Changes Still

     Thanks to those who write for the Two Writing Teachers blog, we have the Tuesday Slice of Life Sharing.
     Since I last wrote two weeks ago, school has ended, my daughter and family are still with me, (although it may be the final night), I've been to Texas to stay with a grandson to help out while he recuperated from a baseball hit to the eye, and now I'm on my way tomorrow to the All-Write Conference in Warsaw Indiana. When I return, I'll have five days, and my daughter, two grand-daughters, and that same grandson are taking a road trip to Mid-Missouri to visit my brother and family, back on the 2nd. June will be over... Wow!  So, what have I learned anew in these days since I said goodbye to school? (Pictures were posted on FB, but wanted to share again.) 

Saying goodbye last Sunday.

Playing soccer with their Papa.

• Living with a 5 and an almost 3 year old takes almost all the time one has. I'm sure I once knew this, but had forgotten, although these girls have stayed with me in earlier occasions.
• Dinner-preparing, eating, cleaning up-takes a longer time than it does with one person.
• It's much more fun to walk to get the mail with two young girls.
• Bedtime is busy with baths, books, giggles, smiles, and sometimes tears. Long days make for tired little bodies.
• It is a joy to watch the girls play together, pretending stories they seem to know with an innate power and energy. 
• Being with an 'almost' thirteen year old, especially since he couldn't read or play games that required close work, is fun, but requires some creativity, like 'mind' games (20 questions, ABC games, etc.) OR audio books, which saved the day, but gave me less to do. Energy spent here was more in the mind than action.
• It was a joy to see my grandson's courage when he had more questions to answer and more examinations to experience, then more pills and eye drops. He followed all the orders, and was rewarded with improvement. Still, it takes perseverance that isn't always easy. He learned again that he can do hard things.
• I love watching both my own children as parents. They use patience and kindness even when tired from a long day, worried because of an accident that happened,  or wondering when they might grab a few moments for themselves. They are good people, something I'm not sure I had as an original goal as a parent, but now that's what I'm most proud of. 

                 See you on twitter from Indiana! @LBaie