1st Ever Guest Post
Today’s guest post arrives courtesy of Becky Van Vleet. I was privileged to be a guest blogger on her site by writing a story about my family. You can read that story here: www.beckyvanvleet.com/card-shark/.
I have decided to add occasional family-friendly guest posts to my blog, so if you are interested in being a guest blogger, please let me know in the comments below or by emailing me at lisbethlmccarty@gmail.com.
I loved Becky’s guest blog because she writes about funny things her children and grandchildren have said. I love funny words. The proof of that is my book called The Bitten Air about humorous words used by people.
You can order the book here: https://tinyurl.com/3t8fb9n2. Okay, that’s enough shameless self-promotion. Now, here is information about the guest blogger directly from Becky’s bio:
Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher, principal, and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts and her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award, as well as the Purple Dragonfly award.
She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.
A member of ACFW, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share.
I’m Not a Puppy!
By Becky Van Vleet
We recently had a fun family outing to the North Pole Santa’s Workshop in Colorado Springs. Two mamas, six grandchildren, and two grandparents. With a couple of strollers, diaper bags, picnic lunch food, and lots of water bottles, we were somewhat laden down. We mostly stayed together, but when we split up from time to time for the different kinds of rides, we invoked our divide and conquer plan.
And this Nana was ready, always mindful of safety, wondering children, and crowded places. So, when almost three-year-old Amara announced she needed a potty break, my husband and I separated from the others to take her. I placed the Velcro hand wrap of my children's safety leash around Amara’s little wrist and clutched the other end to begin our trek to the nearest restrooms. Not wanting to waste any time for this particular need, I emphatically said, “Let’s go!”
But Amara stopped dead in her tracks, looked up at me, and indignantly replied, “I’m not a puppy!”
Oh, dear!
Well, after my husband and I chuckled over this and explained to her the purpose of the safety leash, we went on our way.
With this funny snippet in mind, I thought it would be fun to share other humorous conversations I’ve heard through the years from our children and grandchildren.
Daughter Amanda, age 3: “Mommy, can we pack our toys and clothes in suitcases to take to heaven with us?”
Daughter Hannah, age 4: When Amanda was in the second grade, we had a conversation about her carpool for school. Little sister Hannah innocently piped up, “How deep is it?”
Daughter Lizzie, age 3: When I gave her older sisters cough drops, Lizzie asked for one too. I explained that her older sisters had hoarse throats and needed the cough drops to help them feel better. To which she replied, “I have horses in my throat too!”
Daughter Tavia, age 7: While we were traveling in the car one evening on vacation in Arizona, Tavia noticed a beautiful sunset. She commented, “It looks like God turned on the nite-lite!”
Granddaughter Ava, age 6: Ava informed me that she knew why ticks like her blood. When I asked why, she replied, “Because I eat a lot of candy and that must make my blood sweet!”
Granddaughter Journi, age 6: Journi had a breaking out on her upper thighs when she came over to our house to play one day. She said, “Nana, I need special lotion because my thighs have asthma.” (She meant eczema!)
Granddaughter Belle, age 6: Belle came down with a sore throat and stated her discomfort in a unique way when she said, “Nana, my throat is hurting. It’s getting complicated to talk!”
Grandson Kenny, age 6: On a snowy day, Kenny looked out the window while the wind was whipping the snow around at our house and said, “Oh, look Nana. We’re having a lizard.” Then he paused to "correct" himself and said, “No, I mean wizard.”
Granddaughter Selah, age 4: My husband and I were eating ice cream with Selah one evening. We noticed she was eating hers rather slowly which surprised us, and I made a comment about this. She looked at me and smiled, “Nana, I’m savoring every bite!” (How many four-year-olds use "savoring" in their everyday vocabulary?!)
Granddaughter Tanayah, age 5: Tanayah came to our home for a visit and waited for her grandpa to pick out a movie on Netflix. Evidently Bop Bop was taking a little too long scrolling through the choices because Tanayah ran out of patience and emphatically stated, “Bop Bop, don’t be shy. If you are, I’m going to put you on stage!”
I hope these made you smile. Oh, kids do say the funniest things. Write them down, write them down—and date them. Years later you’ll have a treasure.
THE END!
Thank you for featuring me, Lisbeth, especially as your first guest blogger! Kids do say the funniest things.