I spent a few days with my three grandchildren, Brady, Eva and Young Jackson James, over the past week. Brady and my conversations focused on college, basketball, and living away from home. Things are going well for him. I truly enjoyed our discussions.
Eva and I talked about her school schedule, classes she plans to take next year, and possible career options. She’s contemplating a career as a pediatric nurse. That’s a lofty goal for a sixteen-year-old.
Two-year- nine-month-old Jackson James focused on Batman, Spiderman, and a character I’ve never heard of – Groot. Groot is a fictitious tree-like character who takes on a series of adventures. He’s a part of the Marvel Comics Guardians of the Galaxy phenomenon. Jackson’s verbal skills are outstanding. I think he speaks in complete sentences because that’s how his parents speak. There’s no “baby talk” in his house.
All three were open to sharing their lives and we had wonderful conversations. I loved every second. Not everything in their lives is perfect, but I never heard a discouraging word. They’re living life and enjoying each moment. That’s all anyone can ask.
During some of our conversations, we offered up a bit of advice to one another. Jackson embraced Brady’s “Don’t pick your nose” suggestion and shared it with his maternal grandfather. He affirmed his advice by saying, “Brady said, don’t pick your nose.” He proved that even the youngest amongst us is able to gain new knowledge and share it with others.
Eva had the most for me. That may be because I was looking for a female point of view. I’ve always said that I understand how males think but struggle sometimes with the female perspective. She has one and was willing to share.
I’ve discovered that I appreciate having someone to talk things through. I took that for granted when Ruth was here. Verbalizing your thoughts helps bring clarity.
There’s an old saying, “With age, comes wisdom”. I ran across this picture a couple of months ago and thought the message was funny, so I saved it. A more accurate statement might be, “with experience, comes wisdom”.
I think we get the best advice from people who love us. They have our best interest at heart. The same holds true when we offer ours. We want only the best for the people we love. And while age and experience may help improve the content of the message, an honest opinion, straight from the heart is always best.