BY MARIA LUISA SALCINES
My son and his wife left on a much-needed vacation, leaving our grandsons with us for a week.
I love having the boys over, and I’m blessed that their parents have done an amazing job with them.
These boys say thank you and give hugs without hesitation. Spending time with them is a pleasure and reminds me of when I was raising my sons.
Those of you who have boys know they are full of energy and love to eat. Before they arrived, I prepared myself. I stocked up on milk, munchies and cooked enough food for a battalion.
The boys make me laugh. When I am cooking they love to sit on the kitchen stools and talk to me about everything and nothing in particular.
They often begin their sentences with, “Abuela did you know …”
This week I learned that when you have a brain freeze to place your tongue on the top of the rook of your mouth so that it goes away.
The boys are always watching science videos on YouTube and love doing experiments. They showed me that if you place a glass of water in front of a picture with arrows pointing one way they will look as if they are pointing in the opposite direction after you look though the glass. This is because water acts as a mirror.
They taught me how to make mini paper airplanes with a Q-tip and scraps of paper.
The most interesting thing I learned this week, however, is a move called dabbing, which celebrities and athletes have made popular. Dabbing is when you point one arm upward toward the sky while having your head in your other arm.
There is the correct way to do this and the not so cool way grandparents do it. Every time I try dabbing the boys can’t contain their laughter.
The earnest lesson I get from them keeps me from learning how to master this move. They are intent on teaching Abuelo and Abuela how to do this.
It’s not until you are done with that stage in your life that you realize how much work is required in raising children. Getting up every morning at 6:15 a.m. had me a bit frazzled.
The craziest thing I did this week was trying to batter okra with powdered sugar. The two jars sit side by side in my pantry and I grabbed the wrong one.
I couldn’t figure out why the batter was so sticky and looked weird, but after I served my okra I heard the best compliments.
“Abuela these are great. Can I have more? You need to teach my mom how to make this.”
When I took a bite of my okra I was in heaven, too. From now on I am frying okra with powdered sugar! Try it, it’s amazing.
Maria Luisa Salcines is a freelance writer, and certified parent educator with The International Network for Children and Families in Redirecting Children’s Behavior and Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom. Follow her on Twitter @PowerOfFamily or on Instagram at mlsalcines.
You can also contact her on her blog FamilyLifeand FindingHappy.com.
