by Sharon MacGregor

I am a freelance writer and columnist living in Sulllivan County.  My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last year and are raising our two man-cubs with both old-fashioned and modern parenting styles.  Another member of our family is our one-year old, yellow Lab, Maddy.  I look forward to sharing a slice of our family life and family related news with the Hudson Valley Parent community! 

 

I do not have a telephone with a screen to check the caller i.d. feature, but I can usually tell if after I say hello there is a pause and I may have to repeat myself. When this happened yesterday, I almost hung up on my five year old nephew before he had a chance to say, "When am I going to see you again?" After all, it had been about two weeks! We all love a man who can get straight to the point so I answered honestly, "I don't know." He told me he was at grandma's, which is only ten minutes away from my house and asked, "Can you come over?" Who can't reschedule any plans to accommodate that request?

 

My husband and I were going to do other things, but during the ride over I realized how truly unimportant those tasks were compared to spending a few hours with family. I made sure we had the wiffle ball and bat, my camera and some toys I had bought at the dollar store for just such an occasion.

 

While we were on our way, both nephews told my mom about their vast experience (this was the second time) with simply asking people to come over (us) and they do. Some may think they are simply too busy to stop what they are doing and give in to the whims of a child by merely showing up, but really, isn't that the role of an adult for a child? To show up. To support dreams. To help guide the way. To be there.

 

This is not about spoiling a child, but rather being able to decide that for that moment, yes the laundry can wait. In fact, I have time right now.