Friday, October 2, 2009



My grandson Dylan's days are filled with "my buds". These are all the people who've become familiar to him over the past 3 1/2 years we've been out walking. There's Bob-the-little-gray-guy...he collects our regular garbage every week in the gray can. And Roger the mail man. John, a warehouseman at a plumbing supply company a few blocks away whom we've befriended as we pass by. All the men who work at a radiator supply store we walk by almost daily. The UPS delivery man. The checkers at the Save A Lot store. The librarians. The people who work at Walgreen's and Little Caesar's Pizza, the neighborhood bakery, and the Subway down the street. The postal workers at the front counter at the post office.

I love how getting out has created a sense of community for my grandchildren, even tho we live in a large city. I love how they wave at and greet everyone we come across. In this world full of Stranger Danger, I don't want them to be fearful of everyone they come in contact with because not everyone out there is waiting to do them harm. Race and religion don't even enter in to it for them...everyone gets a wave and a cheerful "Hi!!!" And rarely does anyone ever ignore them. Even teenagers.

I teach them caution. I tell them never to wander off, to stay with Grandma. But they feel secure in knowing when they're with me all's pretty much well with their world. And hopefully it will stay that way. Because, in all actuality, this world is still a decent place to be in. Most of the time.

6 comments:

Wander to the Wayside said...

Unfortunately, our area is rural enough that we don't run into many people when we go for a walk, and being in a little subdivision finds most people at work. That's great that you have a place like that to walk, and it is hard to instill 'be alert and cautious' with 'be friendly and polite'. A fine line to walk, and I'm also always telling the boys that as long as we're with them all is well.

We had an incident recently that brought this home. We were at walgreen's and I had to go to the bathroom, which was in a little hallway off the main store, with storage on one side and the bathrooms on the other, and an exit door inbetween. Being almost seven, he wanted to go in the men's bathroom, but I had to 'go' immediately. I told him that if he got done before me, he was to stand right up against the ladies room door. I used the occasion to tell him that if he was ever grabbed at a store like this, if someone had grabbed his arm and tried to pull him toward that exit or storage room, or if they grabbed him while I was in the bathroom and said that his grandmother wanted them to bring him to her, he was to yell FIRE as loud as he could, and "I'm not with him! Fire! Fire!" We also practiced (without yelling at the top of his lungs!), which gave him an example of what he could do, so that I knew he was listening to what I was saying!

Good post idea.

Betty W said...

I agree. It´s good to teach kids what can harm them, but it´s also great that you are teaching them to first see the good in people. And people are good, like you said, most of the time.

Liz Hinds said...

Hello, just catching up! You're right: life is crazy.

Mary Q said...

That's so cool, Kris! I was blown away by all the various people in their various capacities that you three regular come into contact with. That's GREAT socialization for the boys while remaining in their safe-with-Grandma environment.

4evergapeach said...

Just trying to catch up, I've been absent for a while.
Glad to hear your times with your grandsons are still such a joy in your life. Yes, the world these days can be dangerous, but like you I believe there is still much good. Good that we want to teach our children and grandchildren. It can be difficult at times because we want to protect them but not isolate them. Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job!

~mel said...

I just think your little grandloves are the luckiest ~ to have such a loving G'ma as you in their lives; along with all the friends that they have been introduced to through you. You're the greatest Kris! Hugs to you and your little buds too.