Simply Balisha

Simply Balisha

Friday, August 15, 2014

August 15...a Special Day

Well, here it is August 15, 2014 and my grandson Tyler is 19 yrs old today. Tyler is the first one on the lower left. Seeing him in this picture takes me back several years, when he was born. Our kids were having a baby and it was to be a boy. We already had two little grand daughter's, so this was something new. I remember the day, like it was yesterday. We got the word that he was here and we left for the hospital. Visiting a new born in the hospital was new to us, as there had never been visitors allowed on the maternity floor before. We had a gift, balloons, and proud grandparents were presented with grandparent badges. I still have mine. I'm still a proud grandma as the badge says.
Little did I know what wonder this little guy would bring. When I heard that Tyler would be left in the First Card nursery day care, while Karen and John worked there...it didn't take but a minute for me to say that I'd like to take care of him. So, every morning, they would come to my door with this little bundle of joy. We had so much fun in those five years. A calm came over me that had never happened before. He taught me patience, a curiosity of nature, and how it felt to be loved by a grandchild. His little brother, Collin, came along a couple of years later and he came to grandma and grandpa's too. Two special little grandsons. Their grandpa would come home for lunch, just to be able to help out and see them and have lunch together. Neighbors would stop in to just watch the goings on in my house...sometimes holding a baby while I took care of another one.  I thought as long as I was caring for these two...maybe I could help some mom's out in my community and I took on a few more little ones. They were all under the age of five....two newborns at one time.  Our house was a rollicking fun place to be in those years. Days of animal crackers, Disney, Blue's Clues, Teletubbies, diaper changing...oh many, many diapers, potty training, we all got colds together, walks like a caravan to the park, nature hikes along the alleyway, little pebbles in pockets, bugs, jello jigglers, mac and cheese, juice boxes, and baby bottles. I had a twin stroller, where I put two little guys, Collin in a carrier on my back and a couple little ones walking by the stroller. 
I had the patience of a Saint....I can proudly say that I never raised my voice, you have to remember most of them were babies. Tyler taught me that patience from the very first time I took care of him. I looked at his little face and melted.
I sometimes miss those days of child care...but I know that I couldn't do that anymore. It was a lot of work, but so much fun. I developed a sweet relationship with my grandsons.

Tyler to me was a wonderful little boy....he's still wonderful.
Love you Tyler...Grandma

Tyler has been in the group Project Two since Jr. High School. They have grown into a very popular singing group...maturing as the years have gone by. They are college kids now, but still get together every chance they get to put on a show. 

7 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to your handsome grandson, Tyler. How wonderful to have kept your grandsons during those years and to help out other moms with caring for their children. Very rewarding and appreciated I am sure.
    Wishing you a blessed weekend. Love, Mildred

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    1. When I took on this job....moms who worked in our little town soon heard about this and called to see if i could take their child. I was close by their jobs and being in a small town, everyone knew me. I just put myself in their place...needing to work and leaving a precious baby at a strange place.It must have been heart wrenching for them.

      Tyler is a good person. He has lots of friends and is very kind. He's in college and wants to go into fire protection but getting college done first.

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  2. I love(d) caring for the grand babies. The wonderful smell of their little neck folds. The first recognition smile. The cooing--all of it. I miss that so much!!! I have always loved having babies around--probably why I had three in four years, of my own? :-) Sounds like Tyler is a wonderful young man. My grands have turned out as great young adults too. Praise God!!!

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    1. Joe said just the other day that he doesn't believe that it takes a village to raise a child. The parents should raise them.
      I have another opinion on that...I say it does take a village...grand parents, teachers, Church, neighbors...anyone who helps in raising them. The parents are the most important, but not all kids come from homes with good parents. All the babies I took care of, came from loving homes. I was just there at the right time for them.

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  3. You are a saint! I couldn't do that in a million years.

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    1. I wasn't sure that I could do it, but once I just forgot about my house and other duties when they were there...and just concentrated on giving these babies the best care I could, it was easy. I learned so much from taking care of them...I have to bite my tongue now, with our great grands....and not offer too much advice :)

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  4. Happy Birthday and Balisha what a great post / you sure did have your hands full! :) Happy Hands :)

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