I WANT TO BE A KID AGAIN

Our grandkids used to visit us at our weekend cabin quite often when they were

little. After they went home with Mom and Dad, Grandma and I would sit on the

deck, relaxing, trying to recover from all the activity, but missing them.

They loved it at the cabin. We made a lot of grandkid memories at that place in the

woods, on the creek. They are all married or in college now. I wonder if they

remember all the good times they had there when they were little?

I always wished back then I had their energy. Today, I still wish I had many things

kids have. I think I will officially give my resignation as an adult. I have decided I

want to be a kid again.

I want to have a Grandma and Grandpa who always greet me with a hug and kiss.

Who let me do just about anything I want, and will even do it with me. When it is

time to go, I want to see them waving goodbye, blowing me kisses, and telling me

they love me as we drive away. I want to say thank you and I love you to them

again before it’s too late, and I can’t.

I want to build a campfire, enjoy poking around in it, watching the flames dance,

and make s’mores. I want Dad to make me a wooden boat and sail it down the

creek. I want to use my truck and digger to make roads on the gravel bar. I want to

find beautiful rocks, rocks with holes in them, and chewed-on beaver sticks, too!

I want to feel good because I can drive an ATV all by myself, but safely because

Mom, Dad, Grandma, or Grandpa is riding with me. I want to sing songs at the top

of my voice as I ride and feel the comfort of big arms around me.

I want to be oblivious to all the complexities of life and be overly excited about the

little things again. Finding a turkey feather or a turtle shell, hunting squirrels, and

picking apples.

I want to be excited when I catch a fish or a crawdad. I want to have fun walking

through a puddle, learning to skip a rock, or playing in the creek. I want to go

snorkeling and discover the underwater world. I want to laugh again as I push

Grandpa into the cold creek, and he screams when he goes into the water.

I would look forward to helping Grandma bake cookies and pumpkin pies, and

helping make cinnamon rolls with Grandpa, and getting flour and cinnamon all

over me. I want to smile when I beat adults in board games and video games. I

want to go to Disney World and the beach one more time with Grandma, Grandpa,

Mom, and Dad.

I want to feel important when I am handed a trophy or ribbon for sports or showing

cattle. I want to look and see that Mom, Dad, and my grandparents are there to

see me. I want to know they are all there when I need them.

I want to climb onto Mom or Dad’s, Grandma or Grandpa’s lap and have them

read me a book, and then feel proud when I can read it to them. I want Mom and

Dad to help me with my homework again. I want Mom to talk to me again as she

drives me to school. I want to watch her cry when I get on that big yellow school

bus and the first day I drive myself.

I want to know that I can always run and jump into my Grandpa’s arms, and he will

catch me. I want Dad to explain patiently to me again how to do things. I want

Grandma to take me shopping. I want to know if I have bad dreams or hear a

storm, Mom and Dad are close by and will snuggle with me so I can go to sleep.

I want to know if Dad is too busy or too tired to play ball with me. I can call

Grandpa, and he will come right over. I want to ride my bike for the first time

without training wheels and feel safe because Dad is running along beside me,

and Grandma is proud of me because I can ride my bike without training wheels.

I want to experience summer nights filled with shooting fireworks, catching

lightning bugs, and putting them in jars. I want to find a frog or turtle, give them a

name, and feel tears running down my cheek when they escape or Dad says I

have to let them go.

I want to pick up a garden hose and squirt all the adults in sight, or play on a slip

and slide until my toes and fingers get all wrinkled. I want to slide a snake down

my sliding board again and cut down the neighbor’s tree with Dad’s hatchet. I want

to dress up like Spider-Man again and make things out of Legos. I want Grandma

to scratch my back.

I want to play snow football, build a snowman or a fort, and make a snow angel. I

want to play wiffle ball, do a cartwheel, and color in my coloring book. I want to

take a piece of cardboard and slide down the steps. I want Grandma to lie down

on the driveway again while I outline her in chalk.

I want to climb a tree, carve initials in it, or sit in a tree with Dad or Grandpa,

looking for deer. I want to go turkey hunting and walk down that lane holding

hands with Dad again.

I want Dad to lift me and help me make a basket, or help me swing a big bat. I

want to toss around the football with Dad or Grandpa. I want to play on my little

indoor basketball goal again with Grandpa. I miss it!

I want to jump on the trampoline and my bed. I want to play sports for the fun of it.

I want to believe, like Grandpa told me, that I can do anything I put my mind to.

Heck, I would even look forward to going to school again.

I do not want to have to get up and go to work every day, worry about budgets,

deadlines, computer crashes, or meetings. I no longer want to pay taxes or

insurance. I do not want to read or hear the news.

I do not want to hear gossip. I do not want to worry about how much I have in my

savings account. I do not want to worry if I did or said something to offend anyone.

I do not want to worry about my kids or grandkids, but I still want to be there for

them and help them if they need me.

I want to believe in the power of God, family, smiles, hugs, saying thank you, kind

words, truth, justice, peace, dreams, and imagination. I want all parents and

grandparents to know that kids spell love TIME.

Okay, I am through talking. You can have my checkbook, credit cards, bank

statement, house keys, car keys, computer, smartphone, or anything else you

want. I will not need them anymore. I therefore submit my resignation. I am no

longer an adult.

So, tag you are it. I am going outside. I saw a mud puddle, and I am going to jump

in it.

I want to be a kid again.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

A boy, his dog, and a fishing pole.

All thoughts are his and his alone.

To catch a fish and go back home.

Never a care what tomorrow would bring.

This little boy had everything.

– Author Unknown