Thank you, Children!
Thank you, Children, for raising your parents through the years.
You were raised during the Dr. Spock days (not of Star Wars fame). Prior to the advent of landfills full of disposable diapers and the plastic bottles that could take a fall! Several times a week our house was filled with the aroma from the washing machine….of amonia, not Oust. Getting ready for a new baby was buying another dozen of diapers, for there were usually two in diapers at the same time for about five years.
After I read Dr. Spock, I compared the discipline he mis-advocated and that which my parents used. There had to be something in between that would work. I made a trip to the Dodge City Library to search for a book on children’s discipline one evening. There were none. It was not the day of Dr. Dobson, or the many authors who provide alternatives to ‘what was always done’.
The years of their growing up has become a series of pictures that flip faster and faster through the years in a fast forward fashion.
- Dan, Paul and Tim pushing the bangstas (little benches) upside on the floor like so many cars. (Bangstas were reminiscent of the small benches used by their Grandpa – Herman Siemens).
- Paul riding on Booger, the shetland pony, who liked lemon drops and cracker jacks.
- Tim banging his head on the crib end as he rocked back and forth to go to sleep, mimicking ever tone the piano tuner hit, much to his chagrin.
- Anna holding Tiger the rooster in her lap, sitting on the fence, daring to jump off the high dive at the swimming pool to the awe of her older brothers….because of a deficiency in her sight.
And many more pictures in my memory scrapbook. Their concern for their Mother, was evident in many ways. When we lived on the side of a Western Kansas sized hill, they would go explore near the Coronado Cross, out of the sight of the house. Many years later they told me that as they trekked out of sight, “If anything happens to me, take my underwear to Mom so she will know what happened.” (It was logical to them.)
In the Fort Dodge two story house, we had four bedrooms upstairs. Tim, the little brother, shifted between Dan and Paul’s bedrooms. Every so often Tim had to move to his other brother’s bedroom. They made the decision on their own. As a reward, the next house had 3 bedrooms upstairs at Collinsville, IL, Tim had the largest bedroom. Once I complimented Tim on him keeping his room clean and done so quickly. Then later one of his brothers had me look under his bed. Oh, oh!
As they grew, their personalities flowered and bloomed as attested by their Grandma Daisy in poems and pictures included on this page.
Dan, the student, studied many things: time, space, ham radio, electronics, playing the guitar.
Paul, the creative one, made 8 mm movies, took pictures and developed them in his photography studio in the basement. He learned to play the guitar from his brother Dan.
Tim, the studious one, always in a hurry. He worked laboriously on a report about Abraham Lincoln. When I read it, I asked how he did it. He told me he would copy a part of one sentence here and there and splice them together. He loved to read the encyclopedia.
Anna wanted to be like her brothers in many ways, climbing trees, exploring. Then she taught herself how to play the piano, interrupting TV time for her brothers. We moved the piano to her room after she painted it orange (her choice), and she practiced uninterrupted for hours over her Dad’s workshop.
And how did they enrich our lives?
Education: Dan – “Why do I have to be in a classroom where other kids don’t want to learn and I have to wait?” This question came up over and over when I became a teacher.
Paul – “If I know it, and I know I know it, why do I have to do the homework or get A’s?” This question came when he was 10 years old, in Mr. York’s classroom.
Driving: Tim – On entering Vandalia Drive (a forked road), out of habit, I said the usual – “Be careful.” Tim put on the brakes and asked, “How long have I been driving?” Six months. “Have I had an accident?” No. I got the point.
House Cleaning: During the usual Saturday morning house cleaning, I pointed out the missed areas and began fixing them. Paul: “Mom, if you have to do it over, why should we have to clean our rooms at all?”
Emotional Welfare: Annaka‘s loving spirit and constant concern for friends and family gave her the nickname of Sunshine Girl by her loving Dad.
Yes, we went through some times of concern, and yet, through love and family, we made it through each upset with prayer. And as I near my 80th birthday, I can see God’s hand through all the years, and how He sent me children to learn from them. We are separated by miles, we are separated by so many time constraints, and yet our family is still close and we enjoy our children and their children and their children’s children. Hugging memories in our hearts, communicating through the wonders of technology and cyberspace, the blessing of children.
One of the most important gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are the children’s books – My Mom is Fantastic and My Dad is Brilliant, in 1992. Both by Nick butterworth. Children’s books that were embellished by many memories and comments by our four children. Thank you, Karen!
I understand the words of my Grandmother as she said that she wanted her children and grandchildren with her in Heaven. This scripture says it beautifully. 3 John 1:4 – Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!
Yes, Children, I give God praise for giving your Dad and me such beautiful and beloved Children who have taught us so much about the process of being a parent. You have obeyed Exodus 20:12 – Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.