We’ve been going bowling with our grandchildren a bit this summer. A local bowling alley has a summer program that offers two free games per week for children. That means we can bowl for the price of shoe rental, which makes it an affordable adventure with three grandchildren. And although most of the rest of the nation wouldn’t consider highs in the mid 80’s to be extreme, we aren’t used to the heat of recent days, so going into an air conditioned building for a while feels good. Our habit is to go out for a snack after bowling. Our grandchildren have access to carefully chosen nutritious food. They live on a farm with plenty of snacks in this season. Although we are coming to the end of the berry season, there are still strawberries for the picking right outside their door. There are apples in the orchard and plums and pears will be ripe soon. They have access to plenty of nuts and dried fruits in their pantry. Both of their parents are working to provide locally-sourced nutrition for their children. That means, of course, that when they are asked about what snack they want, they nearly always choose sweets and other foods they don’t get at home. As grandparents we sometimes indulge their desires, within reason. After all we don’t want to upset parents. We like being granted time with our grandchildren.

After bowling yesterday we were sitting in the car discussing what snacks to have before going back home. The youngest insisted that the only acceptable snack on a hot day is ice cream. The middle child thought that a trip to the bakery for a cupcake sounded like a good idea. The oldest said he could go either way - bakery or ice cream. That left us with a challenge to make the decision. We ended up with dishes of ice cream and a promise that next time the bakery would be the destination.

Our grandchildren are not suffering from a lack of snacks. They participated in the Creation Care Camp at our church this week. There were abundant snacks. The decision was made to use pre-packaged snacks to avoid any possible issues with food safety. Our church has had its kitchen mostly shut down during the pandemic and there are still procedures about serving food that has limited after worship snacks. The snacks at Creation Care Camp were abundant and children were allowed to take snacks home at the end of each day’s meeting. You might have thought that our grandchildren were suffering from a lack of food at home to see the amount they took home each day. We know that their parents are working hard to teach them good nutrition habits and are trying to limit snacking at home, so I was still amazed at the amount of snacks they consumed.

It is interesting to note what are the favorite foods of our grandchildren. Some are the same as was the case for our children. Others are very different. Pizza is always a hit. Our gang is happy with two varieties: cheese and pepperoni. I enjoy those kinds, but might seek more variety. However, I know what will be popular with the kids. The kids also like barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, which were hits with our kids as well.

I think they will be coming over to our house for dinner tonight. We often have dinner together on Saturdays. Our dinner plan for tonight is one I know will be a hit with the kids, but it is also a surprise for me. We’ll make sushi together. I don’t think I could have predicted, when our children were growing up, that I would even learn how to make sushi, let alone have it become a favorite for dinners with grandchildren.

I happen to know that it is a favorite of their parents as well. Their parents had sushi on their first date and we often tell the story of that adventure.

When our children were young, macaroni and cheese was always a hit. Our grandchildren used to like macaroni and cheese, but seem to have grown out of that particular food. They don’t request it when we are eating together. Spaghetti with meat sauce was another favorite when our children were growing up. Our grandchildren will eat it, but will fill up on garlic bread and eat less pasta than was the case with their father when he was their age.

Any meal with biscuits served will be a hit, even if the little ones mostly eat biscuits and only sample the rest of the food served. I’m a big fan of coleslaw and make it regularly, but I notice that our grandchildren usually don’t take it when it is served. The same is true of a salad of fresh greens from the garden. They do like cherry tomatoes, though.

Fresh baked cookies are always a hit, but so too is popcorn. Depending on other activities, one of those snacks is a whole lot easier to produce than the other. I have noticed that when they come to our house, checking out the pantry is one of the first things our grandchildren do. The 11-year-old has also taken to checking out the refrigerator lately. During the summer lemonade is a big hit.

My mother frequently insisted that the term “spoil the child” was misplaced. She would say, “You can’t spoil a child by loving them.” We claim a certain privilege as grandparents that includes offering a few more treats to our grandchildren than they get in their life at home. We are a bit quicker to offer a snack. We’ve checked with their parents and know that we aren’t going beyond the boundaries they have set. Having some of our grandchildren so close is one of the great luxuries of life and we revel in it. I joke with our daughter-in-law about borrowing her children. I know that in her busy life having a little time for projects when someone else is taking responsibility for her children is welcome.

Life is good and I’m looking forward to another opportunity for an adventure with our grandchildren. After all, I know that the next adventure will include a stop at the bakery. It turns out that I like cupcakes, too.