Seven Rules for Proper Grandparenting

Rule 1—Exercise  When you first pick up the grandchildren, one of the first things you want to do is make sure they are thoroughly exercised. There are several ways to do this. You can put them through tiring muscle building paces…

…or you can just let them play.

Be sure to let them take little breaks.

Rule 2—Keep the trips short Kids love to travel, but only for about five minutes or so. In order to avoid the constant “When are we going to get there?” and “I have to go potty NOW!” noises, it is best to plan several very short trips. Some kids like to travel by horse.

Others like to travel on the backs of kitties…

…or down slides.

Some prefer the more traditional types of travel.

And then there are the wacky ones who would rather whiz around in a giant banana. 

Rule 3—Take a Walk  In case the exercise and travel have not quite worn them out, it is always a good idea to talk a walk outside. 

Rule 4—Be Prepared For Anything  You never know what they might find… 

Fortunately for the children, my dog found this snake first, so it is quite dead. Not so fortunate for the snake.

Rule 5—Let them help make their own food. Children will be much more likely to eat their fruits and vegetables if they play a part in making it. In this case, they made palm trees.

Rule 6—Dinner and a Movie Not just for adults. Kids love eating while they watch something good on TV. Here we are eating pizza and palm trees while watching Little House on the Prairie. 

Rule 7—Sugar Them Up This is where most grandparents can use a little guidance. The tendency is to sugar them up too early in the game. The time to sugar them up is just before you take them home.

Now they are ready to get in the car and get back to mom and dad.

The perfect ending to a perfect day. 

Gabby

This week we buried our sweet little Gabby. When we got home from church on Sunday she was vomiting, but then settled down and seemed OK. Monday she refused to eat anything--even peanut butter. I knew she was dying, but she was in no apparent distress--just wanted to lie on the kitchen floor near me and sleep. I offered her water from time to time which she lapped up, but still no food. I sat on the floor stroking her and telling her she was loved and she was still except for her little tail wagging. By Monday evening, we had to carry her outside to potty because her legs wouldn't hold her up anymore.


I checked on her through the night and every time she saw me coming, her little tail would wag. I just sat and stroked her wishing to God that she could talk to me and tell me what she wanted. In the morning my husband got up and asked her if she wanted to go outside. She popped right up and walked out the door to do her business and we thought perhaps she would rally. She came back into the house, took two steps into the bedroom and collapsed. About a minute later she coughed as her poor little heart gave out.


C.S. Lewis said that if you love anything, even an animal, it will break your heart. He was right. My heart is breaking as I remember her in all her puppy days and her growing years when she brought such joy to our family. She used to let Alice dress her up in princess clothes, and all the grandkids laid on her or got on her back for a ride. She never complained. She was the most obedient dog I have ever had. All she ever wanted to do was please me. She sat by my feet at every meal and patiently waited for my empty plate to lick. We always joked that she sat like a little lady--with her legs crossed.

Gabby will be greatly missed. But we will never forget her. I love you Gabby!

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love—A Review

If you are the kind of reader who loves to cry, laugh, and see good overcome evil in one story, you will appreciate this book--a true story of a dog rescue. Oogy was just a little puppy when he was used as bait for dogs trained to kill. Ripped apart and left to die, he was found by police who saved his life. In spite of physical disfigurement and a puppyhood characterized by terror, this little dog had a beautiful heart that took in everyone he met, both human and canine. The Levin family took Oogy home, and Larry Levin, author of the book, ties their story with his.

Keep the Kleenex handy, but be prepared for a lot of laughs. The book does not get bogged down in evil, but the truth of Oogy’s journey is not overlooked either. Oogy is a story about second chances, overcoming the odds, and beauty rising out of ashes. It is a story about how love, hope and joy overcome the most inexplicable human cruelty. If you have ever given your heart to a dog or been the recipient of a dog’s love, you will understand the joys these simple creatures bring us. You will understand Oogy.

Dogs Can Plan

People will tell you that animals are dumb, that they only respond to instinct. These people have never owned a dog. Any dog person knows that dogs are not only smart, but they actually plan things out in advance.

When Babe was a puppy, someone told us that her potty training would be easy if we would hang a little bell by the door so she could go to the door and ring the bell with her nose if she wanted to go out. I was skeptical, but bought the bell anyway. Within an hour, Babe understood the concept completely and sure enough, every time she needed to go out, she went to the door and rang the bell.

But after a while, she would ring the bell when she wanted to go outside and play. It wasn’t long before that blasted bell was ringing all day long. I finally took it down. But Babe still understood that to get outside, all she had to do was go stand by the door and stare at me until I let her out.

One night we had just sat down at the table for dinner and were filling our plates when Babe sat at the door staring at me. I ignored her. She then came over to the table and nudged my elbow with her nose. I knew I would have no peace until I let her out, so I got up to open the door. While I was opening the door, she ran back to the table and snatched the food off my plate! Then she just got all comfy under the table ready to take a snooze. I just hate it when my dog is smarter than I am!

Babe--Faithful Companion (2003)

            I had never been a dog-lover…until a little black lab puppy named Babe took my heart by surprise.

            We were hiking the wooded trail that runs between the river and the railroad tracks.  With me were Sebastian, my daughter’s two-year-old collie mix, and Babe, a five-month-old black lab puppy I inherited when my son went off to college.  As we hiked, I could hear the train coming in the distance.  Without warning, Babe took off like a shot, racing up a hill, around a corner, and right into the path of the train.  I screamed her name over and over to no avail.  The train raced past and I knew I’d lost her.  Sickened with fear, I rounded the corner, expecting to find my mangled pup.  At that instant, she came bounding down the hill and into my arms.  For the first time in my life, I understood the joys of losing my heart to a dog.