I've never thought of myself as a blithe spirit--a wish-I-were-a-kid-again kinda gal. There doesn't seem to be a little kid inside me pleading to get out. Never was. So imagine my surprise to find myself in my son and daughter-in-law's basement playing the part of a pizza-eating monster to my four-year-old Grand's pizza pie on the run. (script by 4-year-old; sound effects by 9-year old sister). Not only did I have to seek to find the gobble-able pizza pie, but I was playing the role in front of an audience. Well, okay, it was just uber son and Paterfamilias. But still.
Was it fun? Sort of. Did it win me brownie points with my Grands? Maybe. DId it win me major credit with uber son? Absolutely.
The link I posted a few weeks ago on 10 ways to be a fabulous grandparent, mentioned not being afraid to be silly. But here's what I'm thinking: When we get "silly" with our grand kids, they don't think that much of it--it's business as usual: they're silly with each other and their playmates and what are we but a big, overgrown playmate?
But to our grown children, we're someone willing, able and clearly happy to enjoy their children and take pleasure not just in their accomplishments but in the pure delight of being with them at their level.
When I think of it that way, I don't feel so silly.