FAMILY AFFAIR -- The children of Staff Sgt. Larry Reliford Jr. and his wife Spc. Chandra Reliford, serving in Iraq, are being cared for by grandparents in Victorville. The children are, from top center, Larry, 12, Felicia, 10, Kayshonta, 9, and Cedrick, 6. Associated story.

Grandmas take care of children

By JAMES RAMAGE Victor Valley Daily Press

Parents Larry and Chandra Reliford, both 31, shipped out together May 15, leaving their four children in the care of their own respective parents, Chandra's mother, Dorothy Daniels, 57, of Apple Valley, said.

Needless to say, those children, Larry, 12; Felicia, 10; Kayshonta, 9; and Cedrick, 6, eagerly await their parents' safe return.

All things considered, though, they're taking it rather well, Daniels said. Daniels, who shares care duties with Larry's mother, the childrens' other grandmother, said her task is to provide support and keep the children too occupied with chores and entertainment to be sad.

"I just tell them they'll be home and they'll be fine," Daniels said, "They're thinking about you always."

Even though her own daughter is serving her country in Kuwait, Daniels won't allow herself to worry in front of her grandchildren.

"I'm trying to be strong for the little ones," she said.

Daniels said the children speak to their parents on the telephone every so often, most recently last weekend, and that they've displayed their parents' pictures all over her house. But mostly, she said, she makes sure they're busy.

She said she has them doing lots of reading and coloring, and also insists they help her around the house. This entails sweeping and raking leaves, among other chores.

"Cedrick looked up at me one day, smiling and holding his broom, and he said, 'I did good, Gramma,' " Daniels said smiling. "And I said, 'Yes you did. You're the sweeper.' "

All of this has helped the Reliford children endure their parents' absence.

"They were real sad," Daniels said. "But when they come to me, we play, take off, eat, watch movies and stuff. They're too busy messing with me, just being normal kids."

Daily Press Staff Writer Nikki Cobb contributed to this report.