Children are such a blessing and as a grandmother who has two grandchildren realize that they need a lot of love, plenty of hugs, and just a smidgen of kisses.... but every once in awhile.... a piece of duct tape wouldn't hurt. We pride ourselves into teaching our kids to be honest, compassionate, and always tell the truth no matter what. Then comes the time when they are able to talk and be able to express their feelings and pretty much can carry on a conversation and then.......you take them out in public. Let me tell ya.... that whole telling the truth thing will turn around and bite you right in the butt!
Like when an elderly lady at church made my four year old grandson a pencil holder for Christmas. She came up to me and asked how he liked it and I assured her that he just loved it... not wanting to hurt her feelings and he wasn't there to rat me out. Two weeks later I looked up and saw her go over to my grandson with this big smile on her face and I knew that she was going to ask him about his gift. Yuppers... sure enough... he told her the truth right there in church. He's 7 now and she hasn't given him anything else since and he seems quite content with that. The other night his other grandma took him out to eat and got him a few stuff toys. When she brought him back he ran to me with this cute pink mouse and said... "This is for you.." I thanked him and told him how much I loved it he topped it off with.. "I was going to give it to my other grandma but she said I should give it to you instead." Yup.. that was a tender moment.
Another day I was driving with the two of them in the back…. We just got on the road and a fight between my granddaughter who is 8 and my grandson 7 broke out. I threatened to turn around and go back home and the fighting stopped and the rest of the trip was great. It was approximately 45 mins. Later and we are almost there my granddaughter said… “Nana… are you happy that we only fought once?” I said “Yes, it could've been worse I guess but I would've been really happy if you didn't fight at all.” She thought for a moment and said…. “Na, We tried that once and it was too boring.”
Kids will tell it like it is and although we may not always want to hear what they have to say... we love them for their childlike honesty.
