Out of the mouth of babies

Living with my Mother has been a drastic change in my life style. First is the lost of privacy my Mother's home is home to all the children grandchildren and many friends. Mom has lived in this house for over fifty years so it is like a second home to a lot of people. My nephew Trey is a former marine, served two tours in Iraq and has the emotional scares to prove it. Between tours he married a wonderful girl we love and adore Jennifer. She is a hometown girl but has the beauty of most models in magazines. Trey's father, my brother died several years ago and two years ago his Mother died so I have been a close ally for him. Trey and Jennifer were blessed with a child two and half years ago, his name is Bryson. Bryson has become the center of our world, and he knows it. He is of course the youngest, the next oldest one is ten so of course Bryson is very special to the whole family. Last week Trey comes over to Grandma's house to mow the grass and brings Bryson with him. Mother and I are always thrilled to spend time with him. We dote on his, making cookies for him, playing with building blocks on the floor, whatever he wants (almost). During his visit last week I fill the water can up to water all the flowers on the porch, with Bryson's help of course. We proceed to water all the flowers and sit down at the wicker settee on the porch, accidentally I knock the water can off the table and all the water spills out onto the chair and the cushion he looks at me, scrunches up his nose looks at me and say in this sweet little voice "stupeed". Immediately I tell him that is not a nice word and he should not use it. The next day being Sunday after church my brother comes over and we talk about the incident the day before and what Bryson said. My brother Larry is a jokester, always kidding, making you laugh. It seems the rest of the day I had a cloud over my head or the intense heat we have been having but I made so many mistakes and my brother would look at me and say "stupeed". He kids me and says I should not have corrected Bryson because the two year old just called as he saw it. "Stupeed".

How did I come up with this name?

Last year my Mother had a stroke and we were told she could no longer live alone. My Mother was quite aware of what was going on a few days after the stroke she was alert but very feeble. She left the hospital and went to a rehab center. (A funny story my Mother's oldest Great Grand Daughter who is the old age of 10 immediately informed the doctor, her Meema did not need to go to rehab she did not take drugs or alcohol.) She stayed in rehab for thirty days give or take a few days. During this time my brother and I discussed what we needed to do regarding her living arrangements. Years before I had made a promise to her that she would never go to a nursing home until she did not know who I was. I kept that promise I sold my beautiful home in North Carolina in the country and moved into her little house, two bedroom, one bathroom home in middle of downtown Conway South Carolina in a town I had grown up in. Having been married twice and twice divorced, one natural child and four step children and I always thought I was a fairly good cook. Had always gotten rave reviews from family and friends about my cooking. During the last year I have seen my Mother recover just beautifully. She certainly is not back to her old self she will probably always use a walker but she has gotten more confidence with her walker. Since she is more confident she is now in the kitchen telling me how to cook. We have a wonderful garden planted by my son-in-law Matt, so we are blessed with lots of fresh vegetables, lettuce, okra, green peppers,tomatoes, beans,squash, watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydew melons. After picking the fresh vegetables that we are going to eat each night she insist on watching and critiquing every step I make while cooking. Under close scrutiny she informs you to put nothing but the vegetable in a small dollop of water till it boils, then a pinch of sugar and dab of olive oil. No salt till the second boil. Mother was an infamous cook and the children and grandchildren really miss her cooking for us every Sunday. You were never invited you were expected for Sunday dinner. She would cook most of her dinner before she went to church. After church she would finish up and it would always be a huge country dinner with two meats, several different vegetables and my favorite was dessert. She made a mouth watering Banana Pudding, peach cobbler, and blueberry cobbler. Ask today how to make something and she still uses a PINCH DAB & DOLLOP. This time with my Mother has been the most rewarding time in my life. When I think about my life I realize I have had a pinch dab and dollop. My next post will be about "Stupeed"....look forward to sharing. Jeanne