Jackie Wells-Fauth
My daughter just sent me a rude and defaming meme which was titled, “My children coming home from Grandma’s house.” It was accompanied by the above picture. Now, I’m not entirely sure, but I’m thinking she is trying to intimate that I am spoiling her children. How ridiculous! Everyone knows I am a strict granny!
Now, aside from the fact that this is utter nonsense, this isn’t even a picture of anyone’s grandchildren. It’s the King and Queen coming back from coronation. And of course, I haven’t crowned my grandsons king of anything…although I frequently tell them they are the kings of my heart. My husband always snorts rudely when I say that, I don’t know why!
Now, for example, I just had the older two boys out for a week’s visit a few weeks ago and certainly, I did not spoil anyone. We may have had to go to the grocery store a few extra times to make sure we had enough freezie pops to last the week and to get the right flavor of Toaster Strudels, but that is nothing. Boys have to eat, don’t they?
Then, there was entertainment. Now, boys with active minds need all the stimulation they can get, so lots of television and video games are important. Then, there are the Legos sets and latch hook rug sets to keep them busy and happy. Beyond that, are the trips to the water park and suppers and movies and…well, you get the picture. But it certainly isn’t spoiling anyone; just keeping them active.
Boys that age need lots of bubble wands and busy machines and they must have water balloons and firecrackers, because what is summer without fireworks and water balloon fights? And if, maybe three or four times during that week, we made a trip to the ice cream shop, well, that’s just good memories, we’re not spoiling anyone!
It was on about the fourth day when the older child was deciding what toy he wanted for entertainment at the store, that the subject of spoiling came up. I said, “Go ahead and pick something, so you can have some fun this afternoon.” He said, with a rather large smile, “Grandma, do you ever think that maybe you spoil us a little?” I laughed and laughed and said, “Goodness no! If you can’t pick between those two toys, why don’t we get both!”
It was on about our fourth visit to the ice cream shop when we took their grandfather along that they stabbed their old grandmother in the back. The younger one said, “We are going to get Grandma a shirt that says, ‘World’s Greatest Grandma.” And while my chest began to puff out, the older one added, “She really spoils us a lot.”
Grandpa looked at me over their heads and said somewhat cynically, “Boys, everyone already knows that.” Now, this was a bit tough to take from the man who repairs their remote control planes and flies them with them and indulges in the greatest battles on the water balloon front. Not to mention all the things that Grandma does for HIM!
“I would say that all of you are pretty spoiled and I don’t hear anyone complaining, do I?” I said it quietly, though. I wouldn’t want to be overheard because I don’t spoil my grandchildren. I merely see to it that they are well taken care of.
The youngest, who is not old enough for a week’s stay, always jumps up and down when he sees me, but that is because I am such a stellar individual, not because I get him out of bed before his parents can get there or because I just mailed a rather expensive package to him to return two very shabby sleep toys he had left at my house. He can’t live without his “Boppy,” the name of the sad little bear he loves, now can he?
So, now that I have established that I do not spoil my grandsons, I would like to make one more observation on that carriage that is pictured: There is no way that my grandchildren would be allowed to ride in that vehicle. With all that gold on it, there are certainly not enough guards around it–my boys wouldn’t be at all safe in such a thing. Maybe a Ferrari or something would be better; I’ll go shopping.
dropsinthewell 