THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: grandchildren


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Limber test

In reflecting on yesterday I realized that I use a lot of different muscles and get into a lot of different positions than I normally do when watching my grandchildren. I’m up and down off the floor, bending over more, lifting more. Not to mention being far more attentive than when it’s just my better half and me.

This is actually good for me because keeping agility in your senior years is important. Keeping strength is also key.

But the mental exercise you get interacting with children is invaluable in my opinion. Seeing the joy and innocence of a 0–2-year-old. Watching them crawl and then learning to walk. The sounds and reactions turn into words. The learning experience and cunningness of a 2–5-year-old. Their inventiveness. The expressions and honesty of every action or interaction.

Which made me think of my almost 4-year-old grandson who was getting tired yesterday after playing hard. He’s in his room and I’m watching him and he starts to walk backwards and into an open door. Hits his head and says “owe” and comes over to me and says it hurts Papa and asks how it happened. Trying hard not to laugh, I said you were walking backwards and I guess you had the eyes in the back of your head closed.

He says I don’t have eyes back there. I opened my mouth wide and then asked, why are you walking backwards then. He paused and then laughed but still rubbed his head so I put him in my lap and asked where it was and inspected it and said we might have to operate. He jumps up and says no. I said OKAY we will wait till daddy gets home for a second opinion.

He paused for a few minutes while I rubbed his head more and then slowly turned and in a pitiful voice said “can I have a chocolate covered pretzel” that I got him from the beach candy store. He’s the master negotiator recently.

This is a special time as a grandparent. Just like my own children the time passes fast and then they are adults. I’m going to soak up all that unconditional love and smile at every moment even when it’s tough to get up from the floor for the 50th time that day. I’ll relish the ability to make funny faces and sounds in public as much as I want to entice the smile and laughter of my 1-year-old granddaughter.

I’ll make truck noises and ignore the pain in my knees from crawling on all 4s. And I’ll hold them as much as they want for as long as they want despite the discomfort I will have later. I’ll run through a sprinkler with them or spend half a day on tractor rides.

I might grunt and complain when I get home. There are challenges each time because kids are kids and need direction. And we try to reinforce what their parents want. And respect their wishes.

Did I sneak him a few jellybeans yesterday, you bet I did. I’m Papa

A young girl wearing a pink jersey smiles and cheers enthusiastically at a baseball game, while sitting on the shoulders of an adult. The stadium has bright lights and a scoreboard in the background, displaying game information.
It’s not the size of the fan it’s the size of the spirit in the fan. Photo by Mike Hartley


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Sunday smile

I woke this morning with the thought of my grandchildren. They are a lot of fun and a source of many smiles. Be it a picture from their parents, or Facetime call. And best of all, the times we get to watch them ourselves, or be together as a family.

We just had a great stretch of time with them this past week. I think, I only have one opportunity this coming week, so I’ll have to stay in touch other ways. I’ve been sending my granddaughter cards every so often, so I’ll get one ready in the mail to send off tomorrow.

A third is on it’s way soon. I’ll have to get a new shot of all of them hand in hand. Photo by Mike Hartley

My grandson loves my tractor and wants to get on it or see it each time he comes over. I’ll have to make that a priority this month on the first warm day and get a battery and see if it will fire up for it’s 27th year, I believe.

I wonder how much of an opportunity I’ll have with the grandkids as they grow up. I’ll have to find ways to stay connected. I’ve got to lower that basketball hoop in my driveway because the granddaughter is old enough to shoot at it.

I’m just thankful they live close enough to be in contact and help out when needed.

Sports

Another day of exciting college basketball. But the blockbuster I woke to this morning, was the Lakers and Mavericks swapping star players. AD for Luka. Amazing what happens behind closed doors. It kind of makes sense for both teams. Just that nobody saw it coming.

It it my belief that online gambling will not only destroy many lives but it will destroy some sports. Every address in this country has part of Vegas in their yard or home. And if it’s easier than walking into a casino with cash and I believe it’s also easier to continue betting longer than you would at a table or machine.

The stats I read on it are staggering to me. These online services have appealed to a huge group of people who use them actively. It is my goal to never download one of those. I’ve gambled on sports. A friendly bet with my son each week during football season so we can stay in touch more. Or one on our rivalry with the Orioles and Yankees. I might play an office pool for March Madness. And if I lose money its to family and friends, no Casino taking their cut or the winnings.

6 Days and 17 hours till Spring Training.

Chiefs and Eagles – Going with Andy Reid’s experience.

