When I was growing up, my parents both worked; obviously my mom took some time off initially but after four months she was back at it. Originally she attempted to find me a babysitter that could take perfect care of me but her search seemed hopeless, no babysitter would reach the outrageous expectations that my mother had set. After a tiresome search and no results she resorted to asking my grandparents who conveniently lived around the block from us.
And of course they said yes. It started with my mom working part-time and then the rest of the week my grandpa would take care of me until my mom would get off work. Since he was still working full-time at his beloved job he used all of his vacation time that he had accumulated over the years to be able to watch me. Once he had used up all of his vacation time he retired and took a full-time job as my personal babysitter.
I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect upbringing and I can accredit a lot of it to my grandfather. He is so wise, I'm talking like reads the encyclopedia in his free time and yells out the answer in jeopardy before the whole question is even on the screen wise. He dabbles in four languages and is definitely smarter than a 5th grader. His heart is so immense and he is the sweetest man known to mankind. So sweet that any time it was time for a nap he would hold me over his shoulder and pat me on the back until I fell asleep and then once I had been out for awhile he would put me down in my crib only to have me cry seconds later, he would instantly pick me back up and carry me until nap time was over.
Picture this: My mom would come home from work only to find my grandpa passed out on the couch and me directly asleep on his shoulder, holding me tight. She would tell my grandpa that he had to put me down or I would know that when I cry that I would get picked up but he never did worry about any of those habits emerging he would carry me nonetheless.
On our more active days we would play games together. Somehow miraculously I always won. My favorite game was hands down pretty princess because I would always get to put jewelry on my grandpa and myself but he never seemed to mind. One time he forgot that I had given him an ultra cute look to attend Whole Foods. He was sporting clip on dangling earrings and some pigtails with the small amount of white hair he had left. When he saw himself in the reflection on his way out of the store he couldn't help but just giggle to himself and think just another day with my granddaughter. That was my grandpa’s attitude about everything when it came to me, I could do no wrong.
He watched singalongs with me, played games with me and most importantly he napped with me; now that’s true love. I couldn't thank him enough for my childhood he was able to give me and although we moved in kindergarten that wouldn't keep him away. Oh no not at all, lets just say my grandparents currently live 10 houses down on the left, and I couldn't be more grateful.
