An Afternoon at the Pool (and an Unexpected Conversation)

This afternoon was spent at the community pool with the grandkids and Megan. After a couple of hours of swimming, Caleb and Charlotte were hungry, so we grabbed some food from the snack bar while Megan and little Oliver stayed in the water.

As we sat eating, the conversation took an unexpected turn. Out of the blue, the kids started talking about what they would do if they were ever homeless as adults. What a different world they’re growing up in! When I was their age, I never once considered something like that. It honestly caught me off guard.

Caleb, ever the planner, laid out his idea step by step. First, he said he’d find a job, then buy a backpack to keep his things in, along with food and water. Once he had work, he said he’d try really hard and save every bit he could. Eventually, he’d buy a camper so he’d have both transportation and a place to live. I told him that as long as I’m alive—and as long as he’s not doing drugs—he will never be homeless.

Later, he added that if things ever got that bad, he’d talk to his parents first to see if he could live with them until he got back on his feet. And if that didn’t work out, he’d come live with Grandpa and me.

The fact that my grandkids—at just eleven and nine—are aware of homelessness and feel the need to plan for it… well, it breaks my heart a little.

Charlotte, our storyteller, had her own thoughtful (and characteristically detailed) plan. She said she’d work multiple jobs at once and try to sleep at one of the places she worked so she wouldn’t have to sleep outside. Her first purchase? Clothing. "If I live on the street," she said, "my clothes will probably have holes and look dirty. I have to have better clothes for my job." After that, she’d buy food and water, and continue working hard while teaching herself new things so she could get a better job.

Eventually, she said, her first big purchase would be a house. Then she’d save more money to buy furniture. And finally—my favorite part—she said she wants to have twin girls. “I’ll feed them, spend time with them, and help them brush their hair,” she said sweetly.

So yes, it saddens me deeply that our grandchildren even feel the need to think about homelessness. But at the same time, I’m encouraged. They believe in themselves. They believe they can work hard and change their circumstances. That gives me hope.