For the last four days I have been given a very clear view -and a better understanding of- this old Irish blessing: Children are the rainbow of life . Grandchildren are the pot of gold.
The rainbow was represented by sons, daughters and sons-in-law. The gold shined in four grand kids that capered and clashed all over a large, rented beach house on Sail Bay in San Diego. These precious little nuggets were very busy pin balling between toys and treats, crying and coloring, dancing and diaper changes.
The real treat for this old man was to watch the early manifestations of very complex ideas….tewamwork, sharing, justice and FairPlay were all being developed before my eyes. What was fully developed in each of them was humor…they instinctively knew how to tell a good joke, how to make someone laugh. As the older grandson was busy wrestling with me, pillows were launched at my head from the others . They attacked with artillery and they attacked Mano a Mano. I didn’t stand a chance.
Some of the kids fell into deep discussions with the nearest adult and they asked wonderful questions on subjects from genealogy (you had a grandma?) to sports (what is an RPO?) to biology (where are the lizards?). Invitations were many… wanna play my word game? Wanna color? Wanna play catch? I really wanna!
The four little ones were locked in with people who doted on them. At two amusement parks enough stuffed animals were won to create a fluffy menagerie. Ice cream, cake, cookies, snacks were consumed at a very high rate.
Nothing in life can be so dire that a grandchild can’t make it better. When a seven year old wants to play catch, a five year old wants to cuddle and pair of three year olds want to show you their new dance routine all is right with the world. When a three year old walks up and announces , “I fell and hurt my booty” it’s hard not to smile and feel that all will be well, after all.
The second generation -the parents- make you happy too. It does your heart good to rediscover what successful people, good parents and interesting people they have become since they asked the questions and fell 0n their booties. Wonderful.
These four days make me want to agree with the philosopher George Santayana… ” the family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
Pure gold.
Olio Folio 
A beautiful account of a joyous moment in time. Reading this was a helpful stopping point in my day, to remember we are the lucky ones…and that sometimes you fall and hurt your booty, but be sure you have someone in your life you can tell.
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Like I’ve said for the last 30 years, grandchildren make parenthood worth it. 🙂
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