Two weeks ago Bean and I walked out the door of my house and scootered and walked a 
mile to the edge of the beach. Last week she arrived requesting to spend the afternoon at the beach, so we packed the car with buckets and snacks and spent three hours dodging the waves, walking on rocks and moving sand from one place to another.
This week I suggested a quiet day at home. This is how we spent it.
Lunch: “I’d like shrimp and fish sticks, Grandma. And can I have a snack while I wait for you to cook it?”
Baking project: “Want to see how small I can cut these apples, Grandma?” “Look! when I put the cornstarch all over my hands they feel slippery.” “Can I roll the pie crust now?” “Look! when I push my fingers into the pie crust it makes holes for the hot to get out.”
Cars: “Let’s line up all the race cars and then drive them fast to the wall.” “And this is a fire engine and this is a gasoline truck, and this is an ambulance. We’ll need those too.” “Grandma, you can be the person who picks up all the cars that go under the table and bring them back to me.” “And then can we have a snack?”
Letters and words: “No, we already did “dog” and “cat” and “pig” with the moving letters. Let’s do “baby cheetah.” Do you know how to write that one, Grandma?
Feeding the fish in the pond: “I’d like these fish more better if they were in a bowl in the house. Can we catch some and take them inside?”
Feeding the fish in the living room: “I think my minnows want some of that green stuff that grows in the pond, Grandma. Can you get some for them?” “And while you’re doing that, can I have a snack?”
Playing with stuffed animals: “I want to talk with the animals now, Grandma. I’ll be the Calico Cat and you can be the raccoon.”
Waiting for mom to pick her up: “I’ll squeeze the ear on my Easter Bunny from last year and when he sings, can you dance?”
What a wonderful day!
This is so cute how you interact with your grandchild. I work with 4 years old’s ,and I have to say they are very interesting ,and have a mind of their own when it comes to conversations and imagination. Everyday i love waking up to go to work because ,I know it’s going to be an interesting day with them because they always have something new to say. I Love to hear what they have to say to me for example one of the little girls, will come up to me and say tia Ms.Bee my mom didn’t do my hair today can you do it . When in reality her mom did but to make her happy I’ll pretend I’m doing her hair so she knows that I’m paying attention to her. My 4 year old’s love to imagine we are on a train so we will sit on chairs in a line ,and say all aboard chug a chug a chu chu. Also your relationship with your granddaughter reminds me of how my grandparents would take care of me and take me places, and interacted with me to keep me busy so i was bored. My grandparents would ask me where every I wanted to go and they would take me. I valued even staying at home with them even if it was going out it was always fun with.
Thank you so much for your comments, Byanca. Yes, Four is a wonderful age!
I can relate to you I am not a grandmother, but I am a mother to a 4 year old girl. They are a handful. I enjoy our mini adventures I spend with her. My daughter loves shrimps as she says, ” They are my favorite, huh mommy.” I actually do not like shrimps and when she tells me she would like to have her favorite food, but I actually hate the smell. I occasionally make her favorite food since my husband likes the shrimps and seafood as well. I do find that children learn and love to do things with their parents, grandparents. I wished my daughter had a grandmother that you just take her on a walk to the park. My mother does take her sometimes but my mother in law does not take her even to the store. This is too sweet that you spend time with your granddaughter enjoy them. I enjoyed reading your blog.
Thank you for your kind comments, Gladys. Perhaps it would be helpful to make an outing out of a trip to the store or to the park, and you could include your mother or your mother-in-law in the adventure. Sometimes even grandparents have fears or concerns that they might not be able to keep their grandchild safe or happy when they are alone with them. A patient parent might be able to help them overcome their fears.