A third-grade girl wrote a report on what a grandmother is. Here's a portion of her essay:
"A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own. She likes other people's little girls. A grandfather is a man grandmother. He goes for walks with the boys, and then talks about fishing, tractors and things like that.... Grandmothers don't have to do anything but be there. They're old so they shouldn't play hard or run. It is enough if they take us to the market where the pretend horses are and have lots of dimes ready, or if they take us for walks and slow down passing things like pretty leaves or caterpillars. They never say, 'Hurry Up.'
"Usually they are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums off. They don't have to be smart, but they can answer questions like why dogs hate cats and how come God isn't married. When they read to us, they don't skip words or mind if it is the same story over again and again. Everybody should try to have one, especially if you don't have a television, because grandmothers are the only grownups who got time."
(adapted from Thomas St. Bulletin, Altus, OK)