The Adventures of Instant Gramma

Instant gramma. Yep, that would be ME. You see, when I married my hubby, I became a brand new gramma seemingly overnight since his oldest daughter has 2 kids - Falynn and Cash.

Sweet Falynn is 5 years old and ornery lil Cash is 3 years old. They are both cute as cute can be -- I wish I would have snapped a few photos while they were all here last night. But alas, I did not think of it. Bad gramma!!

They stopped here to spend the night, enroute from Texas to home in Wyoming. Poor Cash has an ear infection, so he wasn't feeling very bright and cheerful. He and Falynn did have fun last night, playing with the dogs and catching fireflies outside. The weather cooperated as evening came, and it was very pleasant to sit in the back yard while hubby grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

At some point in the middle of the night, a bright light in the kitchen awoke me -- I sat up and peered through our bedroom door to see Cash standing with the refrigerator door open, staring into the vast cave of coldness, looking for something that we probably didn't have. As I got out of bed to help him, I saw him pick up the pitcher of grape Kool-Aid .... I ran to take it from him. The vision of grape Kool-Aid all over the kitchen floor and walls and refrigerator made my groggy body wake up FAST.

Poor Cash was crying - I could tell his ear hurt. He wanted a drink. Ok, I can handle this. I raised a child, right? Being an instant gramma should be like riding a bike -- it all comes back to you.

As I began to pour him some Kool-Aid, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, back to their bedroom. Um. Ok. Now what? Was he sleepwalking??! I decided to wait a few minutes to see if he would return. After about 3 minutes, no Cash. I didn't hear a sound from their side of the house.

So I returned to bed.

A few minutes later, I hear him. He's back in the kitchen. Only this time, he's crying even louder. I jumped up again to see what I could do ...

Cash: Where's my drink?

me: I thought you didn't want it.

Cash: Where's myyyy drinkkkk?!! (you know the way a 3 yr old can drag out every letter in a word)

me: Here, I'll get your drink. You left the kitchen - where did you go? I thought you didn't want your drink.

Cash: I had to go to the bathroom.

me: Ok, but you didn't TELL me. I didn't know you went to the bathroom. I thought you went back to bed.

Cash: Where'ssss myyyyy drinkkkk?!

At that point, I quickly poured his grape Kool-Aid before had a total meltdown. Mom showed up to put some eardrops in his ear. He took a small sip of the grape Kool-Aid and then marched back off to bed.

It's been so long since my son was 3 that I must have forgotten the proper way to understand and communicate with a 3 year old. Maybe I was closer to the mentality of a 3 year old when I was in my 20s. And now that I'm in my late 40s, I'm assuming I'm just that much further out of touch with the workings of a 3 year old's mind.

Maybe it's not so much "instant gramma" as "doesn't-have-a-clue gramma"? I'll get it all figured out.... hopefully before he's 15.