tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post5386326864605784409..comments2023-09-10T11:26:35.946-04:00Comments on Butterneck Toad: OdeMarisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10071013960717010630noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-4576401385552691872007-09-20T23:26:00.000-04:002007-09-20T23:26:00.000-04:00They'll thank you for that someday. Probably in yo...They'll thank you for that someday. <BR/><BR/>Probably in your sleep ... if you're lucky, you won't feel a thing.Jim Thomsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436505068478971925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-65869676854653819912007-09-20T21:25:00.000-04:002007-09-20T21:25:00.000-04:00Say what you want, Jim, I'm planning to have kids ...Say what you want, Jim, I'm planning to have kids to teach them to clean up after all my animals.Marisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10071013960717010630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-1529596124759276292007-09-20T21:15:00.000-04:002007-09-20T21:15:00.000-04:00You may be right, Tammie Jean. Tell you what ... w...You may be right, Tammie Jean. <BR/><BR/>Tell you what ... when your child is 18, ask her if she felt deprived by not having grandparents. Then let me know what she has to say. <BR/><BR/>I'm speaking only of my parents in this specific example ... but, in a general way, am saying that everybody who decides to be a parent should think as much of what the child would want out of the experience as the parents would want. A child is a person with his or her wants or needs, not an accessory to be created to fit a parent's whims.Jim Thomsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436505068478971925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-79879268283921276612007-09-20T15:46:00.000-04:002007-09-20T15:46:00.000-04:00By the way, Ninja, perhaps I was reading it wrong,...By the way, Ninja, perhaps I was reading it wrong, but I thought your comment sounded very judgemental of older parents, or even anyone who would deprive their children of grandparents.<BR/><BR/>My mother was one of the youngest of 7 children, so by the time she had children of her own (at the age of 21 - she didn't wait!) her parents were getting on in years. Plus, since they were alcoholics they probably didn't live as long as they should have. Should she not have had children, knowing that her parents wouldn't be around to see them grow?<BR/><BR/>I'm sure your comment could also be applied to my decision to follow through with my pregnancy, knowing I would be an "only parent". Most people, myself included, feel that fathers are important as well. But if you ask my daughter, she'll tell you she has the best mom, and the best family, and that she has happy life. If the child is deprived of anything at all, love isn't on that list.<BR/><BR/>I think the decision to have children is a highly personal one, and many factors go into whether or not children are born to good parents, and into loving families.<BR/><BR/>The right thing to do can be different for everyone.Tammie Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01987069947225482393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-35417443249504330252007-09-20T15:32:00.000-04:002007-09-20T15:32:00.000-04:00What a great collection of memories! I love the "...What a great collection of memories! I love the "nose is toes" thing - how cute!<BR/><BR/>All of my grandparents have passed on. My mother's parents were older and died when I was a small child. My father's parents were both living when I gave birth to my daughter, and she still has memories of my grandfather.<BR/><BR/>The one thing I realized as my grandfather got older, was that the greatest gift I could give him was time. I spent as much time with him as I could, making him dinner, listening to his stories, hanging out and watching Jeopardy.Tammie Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01987069947225482393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-28255824786037866392007-09-19T23:08:00.000-04:002007-09-19T23:08:00.000-04:00You're lucky. All my grandparents were dead before...You're lucky. All my grandparents were dead before I was born ... a loss caused by the selfish decision of my parents to have children in their forties. <BR/><BR/>Let this be a lesson to all prospective parents: Think very carefully at what your choices may deprive your children of. Kids should get to have grandparents, and they shouldn't have to live with any reality that says they can't.<BR/><BR/>Do the right thing.Jim Thomsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436505068478971925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-91912844474565507312007-09-19T18:48:00.000-04:002007-09-19T18:48:00.000-04:00What a beautifully written post. You brought back...What a beautifully written post. You brought back so many memories (not the least of which the four years I spent in SE Washington). I wonder if you and I were there at the same time . . . :) Such lovely coincidences. I was so sorry to hear about your friend. I lost my grandmother to pancreatic cancer and miss her still. You are wise to realize we should cherish and thank those we love while we have them. Excellent lesson and a most excellent post.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09609676792430545424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-66035488752951117872007-09-18T22:18:00.000-04:002007-09-18T22:18:00.000-04:00I'm glad. It felt good to put it out there.I'm glad. It felt good to put it out there.Marisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10071013960717010630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-20533720108801328422007-09-18T21:38:00.000-04:002007-09-18T21:38:00.000-04:00Wow. That was so moving.It makes me think of fishi...Wow. That was so moving.<BR/>It makes me think of fishing with my maternal granfather and hanging out at the garage with my dad's father.<BR/>My paternal grandmother died last year and it was quite hard on me.<BR/>My mom's mother lives nearby with my aunt and her family. I see her at least a couple times a month.<BR/>She is pretty much unable to walk, but she is still sharp and loves to tell stories about when her kids and her kids' kids were little.<BR/>I was always closer to my grandfathers, but I do have fond memories of shopping with Grandma Naomi (dad's side) and baking with Grandma Mary (mom's side).<BR/>Thanks for writing this Reese. Usually this kind of thing makes me sad. But today it made me happy that I have all those great memories.Atypical California Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11104594940276571192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25401610.post-30618820297887119682007-09-18T02:40:00.000-04:002007-09-18T02:40:00.000-04:00I am right there with you. My last living grandpar...I am right there with you. My last living grandparent, my grandma, is in a nursing home in MN. I rarely get to see her. Just last week I had this pang of regret wishing that I could call her, talk to her, share experiences with her. She has lost her grip on reality, so these things are impossible. Mortality is an awfully hard thing to come to terms with - ours, and that of those we love.Bananashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765560968908933858noreply@blogger.com