We saw neighbor Logan (10) on his porch as we came back from our morning walk. John asked him to come over to get Sunday School activity sheets we had printed for him. He asked to stay, ran home to get permission from his parents, and thus began a whole day with our special friend. None of us knew at the time that it would last until evening.
After breakfast and David’s leaving for work, Logan went to town with us. The fellows ran an errand or so while I had my teeth cleaned. We headed for Walmart. Logan has been shopping with us before, and we let him pick out a small toy to take home. Understandably, Shawn and Bob did not want their son to be in the habit of ASKING for things. We cleared it via text that we could get him something. Shawn had said Logan was so good to her, fetching things when she had limited mobility after her hip replacement. He did whatever she asked without complaint. I felt a minor miracle like that from any child should be rewarded.
When we came home, Logan helped John in the garden, picking up leaves and limbs from John’s recent trimming job, while I prepared our main meal. We three sat down to eat, and it didn’t occur to me until then that Logan had not played with his new toy. He brought it out on the porch, and only after we ate did he ask if he could open it. I realized many children would have already opened and broken a toy in that time. What remarkable restraint and self-control! (Round of applause for Logan, please!!)
After lunch I took a photo of the fellows playing Go Fish. John said Logan had already trounced him in a game of checkers. I suspect we will win only games of chance with him from now on. For the record, I quit playing games of strategy with our grandsons many years ago.
When John excused himself to do paperwork, I set up soda-can targets for Logan to shoot. He hit six in a row, I think, but naturally that wasn’t when I was taking a video. I saved one short clip of the cool marksman hitting the target. Looking at it frame by frame, I could not see the bullet at all.
Logan and I played an unscramble word game until he tired of it. He picked up a shrunken balloon from another day’s play, and I remembered I had a bat for him. It was a cardboard tube that had been the center of a roll of wrapping paper. He used it to play baseball with the sorry balloon, not wishing to get a new one from the closet. John rejoined us, and we all laughed at the bat that was slowly uncurling. At the end, there was a whooshing sound as he swung at the “ball”. The impromptu rules were like baseball, but in a real ballgame, the batter wouldn’t be able to hit the ball twice in one play as Logan did. I don’t know what else we might have found to play with, but Bob came over to take Logan home. What a fun day it had been for us!
Mehrling Muse 
💗
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What a well-behaved child Logan seems to be! Kudos to his parents for producing this charming boy!
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Logan is a miracle — taken from his drug-addicted mother at age two and adopted at age four when we first met him.
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Oh my gosh! Wow, so great how it’s turned out for Logan, eh?!!
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His parents have been loving and vigilant. He couldn’t have landed in a better place.
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So wonderful! He’s a child who is well loved.
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Logan was with us in the supermarket a week or so ago. A woman I didn’t know greeted him by name and complimented him on his excellent reading on the church website. She saw him on line and thought he did a good job. He is loved at his church, as well as in our neighborhood.
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❤️
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You and John are the hero grands here.Bet you slept well that night.
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We always sleep well after Logan has been here, but then you know that from having raised boys.
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He is such a treasure — It’s so good to see you appreciate what you have there. And so fortunate to have you in his life.
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It’s win, win, win!
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Logan is a very special boy. Having young people around is such a treat. My Irish neighbours are here with their 7-year-old daughter who loves to come over and spend time with us. We are reading Black Beauty (a child’s version) together. She loves my book collection and said, “Who doesn’t like books?” She also likes playing with my dog.
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That’s great that you have a special neighbor, too.
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You are so creative with toys to entertain Logan. He seems easy to please too.
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Logan has an active mind and helps in finding things to play. He NEVER says he is bored.
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You are good for each other.
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Logan is such a well-behaved young man … a real credit to his parents and you, John and David’s influence rubs off as well. I knew he would be a help to Shawn with fetching, etc. while she recuperates and until she is back on her feet 100% again.
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We’re proud of Logan for being so helpful to his mother. I guess we all have a constant choice of whether we will be responsive to others.
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He seems exceptional to me Anne. I’ve not been around a lot of young people in my life, but those I have seen are not well-mannered and thoughtful as Logan at such a young age on top of it. He will have those characteristics as an adult, mark my words.
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I’ve seen some children who are not well-mannered, too.
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The grocery store or a mall is very telling for kids’ behavior. I’ve seen kids, and not toddlers either, have a temper tantrum and go right onto the floor, kicking their arms and legs … I was raised so strictly that I see my younger self in Logan. I would have gone home to ask my parents for permission to stay at someone’s house, even though he is with you, John and David all the time, just as Logan did.
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When Kate was in first grade, she had a friend from school come to play. When the mother said it was time to go, the girl wrapped herself around the leg of our piano and refused to let go. I found it embarrassing for those people.
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I agree with you – were the parents somewhat mortified? Their child obviously obviously enjoyed herself and hopefully her home situation was not one to be feared or dreaded and the reason was she just had a wonderful time with your family.
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The mother didn’t know what to do. I was too shocked to notice her reaction.
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I can’t imagine either.
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Fun day! I am really enjoying reading about your days with Logan. What a sweet kid. I imagine his parents appreciate you looking after him too and giving them a break, too.
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Logan’s parents do need a break, especially since we don’t go many places these days. They are older, too, having raised three children before adopting Logan.
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Hi
Logan is entligent boy.good behavior. A real credit of parents and you. It story teach other family & other kids.good understanding. I am so glad too.
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Logan’s parents have worked very hard to teach him how to live well. He is a lot of fun, too.
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Wish our little humans were as well behaved! It’s nice that you “adopted” grandson is so great.
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Your little humans might be just as well-behaved with outsiders as Logan is.
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Hmm, saving their best for others. This might be the case. Pickle wars for us, seems about right.
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My mom used to say she could stand us at home, as long as we behaved well when with others. Generally, we did.
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Good plan. Hope you stuck to it.
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Surrogate grandparents are special.
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We are blessed!
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Neighbors make such a difference for kids. Logan is blessed to have your family in his life. I know that I treasure the neighbors I grew up among and what I learned from them.
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I grew up with an older couple next door, and the man sat on the porch swing to work the crossword puzzle
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One neighbor taught me to sew, another made awesome grilled cheese sandwiches. I still use both experiences, 65 years later.
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Amazing, isn’t it? I quit working crossword puzzles when we gave up the newspaper.
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Hit return too quickly. He pointed out the easy clues and made me feel I was working half the puzzle. I still like crossword puzzles.
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What a special bond you all have.
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We had no idea of the blessings that would come when we moved here.
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