Random Thoughts of the Morning

  • Hope to exceed yesterdays exercise effort. And I set the bar high, to start the month off right.
  • That is some bone chilling cold out there this morning.
  • As the quote on the top of my To Do List says – Make the rest of your life, the best of your life.
  • Looks like it could be a beautiful sunrise this morning.


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Sometimes

Sometimes life isn’t so tough.

My backyard is a daily favorite for these two and their mom. Photo by Mike Hartley

And sometimes it is. I won’t show the shot of the many deer on the highways. We keep growing into wildlife habitats and complaining they are in the way.

Anyway, back to us human beings. In looking at these young deer I’m thinking of my granddaughter starting kindergarten this year. That is going to take away our Fridays together. I don’t think she has fully realized this yet.

I’m sure she will adapt fine to it with some of her current classmates coming along to her new school. She seems to have no problems making friends. I worry about adapting to this. This past Friday was so special. We measured her height, made a new mark on the doorframe, and dated it. We went to the snowball stand, tickled, had a tea party, a drawing session and just played.

As she was leaving she pointed to my car and said I want to ride in that one. I had to explain that it was only a 2 seat car and she couldn’t ride till she was big enough for a regular seat and seatbelt. But I’ll check with her mom to see if its okay to ride her in the driveway. That’s the first time she’s asked about that and I can’t wait to take her for a ride in the Miata someday. And at the same time, I don’t want her to grow up too fast.

Life is about change. And change is hard sometimes. I’ll adapt to this one but that dedicated time we had together will be hard to replace.

Yesterday I realized my age and body weren’t what my mind was telling me. I’m having to take more breaks between the heavy yard work. This coming week will be a test as the really warm weather returns.

Have a good morning all.


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Made me think

I captured this image on the deck at Fagers Island Restaurant on the deck in Ocean City. I almost went right by it with that brutal sun in the middle of it but I started looking more closely. I thought of all the things people might interpret from a shot like this.

Photo by Mike Hartley

I purposely left the two cups in front of each of them because each of them was with someone so they were not alone. I could have easily cropped out the second drink in front of them. But the shot somehow conveys that to me with them back to back and no visible partner even with the glasses in front of them.

I remember now how my mother would sometimes say when I would ask what she was having, “Oh, I don’t know, it’s not much fun eating alone.” And we always lived nearby and would eat with her as often as we could. But I certainly understood her feelings. I could really see it with all the people that are in independent or assisted living. I would go several times a week and she would point out the ones that were always alone with nobody visiting. And it was no small percentage.

Being a senior I’m sometimes at restaurants where I see individual diners. I might have to draw up the courage to see if some of them want to join us in the future. There is a lot of loneliness in the world. That is not a good thing. Families have been too splintered.

Remember, smile at someone you don’t know. It might make their day or change their spirits. Offer a kind word to someone, hold a door for someone, and say I hope have a nice day as you check out at the register and a thank you for your waitress.

A Day with My Grandson

Yesterday I got to spend the day with my grandson. What a joy that was. And being he is a little over a year now and walking it takes a ton of energy to keep up with that little guy.

My son and his better half had a chance to go to the Orioles playoff game which provided my opportunity. It’s been a while since my granddaughter was this young and it’s been a while also in watching them alone. My better half is usually involved anytime there is an opportunity but she had plans with our daughter.

I know yesterday made my weekend. Those smiles, the hugs, when he crawls into my lap or stands between my legs with his arms outstretched over them as I sit on the couch watching the game for a few seconds with a half eye and the other 1 and a 1/2 on him. I know his dad must be watching games with him because if the crowd got excited he would start to yell and raise his arms.

But we played and played for most of the day with his toys, went for a stroller ride around the community, and did some laps on the deck.

He seemed to really like boxes. I had brought some toys from home that I know he likes and some he hasn’t seen yet. He dragged that empty box around for several minutes from one end to the other. Suddenly he stopped and stood there, looked at it, and started to get in and then sat in it, looked around inside it, looked around outside it, and then looked at me and let out a shriek of happiness with a big smile.

So I crawled over and pushed him around the house for about 20 minutes on my hands and knees and he was so happy. I said Papa has to take a break. He was out of the box for just a minute or two and I was sitting on the floor in front of the couch and he wanders over and just lays across my legs and stays there so I started to rub his back. Even at that age, they know ways of saying thanks. Either that or I wore him out somehow. Too much excitement maybe?

I also forgot what eating machines they were at that age. They warned me that he is sloppy and a thrower at meals. But I didn’t have any issues. He seemed intent on getting all of it into his face. There was one small piece of mac and cheese and a small piece of blueberry on the floor but nothing else and the tray was pretty clean.

