Monday, June 13, 2011

"Backseat Driving with Grandma"

Fridays or Saturdays are usually my days off.

Overnight stay with grandma time!

We pack an overnight bag, eat lunch and watch Sid the Science Kid. For all the parents who have seen it, they may know why. However, I'll explain. Sid the Science Kid is full of singing and dancing, which is of course the main reason my 20 month old loves it so much. He can't quite understand what they're trying to teach him just yet, but he'll learn soon enough. Sid, is a vivacious little boy who is about 4 years old. He asks questions and answers those questions via Scientific Method. The show could be about anything as long as the music was the same. He doesn't even watch it, he just loves the music. He recognizes the songs so keenly that if we sing them, he dances. Tiny hand waving in the air, wiggling his little body and moving to the rhythm of the songs. He loves it. Simply loves it. All of the songs on the show have lyrics that attempt to enthusiastically teach children about their bodies, nature, food, growth and many other topics. Backseat Driving with Grandma is one of the TV show's regular songs, along with the Going to School song. It's more like a mini song. When we tell him he's going Backseat Driving with Grandma, he gets excited.

Well, maybe he gets excited because he knows the song.

That's what we call it now; visit at grandma's is Backseat Driving with Grandma. However, I think he's catching on. Sometimes I'll ask,

"Are you ready to go backseat driving with grandma?"
"No! No! No!" he says while violently shaking his head.

This weekend, he knew. Right away. As soon as she came he knew something was up. He looked at her and looked at me and said "No! No! No!"

"What's wrong? You don't want to go?" I asked him.
"No! No! No!" he yelled and clenched on to my arm.
"Monkey, you know you always have fun. Go to grandma's so you can have a good time and stay up late!" I said in bribery. Hey, it's never too early to start. He began to cry a bit. I walked him out to car and strapped him in his seat. I gave him his sippy cup and a toy.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Have fun. I love you." I said. I hugged him, kissed him, ran my finger through his curly hair and shut the car door. He was so busy playing with his toy that he didn't notice when they had driven away.

As soon as they pulled away, I ran into my empty house. I turned up my radio, cracked open a bottle of wine, and danced around in my short term "freedom". Don't get me wrong, I love my little monkey, but its nice to have some adult freedom for a day or two. My mother in law loves to see him and time spent with grandparents is as significant for children, as it is for mommy and daddy to be husband and wife for a few days. And of course, he always has fun. He rules the house. He gets to stay up late and eat whatever he wants. It's grandma's house, and that means little man takes control. He knows his way around her house, he knows the dog, he knows where his toys are and he loves to play in her yard.

After having a glass of wine and listening to Sly and the Family Stone, I got dolled up and had dinner/visited Husband at work. He works at an upscale restaurant, and some Saturdays they have brick oven pizza dinner in the Wine Studio during the summer. I ate delicious pizza and had more wine. I stayed while my husband finished up at work and then we ventured off into the nightlife. We have a favorite spot we visit every time we go out. It's a dark, dingy bar with punk rock attitude. The jukebox is my favorite in town (the Misfits AND James Brown. On the same Jukebox!) and we always know at least 3 people there at any given time. Before you think it aloud...yes, it's our Cheers.

Our fun raged on into the wee hours of the morning. Knowing we get to sleep in, we stayed up extra late and ate pizza. We went to bed some time around 6am.

The short term "freedom" is just that. Short term. And that's the way I like it. We picked him up in the late afternoon. His face lit up in surprise when we walked through the door at grandma's. He embraced us both with hugs and kisses and let a loud "Yeah!" We played for a while in her yard and then came home and ate dinner. He was ready for bed early, as weekends are big for a little man.

Backseat Driving with Grandma is an essential part of parenting for stay at home moms all over the world.

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