Other People’s Children

I’m thankful today for other people’s children.  I don’t have kids of my own, and I am generally very pleased with that choice.  But I do like to spend time with kids and do kid things, on occasion, so I like that other people have them.

I get to do things for and with them.  I get to hear about their adventures and the funny things they say.  Sometimes, I get to go to piano recitals and plays and softball games.  Aquariums and circuses recur more often in my life than they would otherwise do.  (I prefer the elephants to the jelly fish.  I’m just sayin’.)  As the kids get older, I get more Facebook friends.

Years ago, I borrowed a friend’s two-year-old daughter so that I could go to the Children’s Museum in Denver.  Adults were not admitted unless accompanied by a child.  I’m not sure about the child, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.

These days, I enjoy my nieces and nephews from afar and my cousins’ kids closer at hand.  It has been years, in fact, since I carved a pumpkin, but I got to do that last Halloween.  (Okay, other people did the carving, and I did the foam faces that remind me of Mr. Potato Head, but the idea is the same.)

I was thinking of all that this week, because I am crocheting a knight’s helmet for one of my nephews.  (It’s a secret; don’t anybody tell him.) And, I was thinking this is not an experience I would ever have any other way—since no adult would ever need a crocheted knight’s helmet (Rennaissance Faires typically occurring during the warmer months).

I’ve enjoyed the crocheting, and I’ve enjoyed the composing of the letter to accompany this gift for Sir Wynn.  One must have a suitable letterhead, after all, on one’s parchment.

So, other people’s children are a challenge to my creativity—always a good thing.  Plus, I get to visit with them—and I get to give them back!

Maybe not the best—but a lot of good—of both worlds!