Carrying the old....

My daughter is jumping on the bed happily waiting for me to pull out her PJ’s. This is a tradition of sorts, before going to bed. She will laugh and ask for “The pink ones mamma, the pink ones!” Next I put the pink ones on her, and tell her to get under the covers. Where she jumps in the direction of the pillows, and does one big final jump to land in a laying position, set to be tucked in. I turn out the light, we say our prayers, and bless everyone from grandparents, to cats. After all that’s said, Jules asks me unexpectedly “Are Grandma and Grandpa old?” I say “yes, they are old, and you have to take care of old people you know. Just like you take care of Squirt the kitty, or just like you take care of little babies, you also have to take great care of old people too. You have to be nice and gentle, and do things for them. Do you understand?” After a long thoughtful look though the dark, I see her little blond head shake up and down to indicate she got it. She reaches out and puts her hand on my arm, sits up with wide eyes and says “But momma, I can’t pick Grandma up!”