More About Grandparents
by Kathryn Urick
Published
Vital Connections
The Newsletter of the Foundation for Grandparenting
While writing this column, it occurred to me that National Grandparent Day had come and gone. It is my sincere hope that grandparents everywhere were remembered, recognized and honored by those that thy love ad who love them. There WAS good coverage in the news media, “Grandparents, I hope you accepted your pats on the back gracefully. I hope you took your bows – IT WAS YOUR DAY!”
On Christmas 1984, a calendar (which is very special) was
given me by a friend in
“this calendar is dedicated to my grandmother, Laura E. Staudt, who taught me to love an appreciate all the ‘everyday’ things life has to offer – homemade pickles, snapping green beans, gathering eggs, blueberry picking, the small of fresh baked bread, quilts, molasses cookies …. She also taught me how to ‘doggie Paddle,’ the joy that comes from planting a garden, the comfort that comes from a wood cook stove, the Sunday funnies and a big rocking chair in the kitchen, the satisfaction that comes from work well-done; the beauty of violets.
“When I was a child I believed she was rich beyond measure – she had a clawfoot bathtub, an apple orchard, a hay loft, a porch-glider, a swing, holly hocks, a rhubarb patch, chicken coops, a pond for catching polly-wogs, a cow barn and a bed for me tucked under the eaves. I still believe she’s rich beyond measure.
“She let me use her sewing machine to make doll clothes, and punched holes in a jar lid so I could catch lightening bugs. She let me stay up late so I could see the new calf being born – and then she tucked me in and wound her music box for me. She gave me an absolute faith in God.
“This lovely woman made me feel that I was a special, very important person. Thank you, Grandma.”
Laura J. Conley
In our mobile society of today, too many children don’t have grandparents living near enough to them to consistently enjoy very many of the good times experienced by Laura J. Conley.