TUESDAY.
3AM, as is frequently the case, I was wide awake. Turned on NPR music; 10 minutes later, still awake; finally turned on light and read a chapter of The Professor and the Madman. That’s problematic, as the book is too interesting. Guess I need Dabney’s Theology. Light off, radio turns on again at 6:00AM. Kids don’t need to get up until 6:20 for school.
Oh no! It’s 6:34. UP KIDS!!
Some earlier permutation of that which is me had laid out school clothes, set table for breakfast, and put back packs by the back door. 45 minutes later everyone was dressed, beds were made, they looked cute, and were outside waiting for carpool. They remembered to brush their teeth. Good thing. That they did it last night would not have been adequate.
Now it’s just Caroline and me. When the big kids are here she gravitates to where they are playing and entertains herself. Now she is my shadow. I try to remember what Bruce told me about how to make the TV/DVD player work and finally have Caroline mesmerized before the screen. I make my second cup of tea and read more on how badly Judah (the country) treated Jeremiah (the prophet). Presumably Jeremiah didn’t keep grandkids when he was 60; the Lord had told him to buy a field but did not allow him to take a wife.
Well, the child can’t spend the day in front of the box even if I am the grandmother. Oh yes, milk is low. We climb in the car and drive to Kroger. Pushing a child in one of the 6-foot long kid’s grocery carts could be prerequisite for 18-wheeler training school. The first time Sarah talked me into one of them I almost took out several display cases. Now I’m a pro. We get milk, eggs, orange juice, and I successfully sneak some chocolate into the cart.
Back Home: I spotted a coffee container. Alysia told me she had bought some for me. I pull it out. A large Kroger container of, WHAT? Lite coffee with ½ the caffein? Child, did I fail you so badly as a parent? Oh well; make the best. Later my eye falls on a 12 oz bag of Starbucks. Ah. What a beautiful child she grew to be.
Caroline eats her snack. Goldfish are the empty calories of choice. When she finishes we will go outside. The Wilsons have some great playground equipment, and unless her interests have changed, she would like nothing more than to ride in the swing.
Lunchtime. The phone rings as we are looking at books. A perfectly content child becomes distraught: Caroline, I am on the phone, you may not have more goldfish, but when I am off the phone, in about 90 seconds, I will fix your lunch. It’s an emergency, and I know where the peanut butter and jelly are, so for the second day in a row, that is lunch. I haven’t had such repast in a few years; PB&J is so good, I don’t mind the repeat one bit, more important, Caroline doesn’t seem to mind.
Nap time, then carpool home from Highlands Latin School. Callie looks very tired. Long day for the second grader. Long day for Grams.
Lights out at 7:30; Grams not far behind.
