GS (age 22 months) is not a fan of meat. Except for our neighborhood Mexican joint-- we hope to see mac and cheese on the menu.
At our Mexican place, he gets the cheese quesadilla with rice
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A Lego Store opened close to us, and I ventured in today. There are some nice Duplo items for younger kids. I noted them, as the older grandkids have some of the regular-sized Legos (they have little boxes with their items in a separate bedroom that ‘the littles’ cannot get into). I got one of their free Lego Magazine (July/August) and one can subscribe for free. Free LEGO® magazines for Kids | Official LEGO® Shop US. The magazine comes 5X a year and is geared to ages 5 -9. 28 pages.
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We got to see three of four grandchildren this weekend. Lots of swimming, the adults are having many conversations on pool rules and also how we all can make sure the kids stay safe.
I’m pretty surprised at how expensive kids meals are at a lot of local spots. The 2 child family can still get away with ordering a meal for the kids to share. I like that some places have menus beyond the standard kids fare of nuggets, pasta and burger. One place I recall had salmon on the kids menu.
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DD2 was with DD1’s family - all 5 of the kids had life vests on at the beach. The parents get distracted (SIL’s parents were also there) - I am very conscientious with monitoring kids – DD2 feels the same way. GD2, age 2, along with GD1, age 7, were wandering beyond DD2’ comfort level. SIL’s unawareness is somewhat genetic.
At large swim-gathering parties, a lifeguard should be engaged because parents get enamored with social distractions. A friend’s 7 YO brother drown when the parents were supposed to be watching (no lifeguard on duty at this private club pool).
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I’ve also read that big gatherings are the biggest risk as someone thinks someone else is watching. I saw an Instagram post where someone recommended that kids be trained to give Mom or dad or the adult in charge a high five before going in the pool.
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This was a story I had read and how one grieving mom worked to make a difference based on the death of her 3 YO son.
Detailed in the story “‘That can’t be him, because he’s on the couch. All my friends thought that,” Hughes tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Based on where he was in the pool, she thinks he was reaching for a toy, but she will never know. It was a house full of doctors — Levi’s father Jonathan had met the other husbands during his residency — but none of their efforts to revive him worked. Levi was declared dead by 4 am on Monday, July 11.”
Our newspaper had a fuller version at the time. The adult men (all anesthesiologists) were on an upstairs balcony overlooking the pool, but no one saw Levi slip into the pool. The house full of adults and kids didn’t notice Levi slipping out. Although the mom earlier in the day went over with Levi not going near the pool at all when mom was not with him swimming, the 3 YO just doesn’t have the judgment. The boy was airlifted while having all resuscitation measures but later was taken off life support at the hospital.
After Son’s Drowning Death, Mother Invents a Way to Save Other Children - Children’s Medical Group
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Few weeks ago when I was on vacation with D1’s family. We were at our usual resort breakfast restaurant. SIL had just came back from the beach reserving seats for us (it was a mile away). No sooner when he sat down to eat, GD1 said she needed to go to the bathroom. The resort had a co-ed bathroom with enclosed stalls. Whenever SIL took her to the bathroom, she would go in the handicap stall and he would wait outside. SIL was tired from the walk, so he said to go by herself (our table was facing the bathroom door) and off she went. I got up and said to D1 and SIL, “You should never do that.” D1 said I was over reacting in a very loud voice, which I then gave them both a look. As I was going into the bathroom, a man came out of it.
I didn’t talk to D1 and SIL for a while. SIL finally opened his mouth, “I want to say something. I have never let her go in a bathroom by herself before. I was just tired. I promise it would never happen again.”
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Some musical Cali books are on sale at Amazon! Our little Miss Mess loves her singing books. Like this one:
Just got GA beach pictures with DD2 and the grandkids (DD1 is momma). They love their ‘fun aunt’. There is only one other aunt, and she is through marriage on the dad’s side. We will all be together in November in Tampa. I may be with DD1/SIL/kids in TX in September, depending on DD1 deciding if she ‘needs me’.
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GS was amazing today. The whole family (me,DW, D2, D1, SiL and GS) piled into car for trip that Google said was 9 hours. I assumed that with extra toddler breaks it would be 10+ but because accident closed interstate it became 12.5 (includes 2 meal breaks).
D1 researched best car toys and every so often a new one came out ( she bought 4 i think saved 2 for ride home. Tomorrow we go to cool childrens museum, Saturday we go to a zoo and Sunday we drive home
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You are all very brave!
I am impressed.
Enjoy every minute of your time together! 
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Sounds like things have been going very nicely—yay!
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GS was a museum rockstar. We got there at 10 and didnt leave until after 3. He stayed awake the whole time. It wasn’t until we went into the museum shop that he went down (it was like his brain went “oh this means we are done”). He had a blast seeing all of the exhibits
Highly recommend the Childrens Museum in Indianapolis
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Zoo day was fun. It was hot and he was pretty wiped but it was still a good time. Grownups fumbled naptime (he woke during transfer from car to pack-n-play ) so there was no nap. He was out by 6:50 and slept till 6 this morning
Today is another car day. Highlight was realizing that Fort Necessity National Battlefield was right on the way and the perfect place for GS to run around to tire himself out. We got rewarded by 1.25 hour nap :). Plus he now has his 1st battlefield under his belt. Also cool is that my SiL interned there 10 years ago
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I babysat GD during Covid for about a year starting when she was 5 months old, as she was born in May 2020. I wanted her to get as old as possible before going to a daycare home. My son and DIL worked from home so they were there. So, one day when she was about six months, starting solids, without any warning or even a deep breath, vomit flowed out of her like lava! Another episode resulted in a diagnosis of…“Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) is a type of non-IgE mediated food allergy.” Both those days she had oatmeal so that was the culprit. Kids usually grow out of this by age 3 or 4. She is now 5 and had her retest last week. Hooked up to an IV in the doc’s office, fed some oat product and waited for several hours for any reaction.
She passed!!! And loves oatmeal now. LOL.
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This is a difference when a grandparent babysits vs a babysitter. Grandparent shows up on time (maybe earlier), doesn’t complain when parents come home late or require a car ride home. A grandparent may sneak in a video that parents do not approve, a special treat, or stay past bedtime. We also don’t charge $30/hour.
A vent from a grandparent who feels a bit under appreciated.
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Maybe if you made a diary of date and service what you provided (and maybe a spot which had a dollar value if they needed to hire a babysitter) - and when you feel under or unappreciated can provide the parents a glance at your value as a grandparent beyond the convenience.
At monetary ‘value’ beyond personal value, perhaps the light bulb of gratitude will light up.
Being grateful is actually beneficial to both giver and receiver.
GS got a haircut!! He looks like such a little kid instead of a baby (he turned 1 ten days ago).
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I remember when my son got his first haircut and I wanted my baby back! Same with my GS, a totally different look each time he gets his haircut.
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