I was exhausted and when I got home, I snacked for 5 minutes, laid down, and was out in 5 minutes. He waved goodbye as I was leaving last night which was one of the first things I remembered this morning. Grandchildren have made me very happy getting into my senior years. They remind me of the important things in life. Learning, happiness, and love.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Deserts are one of the sweet parts of life. Old fact, when I was young I worked in an ice cream factory for a summer. I was on the half-gallon line. I guess that is why I don’t mind having ice cream in the morning because that was my shift.
  • Important expectations, lessons, limits, and rules are not being taught and enforced at a young age. At the same time, it’s hard to expect that as a standard for those living on next to nothing and surrounded by negative examples once they step out the door no matter how much their parents support them.
  • Sports are fantastic in their genuine form, the game being played itself, at any level. Watching or as a player. It’s all these other pregame, prediction, gambling, fantasy, and fluff shows surrounding it that I can do without. Halftime entertainment is fine. Also, give me school bands instead of DJs at college games, please.


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Off to the races

I was holding my 11-month grandson yesterday and he is off to the races. All of a sudden he is very mobile and gaining strength quickly. He’s got a nice stiff arm when he decides he’d rather be held by Dad or Mom. Thankfully he is quite content in my arms but when I put him down his crawl is gaining pace. But in no time he’s going to be on his feet and a whole other ballgame starts.

Is that one leash or two? Photo by Mike Hartley

When they crawl for the first time it’s about the speed they had when discovering how to roll side to side and even when they slowly pick up speed you can catch them either with a long reach or one step. It’s still a crawl and easily contained. Then they discover things that help them get vertical but can’t fully do it on their own yet.

Then those first steps. I can even see his mind turning when he’s standing up against something. The legs still look like one of those air balloon figures you see outside the car dealerships but that is a short time before they get their coordination and strength and they then are off like the toddler above.

I can’t believe the speed that his first year is going. Just like I couldn’t believe it with my granddaughter a few years ago. I’m so glad to be part of their lives and I hope to be around for many milestones of theirs.


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Have a seat

A soggy Friday ahead.

Having a bad hair day in that weather. Photo by Mike Hartley

No problem I have that ray of sunshine of a grandchild here today to brighten even the darkest of skies. I’m not sure what is on the agenda, it’s always fluid with her. And that is the way it should be with young ones. Let them live a little before the pressures of the world get in the way of enjoying life. Let them discover skills and likes and friends. Let them make choices before rules take over and fold us into nice packages.

Take a load off and sit your butt down. Photo by Mike Hartley

Encouraging different activities. We were painting the other day. Of course, I was overtraining but that is just me. Holding the brush, not mashing the bristles, mixing colors. But she still had fun despite me. And so did I because I paint also. And I felt honored she wanted to take mine home as well.

It’s funny that when we go to a playground and I’m watching her like a hawk but encouraging her to try things I worry about injuries. And then I think back to us swinging on these structures of scaffolding piping like monkeys. Swinging on the tri-level bars from one to another usually falling. Unwittingly sending someone into the air or crashing to the ground on the see-saw. Oh, how bout that merry-go-round disk with the metal bars you would hold onto till it got going so fast it would fling you off?

Those metal slides about 20 feet high got boiling hot during the summer months. Going down one in shorts required keeping your legs in the air. And the swing sets, BIG swing sets that must have been anchored 10 feet into the ground and the top bar is at least 12-15 feet high. This means you can swing 14-17 feet high and launch yourself into the air. Made for some interesting landings. Actually, now that I think back, that was probably the beginning of my concussions throughout life.

And then I look at the equipment my granddaughter is on and I relax a lot.

I might have to revive something I used to do for my kids when we went to the beach. I’d go out at sunrise and make something for them in the sand. I wish I had taken some pictures of others. But now my grandchildren are getting to the age where they might enjoy it also. I know the little destructor of a granddaughter will enjoy knocking it apart.

An early attempt at a sea turtle.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • A honkey tonk morning. Was listening to T for Texas by Lynyrd Skynyrd this morning at 4 am.
  • Each time I pass a skatepark I kind of chuckle and remember those thin boards with the thin wheels we would ride on huge hills. Back then the trick was staying on it and not killing yourself. Helmets and pads were decades away.
  • I believe someone who likes to create doesn’t think of it as work. At least I don’t. Yes, some things require a ton of effort but it’s a labor of love or fun or both.