Boy or Girl?

Hello my little one,
        Your mommy says that this week you will grow to
be the size of an orange!
        Tomorrow your mom and dad will go to their
doctor and she will use a special camera to take a good
look at you.  Part of that picture might tell if you are a
girl or a boy, so everyone is excited.
        Does it really matter?  Of course not! We just want
you to be healthy and happy.
       But this is a world of "compartments" and humans
seem to need to put things in categories to be able to
understand them. For instance, it is hard to tell the gender
of a newborn baby.  So mommies dress little girls in pink
and other feminine colors to indicate that her baby is a
girl.  Boys get blue. Isn't that so silly?  You may be a
baby that likes purple or orange (those were your
parents wedding colors).
      When I was a little girl even our careers were decided
by gender.  Girls became homemakers/wives or teachers or
nurses.  Boys became policemen, firemen and were
"bosses" or CEO's of all big businesses. Girls wore
dresses with sashes and boys wore pants.
      But all that has changed in my lifetime.  Girls can be
CEO's or astronauts or doctors.  Boys can become
dancers or nurses or stay-at-home dads. 
      So, tomorrow when we find out if you are a girl
or a boy - don't feel that you are compartmentalized.
Life is a stage without walls and the play is all yours
to create any way you want it!
      Love, Grandma Sharry
      
        

Work for babies

Hello my little one,
       It is Monday and the beginning of the work week.  Work is a little
word that has so much meaning.  It is a job - something you do to earn 
your place in the world (where you live, the food you eat, the clothes
you wear).  It is a way to contribute to society with your own special
skills and talents - to make the world a better place.  It can be
something you do to improve yourself - like going to school.
       Work requires physical and mental effort, focus, giving up some
things for others, doing things you may not like to do, getting along
with other people and dedication to finishing what you have started.
Work for babies can mean learning to walk, talk and dress yourself. 
The older you get - the more challenging the work becomes.
     The more skills and talent you possess increases the chance that
you can choose the lifelong work you want to do. This is called a
career. Skills can be learned in school, life or on your own. Talents
are skills that you have naturally, but even they need cultivating
and nurturing.
      In this society skill sets are currently recognized by "degrees"
from schools, but many things are not learned in schools.  They can
be learned from other people (your mom and dad) or even
playing computer games.
       EXPLORE!  Ask questions like "why?"; think about things
you see, dream about how things might be in the future and find
out who you are.  If you are lucky enough to be able to match your
skills and talents to the "right job".......your life will be so much more
fulfilling and enjoyable.
       You will hear the word "competition" in the work world.  But
remember, you are only in competition with yourself....to be the
best you can be.  There will always be others who have more or less
skills than you have.  Be happy for them.  Learn from the ones who have
more skills and help the ones who have fewer.  The world and the work
world needs this kind of teamwork.
      My wish for you is that in life you will enjoy the work you do; that
you will have the freedom to choose your work and that it will fit your
skills and talents like a glove! 
      Now, I must go to work myself.....and yes, I am lucky enough to
have all the above!
Love, Grandma

Naming baby

Hello my little one.....

           Right now your mommy and daddy are thinking about what they will name
you.  It is an important decision because your name stays with you for your entire
life.  They are looking for a name that will fit the baby you, the child you, the teenager
you and the adult/professional you.  They want one that will fit with your last name
(Janser), and one that is unique but likeable.  One that will not lend itself to teasing
(other children can be mercilous here) or ridicule. And, of course, one that doesn't
bring up bad memories for either your mom or dad.

          Most, but not all, names imply gender. This week when your mommy goes
to the doctor she thinks that she will know if you are boy or girl.  So the name
selection gets easier. 
Your Great Grandpa LeRoy hated his middle name his entire life (Horace).
Your Great Great Grandpa Gilbert Wesley was always called "Butch".  Your
Great Great Grandma Gertrude was called "Peggy". 
       Although my name is Sharon, I have been called Sharry since I went to nursing
school and found 4 other Sharon's in our school. That just seemed like too many!
       Your dad's name was created by his mom.  Your mom was named for my 
favorite teen star Shelley Fabares.  I really wanted to call her Anne Wesley, but
that was vetoed by the grandmas!
       So much to say that your "proper" name is just a beginning. 
       You will make yourself known in the world and the nick-naming
will take care of itself!
       Love, Grandma

Welcome my little one......

8/28/10
         Your mom tells me that you are the size of a lemon today! 
Wow, so small, but I love you already!
        Today I am starting this blog.  It will be a place for our stories, between you
and me, and a place for me to store bits of wisdom it has taken me a lifetime to learn.
The world is changing so fast - maybe it will seem old-fashioned.  But if you are
ever looking for answers, maybe, just maybe they will be here for you.
         I will always be here for you (and your mom and dad too)....to love you no
matter what, just as you are.
         There is already a little rocking horse at my house and a barn with wooden
animals to play with.  We will have so much fun.
         So here we go......hang on for the ride!    
 Love, Grandma