Grandparenting in the Mountains

Oh boy…..Oh boy……

“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet”……………………………………………………………………………Roger Miller

“Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day”………Zen Proverb

“ Grandparenting….The Ultimate Extreme Sport”…………………………………………………………………………..Pinterest

“Lightbulb out again
how many of us must meet
to change it this time?”……………………………………………………………………………………………………..Haikus for Jews

Happy Memorial Day…..It’s a beautiful day here in the mountains (finally) and we both took two naps this afternoon after getting back from Boston where we a returned little Quinn and even littler Olaf to Ry and Lauren, who arrived back from their European sojourn late last night….I think more naps are in store after nine days of being full time (I mean 24/7) Nanna and Papi….. Quinn, who Jenn has dubbed Quinn-Lilly (when you ask her anything that starts with “Who”-as in “Who is a big girl?” or “Who made a big potty?”…she answers with something that sounds like Quin-ill-Lee- so she became Quin Lilly….anyway Quinn-Lilly is a true delight…BUT…she is all of two….and we are all of fifty and sixty something….

It has been thirty plus years since either of us had a two year old…and saying that clearly we were out of practice would be an understatement. We were just getting the hang of it, when it was time to turn her in….and time for us to take the rest cure…thank the Lord for ants and rocks which we have an unlimited supply of…..and which turned out to be QL’s favorite pastimes …bending down and screaming at ants and heaving every rock in sight….

Though I’m sure there are other things that went on in the Greens in the last ten days….we were oblivious while trying to keep up with a two year old.

Thus, I will limit my musings this week to the observations and leanings of nine days of Nanna and Papi-hood…and then go take another nap…..

• 2 year olds require a routine…and it changes by the minute….making plans is a fantasy
• I know remember why kids go to day care and parents go to work
• The Vermont Country Store is a built in babysitter
• TV is GOOD…..VERY GOOD….
• Kids LOVE Maple Creamees
• It’s good thing to spot the returning (from where does he go?) snapping turtle in your yard so that two year olds can go out looking for them again every day
• It’s not a good idea to take wee ones to Walmart at night…can you say MELTDOWN…in front of a hundred commenting Walmart shoppers…
• Papi should never let Nana disappear for four hours in the middle of the day
• Kids love the “Magic Bridge” that swings uncontrollably on the Appalachian Trail
• The Children’s Museum in Rutland is your best friend
• When you have a two year old for nine days…there is NO Nookie…
• There are many more questions than there are answers
• Nine days with a two year old makes housekeeping irrelevant (It’s a mess!)
• You wake up tired and go to bed tired…
• The winds change very quickly…
• Celebrities we read about who have babies in their later years…have LOTS of hired help…
• When the two year old takes a nap…you better take one too..
• Having nine days with your two old sweetie is PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

I’ve been reading Howard Mosher’s’ novel about being raised by his old school farmer Vermont grandparents in the remote Northeast Kingdom in the 40s and 50s….and keep wondering what did those folks do when their two year old went nuts that we should be doing? I’m still mulling that over…which I will be ruminating about into my next nap….

I think the pictures tell the story better than I can…

Goodnight….again…

Papi.

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