Intergenerational Sharing was right at
my fingertips!
by Kathryn Urick
Published July 198?
Vital Connections
The Newsletter of the
Foundation for Grandparenting
While caring for several small children recently, I enjoyed a special conversation with a delightful little four-year-old named Matthew. I felt it would be quality material for this column.
The other children were playing with different toys but Matthew stayed beside me and we colored in a picture book. I surmised he hadn’t joined the others because I had queried him about his grandparents; he wanted to talk more. Our conversation went something like this:
K: I’m glad you’re helping me color this picture, Matthew. Shall we color these leaves green?”
Now, I don’t insist that boys are my favorite people, but when put to the real test I’ll admit they are. Besides, Matthew’s hair was dark and curly; I was reminded of my boys at the age of four. I guess I have to admit that I LIKE BOYS. Our conversation and coloring continued:
K: “Do you have a grandma, Matthew?”
M: “Yes, and a
grandpa too. They live in
K: “How wonderful – do you see them often?”
M: “I just saw my grandpa yesterday and helped him hunt something upstairs. Know what we were hunting? His marbles. He played marbles when he was little like me.”
I was delighted! Here was a child whose
creative mind had not yet been impoverished by button-pushing machines, which,
for some un-known reason, children are supposed to master an early age.
THIS LITTLE BOY HAD ATUALLY PLAYED MARBLES WITH HIS GRANDPA.
Playing marbles always required quite a skill – you had to be able to “knuckle down’ (or something like that). Then you could always win more marbles. Matthew said they played on the rug. My boys did too – ion the wintertime we made a big ring on the rug with chalk. I’m convinced this skill surpasses by far anything a computer button can teach. Matthew had more to say:
“See my fingers are sore.”
Then his mother came for him. I was so sorry he had to go, but I knew I
would never for get his sparkling eyes and contagious smile. After-ward, I kept thinking about
Matthew. I JUST KNEW HE WOULD BECOME THE
CHAMPION MARBLE PLAYER OF
Does anyone ever wonder what is happing to children’s play?
Grandpas and Grandmas could fix things in a minute!
From a Father’s Day Card:
“Dear Grandpa: We are sending you this card because you are our Dad’s dad and because you let us stay up late and because you give us cookies and because you don’t yell, so we are going to move in with you.”