As I start writing this particular The Other Day…, I already know where it is headed. My only defense is I can’t help myself. I’m just getting older, and I love family.
Our dear, sweet granddaughter knew that her father (our son) was going to get mad about her breaking her new phone, which was a Christmas present. That is why she headed our way for help before mentioning anything to her dad. Being bystanders in this melodrama, I thought we grandparents handled ourselves extremely well. We didn’t take sides. We didn’t say, one way or the other, how we thought this was going to go while our granddaughter was present. My wife and I did both believe that our son would be upset when he found out, but we chose to let them settle it between themselves.
My granddaughter came downstairs in need of first aid. Why? Well, to hear her tell it, she was walking and tripped. Her phone was halfway inside her pocket and halfway out, and when she tripped, the phone fell onto a concrete step. It cracked, naturally, and when she picked it up, she cut herself. A piece of glass got inside the cut. Hence, she visited downstairs to the grandparents for help. Since the beginning of time, grandparents have always been there for their grandchildren, no matter how old they are.
Well, once she left, I went back to what I was doing and so did my wife. The shouting began upstairs a short time later. We knew it was coming, but as the grandparents, we couldn’t help feeling bad for our granddaughter. Yes, phones are expensive to replace, but it was, after all, an accident. Accidents happen. Even us older adults drop and break things now and then.
Later that evening, I approached my wife with the following analogy: When I was between 6 and 8 years old, I developed astigmatism in my eyes, which meant I had to have glasses. My glasses were always breaking for some reason, and I always caught buckets of flack because of that. My question to my wife was, what did my parents expect? I was just a kid. I didn’t break them on purpose. Besides, I was told that astigmatism is hereditary. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have needed the glasses in the first place. So, I felt all that anger and disappointment I received from my parents back then wasn’t justified. It wasn’t my fault.
That’s why I don’t have a problem with our granddaughter breaking her phone. Kids break things. They have since the beginning of time. They will continue to do so until they grow into adulthood and beyond. Yes, I guess you could say I am justifying my granddaughter’s actions, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say her parents won’t see it the same way I do. Maybe you won’t agree with me either. However, I’m her grandfather, and I have a soft spot for my grandkids. Do I wish she wouldn’t have broken her phone? Absolutely. But overall, I understand that kids will be kids and stuff happens. Things break or get broken. That’s just life. No point in dwelling on it beyond the moment it happens. To me, the important thing is my granddaughter wasn’t hurt beyond a small cut. Phones are replaceable; people aren’t.
Well, I think I’ve beat this like a dead horse long enough. Y’all take care and keep warm. Try to dodge the snowflakes out there, and if you do go out, please drive safely. MUH!
