An Invitation To 'Snack Time.'

Well.

THE ultimate 'delicious' invitation.

Was scheduled to pick up my four year old grand daughter, Carmen, at 4:30 last Thursday from her day care school.  On the drive there she asked her mother to call Bonna (that would be me) and invite her to come for 'snack time' at 3:00.

So Amy called.  (Sharing she had no idea where this had come from or if it was 'allowed',  so to speak.)

I accepted.  (Willing to break any day care school rules for this opportunity!)

Flattered beyond.

When you think about it...what opportunities does a four year old have for exercising that kind of personal power?  Especially outside the home environment?

I love that this child has the innocent and confident demeanor to extend an invitation of this sort without asking permission!

Back to 'snack time.'

I arrived at 2:55.  Informed the staff of my invitation.  (Nothing was said in dissent.)

Carmen was elated that I was there.  Very proud and a little embarrassed at the recognition she was receiving from her classmates.

There would be seven of us at the round table (possibly 18" high).  Chairs (possibly 9" high) were placed around the table opposite our names.  I was, Layla, who had recently moved.  (Thank heaven!  Where would I have put my chair?)

Once the chairs were properly placed, we all got in line to clean our hands with the wall mounted antiseptic dispenser cleanser.  (This without any prompting.)

(I so regret not taking my phone for pictures, but am pretty sure you can get the imagery of all this.  Shades of Tom Hanks in BIG.)

So.

There was, working from my left:  Nora.  Adan.  Henry.  Ella.  Katherine.  And, of course, Carmen.

Napkins were handed out by Nora.  All of us opened them and neatly placed them in front of us.  (It probably doesn't take long to 'program', imprint, us...does it?)

Then one of the staff gave each of us two round wheat/seeded crackers followed by two slices of cheddar cheese. (Quite delicious and healthy.)  Small paper cups were at each setting and we, started by Katherine, carefully carefully filled our cups from the plastic water pitcher one at a time.

Now we are ready.  (I with my knees at my chin.  A large smile on my face.) 

This.

Happiness is.

Carmen, unprompted, announced:  "This is my Bonna."

(I think I will cry now.)

Love, proud recognition, from a grand child is better than love from a devoted dog.

There was a simultaneous eruption of grandmother statements, all with raised hands (more polite imprinting) to share:  "My grandma died!  My grandma is coming for Christmas!  My grandma made my dress!"

So a further stimulating conversation about grandmothers ensued.  (I struggled to hold back both tears and laughter.)  They were freely, matter of factly, talking about all of us grandmothers.

(I need to blog about grandmothers.  I don't know how I would have made it through my childhood without mine.)

I asked how many of their grandmothers lived in Whitefish.  Carmen's hand shot up and she said:  "Three!  Abi, YaYa and Bonna!"  If this was a contest, Carmen won.  (Abi is her great grandmother.)  Carmen is lucky.  To have three in her town.  Katherine, I think,  was the only other one to have one in her town.

Nora, however, trumped everyone with:  "My mommy had a baby boy yesterday!!!!!!!!!"

Very energetic conversation then segued into who was a big brother or sister.  Or had a big brother or sister.

I could go on and on about the basic joyful energy of this group of little humans.

It was so refreshing.  Their wide eyed wonder, beauty, innocence, sense of humor, unadulterated love of living....in the moment.

What a lesson.  For me.  

A staff member announced that 'snack time' was over and it was time to put on snow clothes to go outside.  A flurry of regimented clean up spontaneously popped.

Watching four year olds efficiently don often complicated snow wear is a wonder.

Motivation, however, is very high.  Unknown and known prospects of outside adventure are looming.

Carmen, however, is now going home with me.  Many hugs of goodbye were received.  (more tears.)  

She doesn't seem disappointed.

We have our own unknown and known adventures hiding behind the next moment.

"Thank you for inviting me to 'snack time', Carmen.  I had a lovely time."

"You're welcome, Bonna."