Category: grandchildren

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

I had the best-laid plans for writing my SOL earlier today; there are several topics I am ‘flirting with.’ Ah, well.

 We were babysitting our two year old granddaughter “Bird,” and I had no doubt she would take a good nap. The time change had messed with her body a bit, plus she had a small cold; I knew I could write while she slept this afternoon.

(About that cold – in the midst of playing, she called out to me in horror – “oh no, there’s a droopy thing on my face!;” this may be my new nomenclature for a cold, “a droopy thing,” lol.)

I should know by now that plans will be thrown asunder when there are young children at the heart. 

We got a call from school when we were putting Bird down for her nap. Big sister “Frog” (who is four years old and attends all-day pre-K) didn’t eat anything at lunch and proceeded to fall asleep in her teacher’s chair. She was probably sick. We should come pick her up early from school. 

I can’t say we were terribly surprised; these two girls have been tossing germs back and forth this whole past school year. It’s been one virus after another, for all of us. Maybe they both have colds? Maybe they have spring allergies? Unclear, at present. Doesn’t really matter, because I was in the car, regardless, driving across town, picking up Frog from school. Poppa stayed home with the baby. 

It’s funny what a creature of habit I am; I love my granddaughter but I didn’t like this change in our routine. Early in the school year, I missed babysitting Frog so very much; now, so many months later, I am totally used to her absence for most of the day. When Bird is sleeping, Poppa usually naps as well. This means, I have this quiet house all to myself.  

Not today. My plans for quiet writing time were usurped. I was feeling a wee bit grumpy.

I gave myself a pep talk on the drive over: well, if Frog’s falling asleep at school, she’ll probably fall asleep here, too, yes?

Not. 

When we get back to the house, Poppa was just getting up from his nap. He fixed their favorite sandwich for both himself and Frog: peanut butter and banana, with a serving of fresh blueberries on the side. I sat back in my writing chair and smiled. Even if I don’t get to write today, this is heaven – to live near our grandkids and have this close relationship with them.  

A moment or two later, a blueberry rolls onto the floor, knocked accidentally by the sandwich in Frog’s hand. 

Poppa picks it up and hands it to her – “We believe in the five second rule,” he says with a smile.

“What’s the five second rule?” Frog asks.

For some unknown and regrettable reason, I decided to explain the five second rule to her:

"If something falls to the floor and 
you are able to grab it 
before five seconds pass, 
it is good enough to eat."

“What’s five seconds?”

"1….2 … 3 …. 4 …. 5"

She looks at me stricken - 
"Do I have to go nap now?"
The ominous countdown has sent fear through her four year old body; 
she is worrying that my counting 
has led to a nap.



(Wait, who is doing a countdown to send her to nap? Is this the teacher? Is this her parents? Hmm, this is an interesting insight.)

“No, hon, I was talking about 
the five seconds; 
it’s a slow count, like that...
1…2…3…4…5.”

“Okay, okay, count while I eat now.”

“What?”

“I’m eating my blueberries, and you count.”

“No, kiddo, the counting is when 
food falls onto the floor.”

 “I CAN’T EAT MY DINNER OFF THE FLOOR!”

“I’m not asking you to do this,” 
I laughed; 
“it’s just a way of saying 
if something falls down briefly, 
it’s probably still okay to eat.”

She looks at me impatiently, and confused. 

“Hon, your dinner wasn't on the floor. 
It’s just one blueberry that fell.”

She continues to give me a piercing look of incomprehension.

“Um, let’s just keep eating.”

Here’s the truth, it takes longer than five seconds to explain the five second rule. Something got lost in translation. Slipped through the cracks. Missed a beat.

But, hey, there’s my SOL for today!