In Search Of...

I am in search of an extra set of grandparents or extended family for our kids. My dad is dead and my craptastic mom, who I have severed all ties with lives in Alaska. Wes' parents live 5 minutes away, and love to watch Hunter play sports and hang out with the kiddos for short periods of time. However, I don't recall them ever inviting the kids to their house. Anytime the kids go over there, it's because I ask them or the kids ask them--which is fine, I just really wish they would initiate spending time with them once in a while. I usually feel as though I'm putting them out, and several times they've asked for a "raincheck". I love my kids dearly, hence our decision for me to be a stay at home mom, but sometimes, Wes and I really crave some alone time. You know the kind of dinner where I don't have to cut up anybody else's food, or where we can talk about something other than wrestling and Dora. As it is, we have this type of alone time on average..3...maybe 4 times a year.

I can vividly remember my grandparents calling to invite me over to stay the entire weekend with them. I lived in Richardson. They lived in Mesquite. So, we were only about 20 minutes apart. My grandfather would stop by a few times a month on his way home from work in Plano to bring me a bag of M&M's. Every time he came he would say, "Now, you don't like M&M's, do you?" And I would beg and plead for that bag telling him how much I loved M&M's. I spent almost every Spring Break at their house and would often spend a week or two with them in the Summer. I would sell lemonade and apples from their apple tree in a stand my uncle made for me. I would help my grandmother peel potatoes for dinner and I always got to eat as much macaroni and cheese as I wanted when I was at their house. My dad and grandpa would take my on fishing trips with them, despite the fact that I talked too much and never caught more than a baby perch. They never had a lot of extra money, but they would always keep me the week before school started and take me to get a few new outfits and some school supplies. I cherished this time with them and some of my fondest childhood memories are from my time spent with them. They loved being grandparents and savored every minute with me.

If you are interested in the position, this is what I am looking for:

1. Someone who will call my kids to see how they're doing.

2. Someone who will occasionally invite Hunter to go fishing, play ball at the park, or to a movie.

3. Someone who will occasionally invite Grace to go play at the park, to the movie, or walk around the mall.

4. Someone who will occasionally invite the kids for an afternoon at McDonald's or a trip to get ice cream.

5. And someone who will occasionally invite the kids to spend the night.

Here's a picture of me circa 1985 peeling potatoes in my grandparent's kitchen. Yes, I realize it looks like Hunter in a dress.