It would be hard for anyone to know me without knowing that I became a grandmother last year. My darling grandson is my lock and home screen images, he’s the first thing I mention if someone asks what I’ve been doing, and he’s definitely the main topic raised with random strangers in the checkout line. He’s a chunky happy bundle of fun, and I am blessed that his parents so generously share him with us. I really want to make the most of this first summer (he was only a few months old last year) to set the tone for those special 17 summers we moms know pass quickly.
To celebrate this toddler summer, I have created my “Grandma Bucket List” for this special guy:
- Lay in the hammock and watch the birds at the feeders. We’ll talk about their beautiful colors and listen to the different sounds they make.
- Build a blanket fort in the den and introduce him to pizza and movie night, just like I did when his dad was a toddler. Maybe we’ll even watch his dad’s favorite movie, Disney’s Pocahontas.
- Go to storytime at the library. We’ll relive one of my favorite childhood memories from the time we lived so close to the library we could walk there for storytime.
- Teach him to bake cookies. You’re never too young to stand on the stool and learn to stir and pour.
- Create the ideal water adventure space. Our backyard is large and shaded and with our new patio, so it makes the ideal afternoon hangout spot. I just need the perfect watering hole!
- Show up early one random morning and take him to breakfast with his great-grandpa and his buddies. They meet nearly every day and I know they would love to hang out with him.
- Introduce him to the music of the best decade–the 80s. For my mom’s recent birthday we got a karaoke machine that lights up. He loved the lights; I just need to make sure he loves the right music.
Grab every cuddle I can while he’s still willing to give them.
I’m sure there are many more ways to live our best summer, but I’m keeping my list short. I want to make the most of the small window we have to start new traditions or reinvent old ones. Cheers to summers together with your favorite people!
 to set the tone for those special 17 summers we moms know pass quickly.){kind=link}