Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Thursday, November 28, 2019

The First 25

Yes, it's blurry.
Photographing children and wildlife. It's the same . . .
For two weeks, we had our youngest son’s (then) two children (ages 3 years and 16 months) in our home while their parents were exploring places warm and sunny.
I should probably mention that, at the time, our home already housed four adults and one resident three-year-old.
It was, for the most part, a marvelous time!

Twenty-five things we learned:
1. Children are like the ocean. You never want to turn your back.
2. The decibels reached by the average toddler during normal conversation cannot be measured by normal means.
3. Enthusiasm and unhappiness are often expressed with the same ear-piercing wail.
4. Also hunger, I’m-not-tired, and he-took-my-toy.
5. Three-year-olds and scissors should never make even a passing acquaintance.
6. Just because they’re approximately the same size, two three-year-olds don’t always see eye-to-eye.
7. The definition of a toddler is someone two feet tall with an arm reach of eight feet.
8. The head is equipped with a solid bone for a reason.
9. Bike helmets should be a standard component of every outfit (see #8).
10. Just because someone is looking at you, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they are also listening.
11. Hiding places turn easily into finding places. A little too easily. Sooo . . .
12. Nothing is safe.
13. A toddler can – and will – eat their weight in food.
14. And, conversely, can live on air for an inordinate amount of time.
15. If you turn on the TV, the only time they notice is for the first three minutes.
16. And when you shut it off.
17. The bathtub is an excellent place to play. 
18. With or without water in it.
19. If one wakes up in the middle of the night, one needs the company of a sibling.
20. And/or at least two grandparents.
21. If a diaper says 8 to 10 pounds, that really is all it will hold.
22. The amount of time one needs to hurry a toddler to the potty is proportionate to the amount of time it takes for them to realize they have to go. And telling you.
23. There's nothing quite like a small herd of children greeting you enthusiastically at the door when you get home.
24. A toddler hug makes anything better.
25. A toddler kiss, ditto.

Their parents returned home from a wonderful trip. Everyone was happily reunited.
And Grandma went back to bed.

19 comments:

  1. That was a well earned nap...I hope it was a good long one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. They are busy little critter, aren't they? :D

    I love #21! lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your grandchildren are your gift for not killing your own kids. And the best part is you send them home to be raised by someone else!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I LOVE THIS!!! May I use it? Grandchildren are your reward for not killing your own kids.... *chortle*

      Delete
  4. Looking back from the distance of many years makes it all seem like much more fun than it was at the time. I remember the days when I had a three year old, a one year old and a newborn. Fun times.

    ReplyDelete
  5. All valuable lessons, especially the bike helmets one.
    So when they got back, were you ready for a vacation of your own?

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's been a while since I've had toddlers about but I remember it was challenging and wonderful at the same time.

    ReplyDelete

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