Toddlers Know Best

I've learned a lesson or two from having two grandchildren in the toddler phase of life the first being I'm so glad I don't have them every single day because toddlers are not the easiest people on earth.

Perhaps I don't remember the days I had toddlers in the house on a daily basis or perhaps I was younger and could keep up. It's probably a combination of the two. The energy alone will exhaust the fittest of grandparents and I know this because I've asked. They're tired, too.

She. Never. Stops. NEVER.

When the toddlers began talking in full sentences I had forgotten how those sentences are strung together and how answers are expected immediately and if you can't get that answer out before the next question you're going to pay and you will pay because the questions are one continuous stream of who/what/why.

Our toddlers have taught us many things like just get in there and try it even if you're a little bit scared at first.

 And if you don't like it, you can run away.

We've learned there is almost always more than one way to use things-

We've learned spinning makes you dizzy but it's so very much worth the effort--

To love our pets fully-

And dog kisses are great.

They've taught us to appreciate sleep for a variety of reasons--

That girls truly can do it all-

Even if that means being a ballerina, astronaut, dragon slayer--

Blue tutus are awesome--

So is playing in the dirt or sand--

All you need to have a blast is a chair and a blanket-

Making up your own rules for games is cool--

Asking for help when you're in a tight situation is a good idea and perfectly acceptable--

Time with family is the most wonderful time of all---

There are lessons to learn or relearn every single day spent with a toddler. Life lessons we never thought about or those we knew once upon a time but lost it when we grew up. It's grand we can take those lessons back when we become grandparents.

L is for lessons. The most valuable lessons we can learn. Those taught by toddlers.

AND---

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING DURING APRIL!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

What Do Grandchildren Teach Us?

Somewhere between parenting and grandparenting, we may lose sight of some important truths about life, relationships, and ourselves. We tend to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and let that preoccupation is the very thing that causes us to shut out these truths. Grandchildren bring them back to life and we'd do well to not forget them ever again.

I've only been a grandmother for 16 months but I have certainly learned numerous lessons as well as being reminded of those truths pushed to the wayside as life took over. I wonder if I would ever have remembered without these precious souls to remind me. Anyway, I would love to share my top ten with Y'all today.

The Top 10 Truths My Grands Have Taught Me:

1. There truly is joy in the simple things. Really. Pure joy. All it takes for Baby M is me to dust her check with a pompom made of yarn against her cheek. Simple and yet, her reaction is pure joy and amazement and before you know we're both in the joy zone. 
2. We are never too old to play. No matter how old you think you are or how old you feel, you are NEVER too old to play. Little kids don't care what you can or cannot do just that you interact with them in a fun and playful way. 
3. Play is important. Play keeps things in perspective and teaches us about the other players, about communication, about interacting with others, about sharing, about trust...
4. Nothing is better or more important than person-to-person interaction. I don't care who says different, face-to-face interaction cannot be replaced. 
5. There are many ways to communicate. Talking is important but it's not the only way to communicate. There is play, a look, a smile, body language, eye contact, a touch.
6. A smile can indeed melt your heart. Enough said. 
7. Laughter is vital for life. And good hearty belly laughs are the best. Laughter is contagious and makes us feel good inside and out. We should all do it more.  
8. The only time that matters is right now. The present moment. LIttle kids don't think about yesterday or tomorrow, they deal with right now which is something all of us should practice.  
9. Never stop asking questions. I know we adults get tired of hearing and responding to the 5 bazillion questions little kids ask us every single day but have you ever noticed how some of those questions cause you to think before you answer? Even though Baby M's questions all sound the same, "Uh?" I still answer her. And I'm not afraid to tell her I don't know. Little kids learn so much from asking questions and we do, too. Never stop asking questions or seeking answers. 
10. No matter what sort of voice you have, sing and sing loudly and no matter how you look, dance and dance and dance! As Pete the Cat says, "It's all good!" 

I know there are many more things we can learn from our grandchildren and I'd love to hear what Y'all have learned! 

Have a wonderful week, Y'all!

Please visit my Etsy shop, CoasterDoodles

and feel free to FAVORITE the shop
or buy something! 😁💓

Indoor wreaths have arrived at CoasterDoodles!

with more to come soon!

And, YES! We still have our wonderful coasters!

22 Things I've Learned from My Granddaughter

A grandchild can teach you quite a few things about yourself and the world in her first three months of life. They remind you of things you forgot, teach you new things, give you pause for thought, and generally delight you and enhance your life more than anything else ever has.

They make you think about your own grandparents and wonder how in the world you'll ever measure up because they were the BEST grandparents in the whole wide world. You would tell anybody that when you were little and you will tell them the same thing today. Without the balled up fists, of course.

Little baby grand-loves will make you care nothing about things you used to hold as important and make you realize that you would do just about anything (except snakes or roller coasters because grandma is not stupid and Baby M is on her own if she wants to pet a snake or let a machine throw her upside down and round and round) for the little sweet loves.

Here are a few things that Baby M has either taught me or reminded me of in 3 months:

• baby toes and ears are the cutest things in the world
• I'm not as young as I once was
• baby squeals of delight will melt your heart
• baby smiles will melt your heart
• I have patience with babies, still have little with adults
• watching babies make their first discoveries is still fascinating
• the little things are the things to be valued, let the big stuff go
• naps are hugely important in life
• time must be spent wisely because it's the only thing that whizzes by faster than the speed of light
• sudden loud noises will startle a sleeping baby awake and make grandmas want to choke the offender
• infant bouncy seats are live savers
• babies make lovely table centerpieces
• dirty diapers stink, sometimes enough to make you pretend you can't get to it right away and ask someone else to do it
• trashcans containing dirty diapers cannot be taken outside fast enough
• all the 'old-wives-tales' will flood back into your head and make you say really silly things like cats will suck the breath out of a baby, with total conviction
• apps that play sounds to soothe a baby are won. der. ful. and we should have had these back in the day
• a napping baby only sleeps when you have nothing else to do but watch her sleep. If you move for a millisecond, said baby awakens. 
• babies do come straight from heaven, without a doubt. There's no other explanation for their cuteness. 
• babies make you feel real, pure joy
• fussy babies can be handed right back to their parents
• baby pouty faces are adorable
• babies who sound really pitiful when they cry will cause you to cry too

Baby M has also shown me that my daughter is a wonderful mother and her husband is a wonderful father. Although, my SIL is already doomed as this little darlin' has stolen his heart forever. It's gone, y'all. She'll never do wrong in her daddy's eyes. And his heart will break the first time she talks back to him in an angry tone. Or tells him she doesn't like the color orange. Or tigers. Her mom might take it more in stride but she'll still put her foot down at gamecocks or garnet and black. But these two are a remarkable team and already seem to have this parenting thing down.

What did your grands teach you in the first three months? Or, if you're not there just yet, what have babies taught you?

Peace, Peeps!