March 15, 2011

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  TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

  When I picked up Chewlee from preschool today, she was definitely shocked.  She wasn't expecting me at all and she got confused and thought it was *bubble gum day* (Friday).  She ran out to the front office and told them she *needed her bubble gum*.  She had this shocked look on her face when everyone told her that wasn't today.  So, after grabbing my hand as we left, she said to me *Gramma.....what are you doing here if it's not bubble gum day?* 

  I told her that daddy was going somewhere with some friends and her mommy, the Princess, was in Gadsden shopping.  She stopped dead in her tracks, put both hands on her hips and asked, *Then WHERE are we going?*  I told her to Grandma's house and she just said, *Oh!*, got a grin on her face and ran to the car.  I kind of figured she was happy about that.

  I knew I was only going to have her for about an hour since the Princess's friend had to be back by 6 pm.  But Chewlee knows how to make the most of it.  She told me she *wanted lunch* and I had to ask her what she wanted to eat.  She came over, took my hand and gave me a tug and said, *Let's go look!*  She skipped out to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door.  That alone is a treat for her because she can't do that at home.  She thinks nothing of going in there and rooting around and getting into stuff she shouldn't.  And she's not good about putting things back that she might pull out either.  At least here, I always go with her and I make it a cooperative thing.  If I take something out, she puts it back and vice versa. 

  She also loves the freezer section.  That's because it's where I keep *her*  popsicles.    The first thing she headed for was the salami.  She always has to have 3 slices.  She ended up finishing up the rest of the salami we had and gave me the instructions that I had to get more when I went to Walmart.  She added that I couldn't go without HER.  When I laughed, she turned around with this mad look on her face and said, *I mean it, Gramma....you have to take Chewlee with you when you go to Walmart so I can show you.*  When I asked her what she wanted to show me, she told me she wanted to show me what she wanted for her birthday.

  One of the reasons I don't like the children's channel (like Nickelodean) is the commercials all are kid related.  Toys, toys and more toys or else kids meals from McD's.  And that's only today's commercials.    Chewlee gets so excited and, of course, she wants it all.  Well, except for what she calls the *boy toys*.  Right now she keeps saying she wants this one or that one *for her birthday*.  Then she goes into the begging:  *Please, Grandma.  PLEASE! PLEASE!*  Luckily, I can get away with a *We'll see!*  I have this feeling that she thinks that *we'll see* actually means *of course!* 

  I do, however, really like many of the programs they have.  When my kids were young, there really were only two programs that weren't just cartoons and more cartoons.  That was Sesame Street and The Electric Company.  Both of those are/were good but now they have cartoons that are aimed at learning, like Dora the Explorer and Ki Lan.  Dora makes learning Spanish words fun for kids and Ki Lan does that for Korean, although Korean isn't really a language I can see being useful here.  It does, however, introduce kids to learning another language and about how different cultures have different customs.  It's about acceptance and tolerance.  I like that because it's done nicely and in such a gentle manner.  It makes me hope that sometime in the future there will be less teasing and bullying by kids who think *different* is  funny or an excuse for acting stupid.

  On our way home from preschool, I got an inkling that some of what we told Chewlee may have sunk in.  As we were passing the dogwoods that are in bloom all along the road we take back to the house, Chewlee asked me if they were *picking flower trees* or *fruit flower trees*.  She got a big grin when I told her they were  *picking flower trees* and clapped her hands together and said she was going to get some of THEM for her mommy.

  Our ride home is really a nice one.  We pass several cattle ranches, a couple horse ranches and even a small farm or two.  Chewlee always looks to see if the cows and horses are out on the pastures we can see from the road.  They obviously  change them and I had to explain why they did that to Chewlee.  That made sense to her and she said she didn't want them to go hungry but she DID want to see them.  I told her that they would be back sooner or later and she would see them so she shouldn't worry.

  Chewlee was reluctant to leave me tonight but her mother told her that, if she was good, she could come back in a couple days.  I told her she still have a couple Fridays or Saturdays that she could stay with Grandma until Sheepie came for her visit.  Chewlee always gets excited when she hears the name *Sheepie* and she tells me that Sheepie is HER cousin and she loves her.  What cracks me up is that she will act all shy at first when Sheepie gets here.  Happens all the time.

  Love you all and I hope your week is going well.  It's *HUMP DAY* today so the week is half gone.  Here's another grandparent tidbit for you to think about:

       Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete - Marcy DeMaree              

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