Recently I was talking about Mister Rogers and DK, my step-son, had absolutely no idea who I was talking about. I even sang the song….nothing….not a clue. I showed him a YouTube clip of Mister Rogers changing his shoes and sweater, nope. In fact he laughed at how silly I was to have such affection for a man I’ve never met (good thing I didn’t tell him about my affection for Hugh Jackman which is totally inappropriate for a post about grandfathers).
I always wished for a grandfather whose lap I could sit on, a grandfather to tell me funny stories about my parents as children, a grandfather that gave me sweets, or a grandfather that smelled like pipe smoke. Naturally I didn’t know Mister Rogers aside from seeing him on TV, but I loved him, and I believe he would have loved me too. Yuck…wiping weird salty water from my face…and moving on.
Growing up, many of my friends’ grandparents where only a little older than my parents. My parents were more often mistaken as my grandparents rather than my parents. It was painful for my little brother and I, when no one thought we were our parents’ children.
I am so thankful that my boys have wonderful grandfathers. They have real men that can be hugged and who hug them back, who love them and make them feel special.
My dad, in addition to being grandfather to 14, also prides himself on being a real surrogate grandfather to some children from church. I love and resent this at the same time. I feel jealous of the time he spends with them. But more importantly I love that he is giving to these girls what I never had, what I always wished for. I love that they have a grandfather they can hug, who sincerely loves them.
A grandfather is a gift; hug yours if you can. Think of him if you can’t. I will think of my grandfathers, and as always I will think of Mister Rogers.
1 comment:
First, I have the same affection for Hugh Jackman that can't be discussed here.
Second, I was lucky enough to live very close to all my grandparents growing up. Now my kids are a thousand miles away from all their grandparents. I get jealous to because my dad is 'grandpa' to so many who aren't his own grandkids. But i can't complain because through our travels my kids have had some fabulous older men step up and be a grandpa for a season to them. What a wonderful experience for my boys to have so many men across the country care for them.
Third, Salty water attack here too.
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