Grandma Christine

Grandma Christine was my mother's mother. It is my understanding that she returned with my grandfather from Germany during or after World War II. She kept her heavy German accent during her life in the states. Of all of my memories of her, the one that recently emerged was of how she rubbed our faces gently with her knuckles and tsked in adoration--a way saved for grandmothers who adore their grandchildren, I suppose. She loved doing it, it was a daily occurrence whenever she was with us. I am reminded of it now because I do it with my own children--without the tsking, but I can't resist gently rubbing their cheeks with the back of my fingers. I wonder if she was as fascinated with the warm smooth suppleness of a child's face as I am or if she just loved rubbing our freckles? It doesn't hurt that now they are the perfect height for this and for now, they tolerate it. Whatever the reason, I now get more pleasure in this simple gesture because most of the time when I rub Ryan and Charlotte's cheeks, I am reminded of Grandma Christine and her love for me. I wonder if the kids will remember too?

Charlotte's first game

This was Charlotte's first soccer game. We nearly didn't come. Charlotte's attitude toward soccer has been somewhat lackadaisical. She is the one typically facing the wrong way at practice, spinning or twirling her hair. She truly has little concept of the game--or she probably does, but it just isn't important to her. This is not something I can instill in her. I just wait. I will likely wait at least one entire season (maybe two), but we'll see. She is not a black and white child. She writes her manual as she goes.

30 minutes before game time she gets this sudden burst of need to come. Keep in mind the game is 30 minutes away, we are supposed to be there 15 minutes early, she isn't dressed and Greg isn't home. But she insists. We make it 5 minutes after the game starts. She plays two quarters and gives it her all during the first one. By the second quarter of play, she is already tired, and less enthusiastic. She is one of two players that have never played on the team. A few of the parents are the parents that push and push their kids and keep them sports year-round. You can tell whick kids those are--at age 7 they are already playing very well. They make me tired.
But back to Charlotte, this is her first team experience. I am looking at it as an experiment. To see how long it takes her to get it, and gritting my teeth sometimes, support her on the way. Maybe this will become a love, maybe it won't. But she's sure fun to watch!