“WHERE IS EVERETT? I don’t see him. Does anybody see Everett?”
Repeatedly, my 21-month-old grandson ducked under his elephant blanket and hid. Even with one foot sticking out and parts of an arm and fingers exposed, Everett thought he was successfully hiding. Of course, he wasn’t, but his mom and I played along.
He was our little, well not so little at 35 pounds, ghost. Not a bit scary or scared. But rather one cute pajama-clad toddler learning that Mom and Grandma will still be there when he emerges from hiding.
That’s not to say Everett is fearless. When Randy and I arrived at his home in Madison, Wisconsin, recently, he started screaming. Not in excitement, but rather fear. We dropped our suitcase and other belongings inside, promptly turned around and went for a walk, giving Everett time to calm down.
It’s not that we are strangers to our grandson. I typically video chat with him and my daughter twice a week. But given the 265 miles between our homes and work schedules, we don’t see him in-person all that often. A screen and direct human interaction are not the same, especially to a little one who is growing, developing, learning.
Today when Everett heads out to trick-or-treat with his parents, he’ll dress, not as a ghost, but as Cookie Monster. I know he likes cookies. I brought along some chocolate chip cookies and he gobbled half of one right down. No hesitation.
Maybe there’s a lesson here. Next visit, walk in the door with a chocolate chip cookie in hand. And just to be certain Everett is OK with his grandparents popping in, bring blankets to quickly transform into ghosts if necessary.
Happy Halloween, everyone!
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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