It is sad and quiet around here this morning. Our visitor has left after a two and a half-week stay. I picked up part of a roll of caps from the floor as I swept and thought of him. I opened a new loaf of bread and got out the cartoon sticker and he wasn’t here to claim it as his prize. I walked in the yard and the baby toads were hopping and he wasn’t here to pick them up. Now I’ve finished my chores and wish he was here to talk about many things and plan for our trip to the swimming pool. Yet as I wish him back, I know he needs to be with his parents. Constant catering to his needs by a doting grandma is too much.

John Michael after a year of kindergarten and six years old decided he wanted to spend some time with Grandma and Uncle Jan on the farm, five hundred miles from his parents and little sister. It was with fear and trepidation that his parents drove off without him and he was left with us that June day. He thought at first he wanted to spend the whole summer but as time passed he talked less and less about that. I’m sure he learned that life on the farm with Jan and Grandma was not as glamorous as he thought. We learned very soon that he had learned a few “bad words” at kindergarten and delighted in using them. If he got mad he started throwing things and using all the bad words he knew – appropriate or not. By ignoring these tantrums he soon stopped this. I suppose the hardest thing for Grandma to get used to was the “dawdling”. If he came to the table he talked and talked until we could no longer sit at the table and wait for him to finish. If it was time to dress or take a bath or go to bed it was a prolonged procedure.

He loved to go shopping at the toy store. He definitely knew what he wanted after looking awhile. Luckily most of the things he wanted were small – some toy planes, an army tank, a record. We have a request for “Crazy Ikes” and a name maker for Christmas - although he really thought he should have these now for you couldn’t get them in Texas and they might be sold out by Christmas (Grandma make a note).

Willie B. and John came to play with him and that’s what he liked best – they are older than him but he liked that. He wanted to go play at their house but we were a little dubious of that. They had built a store out of old planks

He liked to go swimming but disliked swimming lessons. He was delighted however on the last day when he discovered he could really swim. He was actually making friends on the last day too.

He liked to talk to his parents on the phone. He could recognize many words and will soon be reading. He is fiercely independent in many things, but very dependent in others. When he played too rough and Uncle Jan hit back he didn’t want Grandma to take sides with Uncle Jan.

On our walks he was fascinated by the rocks and wanted to save each one for his collection. He rode to North Carolina with great Aunt Ruthel and Uncle William, where he spent the night and they put him on a plane for Houston the next morning. Mom and Dad met him at the airport.

I’m sure this will be an experience he will always remember - his first trip alone. I hope he doesn’t remember Grandma as an old grouch. It seems I was having to get after him all the time to get him to eat, to get him to dress, or go to bed. I suppose I was overly cautious for fear he would get hurt. It’s a big responsibility to keep someone’s six-year-old. But I’m glad I had the opportunity.