluating her purchases in a more mature way. It is such joy to see each one chomping at the bit to grow up and earn some independence.

My interaction with my grandaughers yesterday made me think about how things change as we get older. I am no longer happy or excited when I need a bigger shoe size or if I have to buy a bigger pants or shirt. There is just simply no thrill in that in my life anymore. To little girls, it is a sign of growing up to need a larger size. To me, it is a sign of getting too big and growing older. What once was fun is now cause for pause (especially when I reach for something full of calories).