VISIT BY CHILDREN EXCITING FOR PARENTS

In a week, I will be going to pick up my daughter and her husband at the airport here on a visit from Belgium. Yesterday, it dawned on me that I was doing the things my Mom and Dad use to do for me when I visited them after I left the State of Wisconsin many years ago. Now I understand how exciting it was for them.

First of all, I marked off the days to make sure I made no appointments – I want to be available to share quality time with them. The only appointment I have made locally is dinner for all of us at our favorite lady-friend’s home who has become a part of our family.

Secondly, I checked with my daughter and she loved the idea of showing her husband the beach. I made reservations for two days at my condo timeshare at Surfside Inn in Ocean Park.We laughed on the phone together because we can’t wait to show him the Cottage Bakery downtown Long Beach. Then, of course, we will be buying fresh oysters on the way up to the end of the Long Beach Peninsula. http://longbeachwa.com

This will be a time for us to relax, get caught up on news, and take long walks on the 22- mile beach that we enjoy so much. Oh, I forget, one of my favorite things is the beautiful drive over there on the Washington side of the Columbia River.

Meanwhile, I have been diligently getting my home ready for them. Interesting how a special visit gets one to focus on the clutter…..that’s why I have been sorting in recent weeks. The clutter is now gone and I am proud to walk into any room—things are in place with their own home.

There is a pile of special newspaper clippings I am convinced they will be interested in, and items I have picked up for them that will, at last, be delivered. Smiling as I write this, because these are not big things—just things I know that will be meaningful to them.

Finally, I have started planning the food. I could hear my daughter smile when I said, “How about if we have egg salad sandwiches on the way to the beach? She said “Great!” Egg salad sandwiches were always packed for the first leg of any trip when they were little—even I smiled as I thought about stopping to eat them at the picnic grounds of the old cover bridge we will be going by.

Children do not fully understand how important visits are to parents. Now I can say with real understanding --- Parents love it when their children come home.

Have you visited your parents lately?

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