Heart-Warming Moments

It is no secret that Papaw and his grandchildren have a special bond.  It began with Landon, has continued through Cooper, then Tessa, then Owen, and finally Lynnlee.

Owen and Papaw spent a lot of time together this past summer, especially during the weeks preceding the Carroll County Fair as the Yaggie family worked with the goats and pigs in preparation for Landon's first year of showing livestock.  Then during fair week, it was much easier if Owen stayed with Papaw during the busy show days so Hilary and Blaine didn't have to keep an eye on him and focus on Landon's first year of actually being a 4-H member and showing his own pigs and goats.  

Although the idea was for Owen to stay with Papaw because it was better for him and for them, the reverse was an even better reason.  Owen needed to be with Papaw to help him cope with not being at the fair to help and to witness his first grandson's actual experiences in the 4-H judging activities.  It was hard for Papaw to stay at home; however, having Owen with him and as another focus was therapeutic for him.  

Recently with Owen spending a half day at the Rossville pre-school, five mornings a week, his time with us has been limited.  He comes and goes with his mommy, and evenings when the other kids are with him, it is just that, the other kids are with him and everyone is busy or coming and going and he is blending in with everyone else.   The Owen/Papaw time that was so special has evaporated.

Yesterday Blaine and Hilary helped with Landon's fall party in his classroom after the Halloween Costume Parade.  Owen was not happy that he wasn't walking with his pre-school teachers and some of his friends at the beginning of the parade line-up, and he didn't understand that since he isn't in the afternoon class, he wasn't part of that group yesterday.  He was a spectator with his mommy and daddy and me.

After the parade ended, Hilary and Blaine settled him into the carseat in the Escape. He and I made our way back to our house for a few hours until his folks and siblings could pick him up after school.

Despite my singing along loudly with Queen on "We Are the Champions," Owen stayed asleep in his carseat all of the way home.  He was cutting them off and didn't notice that I stopped at the mailbox at the end of the lane to check for mail.  He didn't notice that I pulled up to the house and opened the garage door.  He didn't notice that I unbuckled and unspapped the closures on his carseat and pulled him out.  He didn't notice that Papaw was waiting for him at the door from the garage to the house.  He didn't notice when Papaw settled into the recliner;  he just snuggled into Papaw's shoulder and snoozed.

Owen slept that way for a good hour or more.  He was wearing his Buzz Lightyear costume (from Toy Story) and his coat.    He was wearing his outdoor shoes and hadn't changed into the indoor shoes he wears with his leg braces in the house.

As I sat in the other recliner watching him, Papaw was smiling.  He said this was the best.  He had missed those moments with Owen.  Through the summer he had grown up just a little bit and didn't like to sit still on Papaw's lap and snuggle himself into a nap.  Instead they had been stretching out on the bed in the master bedroom and he would eventually fall asleep.  

Memories are made of those special moments.  Even more important, bonds are strengthened by those special moments.  Years from now Owen will remember snuggling with Papaw in the recliner.  He will remember Papaw being there to catch him when he jumps off the steps of the school bus after pre-school.  He will remember that when he comes in the house, he heads straight to the pantry and he knows where the good snacks are located.  He knows that the fridge will have applesauce pouches and string cheese and there will always be juice.

Why do the kids have to grow up?  Why do these moments have to change? Part of life?  We wouldn't want them to really be little for 20 years solid, would we?  

But for now.....cherishing those heart-warming moments.  Each and every day.

And one of my own.....watching Cooper sitting at the island the other night with his bowl of chicken and noodles and hearing him say, "Mamaw....this is really good.  I like the chicken and noodles."   High praise coming from a 6-year-old who is a picky eater!