We returned recently from a visit to our son and daughter-in-law and their two amazing little boys, ages three and almost one. For twelve days, we read books—again and again—and played blocks, changed diapers and fixed “snacks” for the boys. The older they get, the more fun they are. The older boy can accurately identify all of his toy dinosaurs. He loves to build towers with his wooden blocks—and crash them to the ground. He loves books and walks and going to church. The younger is almost ready to walk. He is just getting interested in books, adores his big brother, and delights in being lifted high in the air or turned upside down.

My husband and I soaked in as much time with the little guys as we could, and their parents were happy to let us do so—for some odd reason. And then it was time to leave, to fly back home to our usual routine and our lonely kitty. Usually going home would depress me, as I thought about all I would miss being away from my grandbabies. This time, surprisingly, it did not. We sat next to an interesting woman on the first leg of our flight, which was certainly a welcome distraction. And our sweet cat was very happy to see us.

But there was something more. As I washed clothes, picked vegetables from our garden, and worked on both paid and personal writing, I felt renewed energy. New ideas for articles came to me, new developments in the middle grade novel I am currently writing, even ideas for the test assessments I write for work. Had a bit of toddler energy radiated into me? Or had those baby kisses planted some of their uninhibited joy in my heart? It does seem so.

Not that I don’t miss them. People used to tell me how special the grandparent-child bond is, and I thought I knew what they meant. It would be like the parent-child relationship, but with less responsibility—or so I thought. Wrong. It is an entirely different critter, something I don’t yet have the words to explain. Altogether wonderful and amazing, just like my little grandsons. Would you like to see pictures? I have one or two…thousand…

Fiona, still queen of the household