Episode 17 - Down for the Count

We were thrilled to have our son and grandson (from Kentucky) visiting this past week. Grandma enjoyed having them both here and I found several similarities between three year old Lil A and 84 year old Grandma. For instance, both enjoy their beverages in covered cups - Lil A in a sippy cup and Grandma, in a travel mug. Lil A enjoys watching the same Super Hero movie over and over. Grandma is glued to GSN most of the day. Each extends their forefinger toward you when trying to get their point across.... and speaks with a tone of authority, no matter how ridiculous their claim. Sometimes a little "three year old" psychology works with Grandma as well as Lil A. Letting them think something is their idea or presenting choices rather than merely asking questions.

As many parents of pre-school children can attest, bedtime can be a challenge. Likewise, "getting Grandma down for the night" is also a feat. We (DH, CeCe and I) play a little game each evening as Grandma retires to her basement quarters for bed.

G: It's time for bed Sam... Come on, let's go up to bed.
NM: Down
G: What?
NM: Down. You go 'down' to bed.
G: Oh yeah.

Sam saunters to the stairway and down they go. Game on. Each participant makes a guess as to how many times Grandma will be back upstairs before we go to bed.

Here she comes....

CeCe: One
G: I can't find my remote.
DH: It's on your nightstand.
G: No, It's not there.
DH: Go back and look again.
G: Maybe you can find it.

DH goes down with her and returns to tell us the remote was on the nightstand, but upside down.

A few minutes later, we hear her coming up the stairway, calling our names.

CeCe: Two
G: Sam needs to go out. I don't think I can do it.
NM: We can do that...

DH hooks Sam to the line while Grandma sits down in the living room.

G: I have a problem.
NM: What is it?
G: I don't know what pajamas to wear.
NM: Uh... wear blue.
G: Blue? OK.

Sam and Grandma return to the basement.

And then...

CeCe: Three
G: Hello? Something is wrong with my heater. It's way too hot in my room.

DH to the rescue.

And again, the familiar sound...

CeCe: Four,(Five,etc.)
G: Are the doors locked?
NM: Yes

G: Will you be going to church tomorrow?
NM: No, tomorrow is Wednesday.

G: There's a noise in the wall by the bathroom...
NM: It's the furnace.

G: Can someone take me to D1? I have some papers I need to get.
DH: Your papers are in the basement. There's nothing left at D1.

Never once has Grandma come up asking for a glass of water (a common bedtime diversion in three year old circles). She repeats the same queries frequently and some nights are worse than others. As for the "contestants," we waffle between amusement and frustration. There's no prize for the correct guess, but it's part of 'our' evening routine. It's entertainment that also adds levity to the situation. The record stands at six - we hope it stands for a long while!

So ends Episode 17.