In October I married my high school sweetheart. When I said "I do" to my man, I also said "I do" to his 3 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, 5 (soon-to-be 6) grandchildren and 1 dog! Since I could never have children of my own, I was thrilled, if not a bit overwhelmed, with a ready made family. I tell everyone how awesome it is and how I didn't have to go through labor nor years of poverty and no sleep to have them! It is a bit tenuous navigating the ins and outs of step-children hood. The boys are all grown with families of their own. So they really don't need me as a stepmother. So, I get to fulfill the role of bonus adult in their lives. I love it because we get along and don't have to deal with the normal issues that come with smaller children. Now the best part of the deal, other than my hubby, is that I do get to be Grandma Neese to their beautiful children. ( They are small and can't pronounce Denise. It comes out as Neese. However, Macie is starting to put it all together!). This is a role that cherish! Mark says I was meant to be a grandma! I would like to think he's right because I love those little mop-heads with all my heart. However, having never raised children of my own, there is a learning curve involved to being a grandparent.
Case in point: This week my daughter-in-law, Amanda, was really sick. She was sent home from work. She works at a day care center. So it's not really a good idea for the teacher to contribute to an already whirlpool of germs and diseases! She needed to take the next day off. I offered to keep the kids for her so she could sleep and get better. After assuring her it would be fine, she gratefully agreed. Did I mention they are 3.5 and 1.5?
I told Amanda to call me when they woke up, and I would come get them. So, at 8:00 I drove down the street to get them. Did I mention they only live 5 minutes down the street? Score!! We love having them so close. Packed the kids and their sippy cups into the car and off we went. Brought them to house and made them breakfast. Now Macie is at the stage where she wants to "help"! And her little brother wants to do EVERYTHING she does. I bought them a bench that they can bring to the kitchen and help. So, they were in charge of the frozen waffles. That's right! Frozen waffles...no shame in my game! I showed Macie how to depress the latch lever. (Yes, that's what it's called. I googled it!) Graeme was so memorized they he had to investigate. He discovered if he twisted the doneness knob, the waffles would pop back up! (I made that term up! I apparently have an inexpensive, old toaster, and I couldn't find the term). So we played about 5 minutes of pop goes the waffle before I couldn't take Macie yelling at her brother and him laughing hysterically anymore! I'm glad to announce we finally ate and all was well.
After several hours of coloring, playing dinosaurs, learning to ride the tricycle, and reading books, it was time to eat again! I called their mother to get permission to take them to the mall for lunch and to play in the play area. I decided if I let them run, climb and jump at the mall everyone would be ready for a nap when we returned. Smart, right!??!?! So I called their momma and asked for permission. She questioned me as to whether or not I was up to it. I replied that I deal with a room of teenagers everyday, 2 small children would be a piece of cake! LOL! So, I got them bundle up in their coats, hats and mittens and out the door we went. As we got to the car, I realized that I forgot my diaper bag. Yep! I have my own diaper bag! So, back in the house we went. Grabbed the bag and back out the door we went. The whole time Macie is telling me to hurry up! I decided ahead of time we would eat at the Taco Bell. I'd get them kid meals. Apparently, I haven't been the mall in a while because there are only 3 restaurants open: Chinese, Japanese and Charley's. Well crap! Now I had to come up with plan B. In my wisdom, I decided that Charley's would be the best. While I was contemplating the menu, the grandbabies became little jacket rabbits! They take off in different directions to check out all of the bells and whistles in the food court. So I chased after them and corralled them between me and the counter of Charley's. I finished ordering! As they prepared our food, I found a high chair and a table close to the play area and a group of elderly grandparents. I could tell they were experienced grandparents and great-grandparents because they just kept smiling and nodding at me. I'm sure they were thinking, "girl, you are new at this arent' you!" I smiled back thinking, "I'll show you!"
Somehow I got all us and a tray of food to the table. I divvied up the food and tore it up into small pieces to cool off. I reached into my diaper bag for the sippy cups. Guess what!??! No damn sippy cups! I forgot. That's okay, we got this. So, I ran back to the counter and got two small cups, lids and straws. Macie is a champ. She can use a straw with 85% accuracy. Graeme, not so much. We struggled with who was going to hold the cup and who wasn't. I won. As he is drinking his water, I hear "Uh oh" to see Macie's cup go hurling to the floor! The table of grandparents started laughing...again! I give them a "meh" look and carried on! After we finished eating and finding the custodial staff to clean up the water, we headed to the play area. (Lunch was a success by the way! You can never good wrong with chicken tenders and french fries)
They had a blast climbing and running! Graeme especially loved me chasing him back into the play area! He did find a little girl who he was smitten with! He even tackled her to give her a hug. Once again the old people are laughing as I apologize to the little girl's dad!
Once we got home, it was naptime! Or so, I thought! Apparently they were so energized by the activity that they were still wound up. After grandma's mandatory quiet time on the couch with Paw Patrol on the TV and books in hand, Grame started to fall asleep. Miss Independent announced that she wasn't tired! Of course not, even though she kept yawning like a cat basking in the sun! So, we had some quality time at the kitchen table making get well cards for mommy and daddy and Valentine notes for PawPaw Mark. Then it was iPad time with one of the numerous games I have downloaded for her. Finally after an hour, she said she wanted to lay on the couch. But under no circumstances was she going to sleep as she yawned and rubbed her eyes. After about 15 minutes, she was asleep and snoring like a drunken sailor.
As I watched them sleep and listened to them snore, I puffed up with pride. I survived the day with these two little angels that call me Grandma. I fed them, entertained them, and got to them to nap. I would be returning them to their parents unscathed! When they woke up, I got them organized, bundled up and drove them home. As I was leaving, they both came running to me and gave me hugs and kisses. They both told me that they loved me followed by more hugs and kisses. It was in that moment I realized that I didn't survive at all. Instead I provided Macie and G-man with a day filled with love and nurturing. They didn't care about the fails of the day. They remember the fun and laughter we had. I call that winning!
I'm new to this job. I know I will make mistakes along the way. But I believe the great memories we will have will outweigh the oopses! It's an adventure I look forward to and I cherish!
Make Every Day Count
Denise
