I recently had the privilege of watching my 11-month old adorable grandson for eight days while my daughter and son-in-law went on a vacation. What did I learn?

* Wake up smiling each day. Parker views each morning as a great adventure waiting to happen, and he relishes every day. So should we.
* Take pleasure in the little things. Who knew balloons or a box could be so intriguing? Approach even the mundane with fresh eyes.
* Live in the moment. When Parker is devouring his cantaloupe and Cheerios, he is fully involved and engaged. Enjoy the present.
* Balance is important. Parker can take about a dozen steps at a time, but needs to be “centered” before he takes off. Good advice for us all.
* Love generously. Parker hasn’t met a person he doesn’t like. He accepts everyone, regardless of race, religion, politics, or sexual orientation. Try it.
* Get plenty of sleep. Eleven hours a night, plus two naps during the day keeps Parker in a good mood and full of energy. Slumber like a baby.
* Try new things. Each day brings new opportunities: trying a new food, looking at a new book, investigating new surroundings. Makes the mind grow.
Be resilient. When Parker falls down, he might cry a bit, but he gets back up, crawls to a piece of furniture (or grammy’s leg), and pulls himself up again. He views failure as a temporary set-back. Nice outlook.
Laugh often. Nothing like a huge belly laugh from a baby watching a tennis ball thrown in the air. Find the humor in everyday things.


The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement