Last week I had a couple of "grandma" events with a couple of little boys.  They weren't my grandkids, but they made me feel like they had the confidence of a grandma in me.

One little boy told me that his mom was "abusive".  He was always afraid she was going to hit him.  In fact, he could only see his mom with another adult present.  How sad.

I asked him if he wanted to read a book, or have me read to him.  He said his teacher was the only one that had ever read to him.  I asked him if he goes to the library.  He said only at school.

How thankful I am that my mother read to me!  Especially as a teenager, when she wanted all six of us to have an hour of quiet time.  How wise she was.

The other little boy thought his family had left him.  Well, they had left him, but they thought he was asleep and they went on a walk a couple of blocks away.  

He came bawling like mad to the front door, my family left me!  I'm all alone!  OK.  Come in.  He had a monster book and he could tell me everything imaginable about these monsters.  I had my phone.  I was playing a little Pokemon.  When he saw Pokemon, he was really excited.  His family plays Pokemon.  

It had been a while and I told him we better see if his family was back.  His mom answered the door.  She had gone to kiss him good night, and he was gone.

At least he felt comfortable enough to go next door when he was alone.