Grandma in Time Out
In my last note to you, “What I Learned This Week,” I shared with you the fact that I was caring for my Ella (age 4) and Owen (age 6) for a week while their parents were out of town. I shared with you a few things I learned, but there was more to come.
Lesson: Be Kind to Others
I asked Owen to clean up his toys in the Play Room and this was our subsequent conversation:
Owen: I don’t like to pick up toys. It’s boring.
Me: I don’t like to clean up the kitchen either, but it has to be done, so that is what I am going to do while you clean up the playroom….. I know, how about we have a race and whoever gets done first gets to have the last few bites of the Cinnamon Rolls I made this morning.
….. furious cleaning takes place…..
Owen: I won!!! Where are the cinnamon bites?
Me: I put them on the counter. (I looked for them and they were gone. I asked my husband if he had eaten them. “No,” he said, “I threw them away. They were just little bites and I thought they were just left-overs from the kid’s plates.”
Owen…. (sigh)….
Me: It’s okay, Owen, I’ll just cut up one of the full-sized rolls.
Owen: (whispers to me) Grandma, Grandpa is very sweet, but he’s not very smart. Don’t tell him though, it could hurt his feelings.
Lesson: Kids Listen to What we Say (whether we think they are or not)
Ella: I have a lot of things to do today. I have to build my unicorn track. I have to practice my song. I have to go to the store. I have to go to work. I need someone to help me. Owen, can you build the unicorn track for me?
Owen: Yes
Ella: Good. Thank you. Now. Let me see. What should I do first?
Lesson: It’s Still a Lie
Owen has been taught to identify and express his feelings.
Owen, to me, as he throws his arms around my neck: Grandma, I just love you being here. But NO KISSES.
Me: Okay, as I gather him into my arms. But then I accidentally kissed his forehead. I couldn’t help myself. It just happened.
Owen: Grandma! You lied to me!
Me: No, I didn’t lie. I just couldn’t help myself.
Owen: You said you wouldn’t kiss me and you did so it’s a lie. Now you have to go into Time Out. You have to sit in the hall for ONE HOUR. Put your hands in your lap. NO talking.
Me: For an HOUR?
Owen: Okay, for 5 minutes.
Me: …sigh… okay. (And so I sit down as directed.)
Owen walked into the other room, but immediately stuck his head out and said, “Oh, and I forgot, NO TALKING.”
Five minutes can be a long time! But I learned my lesson.
Comments (32)
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Your grands sound adorable, Karen. I would be worn out by the end of the second day LOL! Enjoy your time with them. I know you know how precious it is. And, may I add, great posture, Gramma!! :0)
Thanks, Judith. I was pretty much worn out by the 2nd day. LOL! But we do what we have to do!
OH my goodness. Woman you need to write a book! They are just toooo precious! I would have loved time out when Danny was little (my kids especially!)! Giggle!
LOL! My husband has been after me to do that for 30 years. Maybe one day. 😉 I know you shared times like that with Danny.
? that is so sweet
🙂 Thanks, Maggie!
This is the funniest yet – and even more photo proof!! Please don’t stop making beautiful graphics for us, but maybe you can take spare time to write a book?? LOL!!
🙂 Thanks, Barb. I’m so glad you enjoy the stories! It’s fun to share them.
Loving your stories Karen. Grandkids are the best! Must say I am most impressed at how you can sit cross legged like that. Glad it wasn’t an hour though.
Thanks, Jenni. Yes, an hour would have been a bit much! 😉
You should print and frame that photo of you in Time Out! That is so cute. And yes, 5 minutes CAN be a long time!
Ha! Yes, that would be a reminder for me, not to “tell lies.”
Owen is hilarious! They are both so adorable!
I’m so glad you got to meet him in person! You know I’m not exaggerating in the least with these stories.
What a great grandma you are … I agree – you should write a book!
Ahhh. Thanks, Pam. 🙂
That is precious Karen! I’m doing the grandma thing starting tomorrow.
Thanks, Deanna! I hope you are enjoying your grandma time too!
Hahahaha Karen, your killing me! How adorable you are. Those two love you to pieces. You made my day with this picture! lol Love you!
🙂 So glad you enjoyed the post, Lisa!
Loving to read these… so fun and these two are adorable! Keep ‘em coming! I can’t wait until my great grand gets here… hope I will have stories to tell too…
Great-grands! How wonderful. What a blessing for you to be able to experience that generation! Please let us know when your g-grand arrives!
You and the grand-kids are making a treasure trove of memories! I can’t wait to hear, when Owen is about sixteen, what he thinks of these stories.
Steph, I can’t wait to see what Owen is DOING when he is 16.
Aren’t grandkids the best?! I can’t believe all the fun and funny things they say and do. We have 14 of them now and each one is a jewel.
Oh, what a blessing for you! 14 gkids!!
Hilarious! What a treat, though, getting to be with them on their own, no parents. Love the conversations.
That’s the exact word I would use, Dona. Hilarious. Yes, it is totally different to have 100% responsibility for the gkids than just to visit when the parents are there.
I just love reading the stories of your grandchildren! <3
I so wish I wrote down things my children said when they were younger….hopefully I am able if there is a day grandchildren are in my life
Thank you, Mary! When our kids are little, it’s so hard to write things down because so much is going on. I write more down for Owen and Ella than I did for our children, because I have more time to do it.
I love your stories about what the grand kids say and do, I was never given that privilege when mine were little. God has blessed you richly so hang on tight to those memories and keep gracing us with these wonderful stories! Hugs, Vicki
Thank you, Vicki. I’m so glad you enjoy my stories. Thanks for letting me know.