I think most teachers have classmate ‘pressure’ - kids want to be good to be with other good kids. Plus many times kids behave better for others than they do for their parents.
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We picked up the almost two year old yesterday afternoon from preschool. It gave his mom a bit of a break. We brought him to our house and it was so fun. His vocabulary is increasing daily. He knows what cupboards have snacks. I can see that soon we are going to have some pushback on what we want versus what he wants to do.
Spent part of last week with another grandchild who is 14 months. We hadn’t seen her since Thanksgiving so so many changes. Walking, understanding everything we say to her. She definitely has a mind of her own. They have animals and she gets her shoes and points to the outside. She wants to feed her horses, cats and goats.
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GS wrote a sweet note and put it in my ‘Nana bag’ after a day at home with me. He had a temp so stayed home from school. It was written in green marker. He knows that’s my favorite color.
‘You are the best. You are the best at taking kar of us. from ____ to Nana and Bapa.’
Sweet boy! 
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YDS and DIL went to Cancun for a long weekend (4 day), wedding. Her mom was supposed to come from 4+ hours away to stay with DGD almost 4 y.o. but grandpa who lives with her mom and has mesothelioma came down with Covid and was in hospital. So I said yes to sub. I have babysat her a lot including protecting her, a Covid baby, from daycare for a year full time and we are close. It was so special and sweet but…I am 72 y.o. and I. am. tired. LOL. I had to take and pick her up from preschool two days. So, in my position I managed to lock myself out the first day…had to call them back from their trip to the airport, thank God it was right after they had left via Uber. And the second day I set off their alarm. Good grief. After that is was pretty smooth sailing. I absolutely adore her. And I miss her now that I am home. (about 45 min., suburban D.C.) And grandpa Nick was discharged home. Yay! My biggest challenge was their dog. Holy cow. I don’t do dogs though I love him as he is lovable and obedient. But, he just sits and stares at me. With those eyes. They say he’s just trying to coax me to give him more food. LOL.
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What a good grandma you are! Sorry for the unexpected challenges but it sounds like all went fairly well. Glad you and DGD had a nice visit.
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They said last night when putting her to bed she wanted me. Aw. She’s such a love.
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Interesting!!
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Grandson is turning two,his party was yesterday at a local park. His parents request was no gifts but he still got a good number. My daughter said he has no interest in opening them. We pick him up from preschool on Friday afternoons, this week we gave him his presents from us. The kids wheelbarrow we bought at Costco was a huge hit. He also loved the scooter. Both items will stay at our house and he can use them when he is here. A friend of the Dad gave him a motorized pickup truck. He is loving it but I’m sure my daughter is going to grow tired of it.
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Great article, @BunsenBurner. Thanks for sharing.
@mom60 ~ Those motorized cars/trucks look like a lot of fun, but my grandkids just ride scooters and bikes. 
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The motorized truck was from an old college roommate. He’s not yet married and has no children.
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My grandkids have a very rich uncle who lives nearby, with no kids. (And no plans.) He is always the giver of the Big Gifts – like the motorized car and truck. IMO, it’s a bit over the top, but – whatever. The kids will survive it.
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I have always hated those motorized trucks and cars, and luckily so do DD and DS. Their kids will be exploring their physical limits and exercising, instead of sitting on their tushes while a vehicle does all the work. steps off her soapbox!
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I hate them as well. This kid gets plenty of exercise.
For those who prefer active outdoor play vs. motorized vehicle riding, what two wheel bikes, balance bikes, and/or bikes with training wheels do you recommend?
We’re happy with the Dirt King tricycle we bought for older GD a while back, but now we’re considering some sort of two wheel bike. I ran across Guardian bikes, made (or at least assembled) in the US. They seem to advocate skipping training wheels if you get a bike that allows the child to place both feet flat on the ground while learning to ride. They also offer a small 12" balance bike which they say is suitable for 18+ months, but I’m not sure that younger GD can handle that. I’m looking at their 16" bike for older GD with the thought that if she outgrows it quickly it will eventually be fine for younger GD. Then we’d get her a 20" bike. Our driveway is about 250 ft. long so there’s room for her to practice without worrying about cars, walkers or dogs.
My GD is very active, and we play outside as much as possible. I have several trikes and a balance bike for her (my local resale shop is one of my regular stops). Strangely enough, she doesn’t like any of them. She prefers to run around like a crazy child!
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My grandchildren started with the Strider balance bike but moved quickly to Woom bikes. GS was riding a few months after turning four. He started on a Woom3 (16") and is currently riding a Woom4 (20"). Woom5 (24") is assembled and he’ll be riding that later this spring or summer. The kid is growing like a weed! These bikes are lightweight and easy to ride. GD is now riding in straight lines on her Woom2 (14"). “I just need to work a little bit on the turns, Nana!” 
Neither grandchild used training wheels.
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I’ve read some glowing reviews of Woom bikes, so will take a look. I do want something light weight.
Our GDs also like to run around, mainly chasing H until he catches them. Sometimes older GD makes up scenarios about brave knights and fierce dragons, in which she is the brave knight chasing H with one of my old canes or a small tree limb found on the ground. H is hoping that a new bike might give him a break from all of the running.
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D’s birthday is this week, so GD & I made her a cake today. We frosted it with purple frosting and decorated it with sprinkles. It was beautiful. We were playing outside most of the afternoon & I came inside to get her things together before taking her home. The cake was missing a big piece of frosting on one side & one of the cats was sitting under the dining room table just looking at me. Argh! Luckily, GD was fine with me cutting off the part the cat ate … she thought it was a very funny story to tell her mom.
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GS1 came down with a stomach bug in the wee hours of the morning - I am not sure if it was 12 am or 1 am - DD brought him down to the love seat (I am sleeping on the couch). He has had episodes at 2 am, 2:30 am, and now 4 am - mostly phlegm with his retching. Good thing I am here in place of SIL (he is away for Army training) as he would have needed to take the day off from work. DD has taken time off from work for kid’s illnesses, but she primarily does the physician appointments and dental already (and better knowledge base with all of that as a RN working in health care). I think he will only miss one day of 4K. Will send his completed work back to school and get the folder of what he missed with today’s school (his sister is kindergarten, and she can get his folder to and from his class). I will have the school pick up of his sister (with GS1 in the car).
So I will have 1 on 1 time with GS1 today. He might end up sleeping a lot.
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I’m going to be a “Mystery Reader” for GDG’s preschool class. To read out loud, of course, to the children. It’s a mixed age group probably 3-4-5, I guess.
Give me your favorite read aloud books. Thanks!!
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