Thursday, March 4, 2010

Has Anyone Seen The Toilet Paper?









As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Proverbs 27:19

What could have happened to that toilet paper? I was sure that I had just loaded a fresh double roll...Uh oh! I hear fast little footsteps, running, running...then a loud shriek and hysterical giggles and laughter. And this is what I saw. A face so filled with joy that it lit up the whole house. A little girl madly running up and down the length of the house dragging huge lengths of toilet paper. What could I do but smile, melt, and grab the Nikon? She knows that she's not supposed to unroll the toilet paper, and later, I gently reminded her of that. And that's all I did. Her parents think I'm not near strict enough, and maybe that's true. But my parenting days are long behind me. I'm sure I was strict enough back then, but sometime between 50 and 55, the grandparent switch is thrown, and we are different. We wonder how we could have ever been so strict with our kids, and certainly don't have the heart to be so with children now. This is what I tell Ella's parents "I just didn't have the heart". I don't know if it's because life has made me softer, or just tireder, though I suspect it's the first. Many people seem to get much mellower with age. Now tell me, would you have the heart to look at a little face so full of the innocent joy of life, and then put a stop to it? The switch is thrown, and there's no going back. And just between you and me, I wouldn't want to.

...the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10

6 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh the joys of being a Grandmother, Ginny... It's just so much fun... It's turn about-fair play!!!!! We can spoil them rotten and then send them HOME... ha ha

Great post.... Love it!
Hugs,
betsy

MadSnapper said...

I agree about the switch being thrown. when my grandaughter who is now 24 was a toddler, i would let her wash dishes even though i had to clean up the mess later and rewash the dishes, if she spilled her milk on the floor, i sweetly smiled and said don't worry Lissa, we can clean it up and get more. I did NOT do that with my two children when they were small. i think we see with different eyes when we are older, things that really don't matter at all become obvious.

George said...

I think it's wonderful to see a child having fun without needing expensive electronic gadgets. The memory of that happy face will be with you forever.

SquirrelQueen said...

Seeing a child having that much fun with something so simple as toilet paper is a wonderful sight. No electronic or expensive toys are needed to get her imagination going.

Glenda said...

What a fun post! And I know exactly what you mean about the "mellowing"! She's such a cute little girl, and I know she brings much joy to you!

By the way, your kitchen floor looks sparkling clean!!

happily retired gal said...

Adorable photos and fun post ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

The Big Cat

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