TEARS & JOY

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Yesterday my barely nine-year-old grandson Jayden decided he wanted to go swimming at Grandma and Grandpa’s so he thought he would sway his mother by cleaning the house while she was at work. He did a very good job and spent a lot of time at it. I got there a little before Stacey did and Jayden was still working. He was a little fearful that his mom might still say no since they swam just the day before but he was hopeful. When Stacey got home, Corey told her what Jayden had done and of course she was very pleased. When she talked to Jayden about it though, she said something that he mistook for a “No”. He welled up in tears. He and his mother were wiping away his tears and I was wiping away mine. Of course they came and swam. On a lighter side; while Jayden and Corey were in our bathroom putting on their suits, Jayden noticed my suit in there also. He exclaimed, “Is that Grandpa’s suit?” and fearing I might walk in and change while they were still in there, he said, “I don’t want to see an old man’s private parts!” I guess Corey said something humorous for Jayden then said something to the effect of, “Why would a young kid want to see an old man’s private parts?” They have been here swimming a lot in the last couple of weeks and both Jayden and Bailey have gotten to be good swimmers even swimming down ten feet to the bottom of the deep end, to retrieve diving sticks. Bailey finally realized just last night that she can really swim, and took off like a fish. Before that she would dive off the board but head right for the stairs nearby. Now she is totally carefree. The four of them got snorkel gear a week or two ago and have been practicing for when they are on Disney’s Island on our cruise at the end of September and first of October.