The Love and Wisdom of a 7-Year Old

Last weekend MK went to see her 92-year old dad in the Portland area and I had a chance to drive over to see two sons and three of our grandsons.

Kids in the 7 -years olds first grade class could make a small poster entitled, "Who is worth more to you than gold". On the top of the construction paper were gold colored coins where the kids could sprinkle "gold glitter". Then, the students could draw a picture and paste it on one side and write the words to cut out and paste it on the other side of the construction paper.

One the one side he wrote, "My Grandpa is worth more to me than gold because he is the only one who plays Monopoly with me.". The picture he drew was of the two of us playing Monopoly. He wrote the word, "me" above one of the two figures and I assumed the other was me.

Unfortunately, along the way of life I look back and see that I didn't do enough of this with my own children. Work, making money, playing sports, hanging with friends and doing more work seemed to always get in the way. Now it is different.

We have a ritual when we are at their house where the 7 and 5 year old can wake me up at 6 a.m. I don't mean around 6 a.m. either. They are in that bedroom EXACTLY at 6 waking us up. The rule previously was "when you get up" . . . but those 3:14 a.m. climbing in bed to wake me up has now has been extended to 6.

The five year old plays Monopoly with me, too. He is the dice roller for about the first half-hour of the game. Then he is off. He does, however like to climb in bed and watch a movie with us - again, exactly at 6.

Their dad, my son, is a stay at home dad. Mom has her masters degree in Mechanical Engineering and their goal was always for her to be the breadwinner of the family while dad raised the boys. Along the way my son said he was going to write I book on raising kids. It would loosely be titled "Its not that hard - spend time with them!!!!!"

Therein lies the challenge. We don't.

We have our favorite TV shows that really aren't suitable for young kids. We have the "me time" after a hard day. But we just don't spend the time playing games like Chutes and Ladders, Hungry Hippos, or our favorite, Monopoly - the best game ever invented to teach kids how to count money, make change and learn math.

If I could go back in time I'd be the best dad in the world. But I can't. I can, however, be the best Grandpa by giving the one thing kids need the most - time. I can also become a better dad by giving the three kids, now all in their 40's, what they also need - time.

The love was always there. So were the excuses about "life getting in the way."

There is hope for me yet.