The Little Neighborhood Boy

A neighbor called yesterday to say that her little boy, who’s going on five, was on his way over to bring me a small coconut shell. They had enjoyed coconut-flavored Island Way Sorbet after lunch, and she told her son that I sometimes use coconut shells as toys for my parrots. (Island Way Sorbet is a delicious frozen treat that comes packaged in nature’s own containers.)

When the little guy arrived, I thanked him for the shell, and we talked a while, as he explored the kitchen. Then, as I knew he would, he asked if he could go to the basement, where I keep some of my grown son’s toys for visiting kids to use. He wanted to select a few Matchbox cars to play with at home. Of course, I told him he could. I was busy in the kitchen, so my husband took him downstairs. And when they came back up, my little buddy showed me the three cars that he was taking home. We talked for a few more minutes and said “good-bye” as he walked toward the door.

But just as I turned back to the sink to finish cleaning vegetables, he ran up behind me, put his arms around my waist and hugged me. Naturally, I turned around and hugged him back. I kissed the top of his head and then walked him to the door. I noticed his darling three-year-old sister coming to meet him in the yard and told them that I’d watch them as they walked home. But before they got more than 20 feet away, the boy ran back and called, “Miss Sandy!” And he blew me a kiss. Now if that isn’t enough to melt your heart, I don’t know what is!

Photo by: Ernst Vikne ©

Title: Yummy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iboy/5442925234/in/pool-childrensportraits

The Little Neighborhood Boy

Babies Are Using Sign Language!

Our 17-month-old granddaughter and her mom visited just after Easter. It had been almost five months since we last saw them, because they live in Georgia. Anyway, at such a young age, five months is a long time, and we marveled at our little darling’s progress. She’d started walking just after their last visit. She dances whenever she hears music. She says a few words, including the toddler’s favorite “NO!” And she’s got teeth!

But the most intriguing thing was that she signs. She actually learned some sign language and uses it to communicate her needs. I find it charming and amazing. I’d read about how babies are being taught sign language, so that they can communicate before they acquire spoken language. But I’d never seen one use it. It’s a fabulous idea, since I remember how frustrated my son would get when he tried repeatedly to tell me something in his version of baby talk that I just couldn’t decipher. Sign language cuts down on that frustration. But it can be hard on grandparents!

When our daughter went out for the evening and left the baby with us, she played for a while before starting to look tired. I held her and tried to give her a bottle. But she sat up and ran her hand across her chest, which she learned as the sign for “please”. As she did it, she looked at me and said, “Momma? Pease”. She was asking for her mom and adding “please”, hoping that I’d somehow make her mom appear. When her mom didn’t show up, she repeated herself a few times and started to curl her lower lip. It killed me, because I couldn’t produce her mom, and she didn’t understand why. I walked around with her, rubbing her back, until she fell asleep on my shoulder. Sign language is great for babies, but now I’m the one who’s frustrated, having to tell her that I can’t give her what she's asking for.

Babies Are Using Sign Language!

The Sweetest Little Guy

We’re lucky to have wonderful neighbors who have two darling kids, a boy who’ll be four soon and a two-year-old girl. Well, the little guy was in the yard today, observing our dog, who was pulling at her lead, wanting to play with him. So I went outside, let the dog loose and struck up a conversation. He asks a million questions. Today, one of them was, “If you sat on our deck steps forever, what would happen?” I told him I’d turn green with mold, so he started asking about the mold. His questions remind me of the ones my son used to ask . . . constantly.

Anyway, he asked me if there were any toys in our house, and I told him that some of my son’s trucks were in the basement for when kids visit. Naturally, he wanted to see them, so I took him down to our basement, where he fell in love with one of the Tonka front end loaders. He asked if he could maybe take it home for a few days. I told him he could.

Well, he was thrilled when he got the truck back on their deck and couldn't wait to play with it. Then this little boy, who hasn’t been very affectionate in front of me, blew me a kiss and said, “If I had a net, I’d put it over the railing and catch you and take you in my house, to play with me forever.” Now he owns my heart!

The Sweetest Little Guy