Through the Eyes of Children

Do you ever wonder how our children learn what to say and do in there lives? I feel they are always watching and listening and learning from the people they are around.
My grandchildren have been a huge part of my life and I pray they are picking up some of the lessons I have tried to teach them. This is a little story I have written about some of the life lessons we all need in our lives.

Through the Eyes of Children

My four-year-old excited granddaughter, Sophia, pulled me into her preschool class announcing, “Mrs. Bowman come quick and meet my grandma”. She had a sunny expression on her face and her two blonde ponytails bounced in the air as she jumped around. As the teacher approached, Sophia shouted aloud, “ This is my GRANDMA and she is all fired up!” Suddenly the teacher and I looked at each other with a puzzled look on our faces not understanding what she was talking about. I looked down at her little hand in mine and noticed she was looking at the burn scars I had on my arms. My husband and I had been burned up literally five years prior in a motor home accident and that is how she was introducing me to her teacher. I explained it to Mrs. Bowman, and I stood in pride of my granddaughter being proud of the difference in me.
I have four other grandchildren and they all look at our burn scars differently. They do not know us any other way. Our youngest granddaughter, Isabella, is the apple of her grandpa’s eye and baby, Mason, is rocked to sleep in the rocker that rocked his mother. One day we were all eating Sunday dinner together and our oldest grandson was sitting next to his grandpa. He was quiet as he put his hand on top of his granddad’s hand, which had four fingers, amputated from the fire. Sebastian had a serious look on his face and said, “Grandpa if you would take a nap everyday your fingers would grow back”. It was such a loving thought, and, of course, we all wished that were possible.
Our complete family totaling eleven moved together on a ranch five years ago, and I have been able to be with three of the grandchildren almost daily their entire life. With three generations living together, we are able to help each other and learn the old and new ways of life. I believe it is every mother and grandmother’s dream come true.
I did not know my grandparents, and my parents passed away when I was very young.
I had no role models to follow, but I knew what kind of parent and grandparent I wanted to be. Having the joy of the Lord in my life was my direction, so our days are filled with fun and laughter and song.
Because we have differences with our scars, I have tried to teach my grandchildren how to handle disfigurements or handicaps of any kind. I am always proud when they just go up to the person and treat them like they would anyone else, instead of standing back and starring or making a comment.
One day five year old Giovanna, and I went to lunch at Wendy’s. There was an obese woman that came and sat at the table beside us. As she passed by she noticed my pretty little granddaughter and said “”Hello”. Giovanna pressed close to me and did not answer.
I told her it was all right but also brought to her attention how pretty the lady was and that she had brilliant blue eyes. We must always look for the good in people I told her. Before I knew it she turned around at the table and looked at the lady and said, “ you have beautiful blue eyes”. The lady smiled and I noticed her whole countenance changed, and so did my granddaughter’s. As we left we talked about the warm fuzzy feeling she had inside because she treated someone that had a difference very special.
I can go on forever telling little stories, but the most wonderful thing in the world is being a grandparent. To hear each one call out each day, “GRANDMA”, as if they had not seen me for weeks. They always want to be with me, playing hide in seek in the tall mustard grass, and swimming in the pond on a warm sunny day. We ride up the mountain singing “You are my Sunshine” and at the end of the day they say “Grandma I Love You”. Life cannot be more wonderful.