Well, I made it through unscathed....

I've been recuperating from my Nana duties having Michael over for 4 nights. I will say, having a boy in the house was very different from having my girls, and I'm 63 so having to care for someone 24/7 was also different, but we made it, he's still alive, and as far as that goes in today's world so am I, so I feel we were successful in getting through it. I think I really did well on the mothering front, as I helped with his homework, even though he pouted when he had to change something, I quizzed him on his spelling words, even though he rolled his eyes until I thought they'd fall out of his head, and I let him get away with only a couple of things and that happened because I couldn't decide if he was telling the truth or not and at some point you just give up. He wanted to wear his Raven's shirt, and even though I suspected his mother would say no, I gave in and we went to his house and got it. (I'm picking my battles with this guy). The next day he wanted to wear sweat pants to school and I said no, (only to find out that his mother let's him on occasion...I was shocked). The last day as we were packing his 2nd backpack with clothes, etc. to take to Max's house for the night, he said he needed to take his gallon jug of Lemonade ice tea as Max's family only drinks regular colas. I argued, threatened to call his mother, but in the end jammed that gallon jug in and sent him on his way. I don't know how he lugged it into school. When I told his mother I wish you could have seen her face...apparently he got another one over on me. I was patting myself on the back with the wonderful job I was doing getting him to school, reading, homework, dinner, lunch, oh yeah I was a whiz until I got home from work at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday and found his packed lunch box on the table. I had gone to work directly from dropping him off at school. I felt terrible, except since he had jump rope for heart that afternoon and needed quarters for snacks, I had sent him to school with $6.00 in quarters (another eye roll from Sara, however, he wouldn't tell me what anything cost...they have snacks for the kids)...so when he got home on Wednesday, I apologized and asked why he didn't call me to bring his lunch to school. He said, I did Nana, three times but you never answered your phone. Ridiculous I said, I have the phone right in the pocket of my jacket....and then we realized I had switched to a raincoat and left the phone in my winter jacket....so much for well laid plans. But, I said, at least you had the quarters for snacks. Did you use them? No, he said, I borrowed the money from my teacher. So another $2.00 had to go to school the next day as pay back. But aside from those few glitches we did pretty good. I was excited when I got up on Thursday thinking, Oh, my God, tonight I get my T.V. back. I don't have homework or reading, oh my mercy, I have my house to myself. And I would be able to stitch once again. (Because Michael was here the last two nights I also had Solomon down here dragging out all the toys out of the toy closet and asking me to play with him. I've perfected Candyland so that Solomon always wins so he loves playing with me). Anyway, I turn on T.V. as I'm whistling a happy tune and counting the minutes until he's at school when I get that dreaded news....Worcester County Schools...1 hour delay. Oh, my God, you would have thought they said the school was cancelled. At that point every little thing that poor child did was somehow getting on my nerves. I felt guilty about my feeling, but remembered I had just had 4 days of T.V. football (and I never watch football), Sponge Bob Square pants, and Nickelodeon until I thought my head would explode. No reality shows, no regular T.V. (you know the intelligent shows I watch), until he went to sleep...which was at 9:00 so it wasn't that big a deal, but you know how it is when you aren't the master of your domain anymore. He was also anxious to get to school once he was dressed and ready, asking me every 5 minutes what time it was. Finally, even though I knew he would be early I said, let's go. And off we went. I was doing the happy dance as I waited for him to exit the car and then he turned around and said, "Thanks Nana for letting me stay at your house." Oh, my, even now my eyes tear up and I think of all the grandparents who wouldn't care what they watched on T.V., or how many games they had to play, or how much homework they had to help with, they would die for the privilege of having their grandchildren stay over one night, let alone 4. So I felt guilty as I left him at school, lugging his backpack full of lemonade iced tea, for having one moment of wanting my house to myself again. He was and is a joy in my life, he's inventive, loving, and is no trouble at all....and if he asked me tomorrow if he could spend 4 more days, I'd say absolutely. Sara and Vernon returned on Sunday and apparently by dinner Michael had enough of them so he asked if he could come to my house for dinner. Of course I said sure, but how asked him if he'd like to go to Miones instead (we hadn't been there while he stayed with me and he loves their Cheese steak subs.) Before we left Michael ran up to play with Solomon so when he came down to go, Solomon was with him followed by Mary who said, "I'm sorry but Michael told Solomon he was going out and now Solomon wants to go." As any grandmother would say, I said, "No problem and tell C.J. to come to." This was a first, the first time I would be taking all 3 of them out. Michael and C.J. are one thing, old enough to take care of themselves....but Solomon...well he's a whole other story. So I was surprised when he sat and ate his dinner with no whining, etc., and didn't try to get down and run around. Yes, it was a great dinner, great company, and that was my week. How was yours? Greg MacCord, Jennifer Humphries and Hedy Cronin spent Sunday stitching with us in the shop...Greg brought me dinner, which I ate on Monday night (yum mo). Good times, Good times. We are now getting ready for the Superbowl weekend, which I didn't realize was this coming weekend until last Sunday when someone called about it and I said, "well yes the sale is for Friday -Sunday". And then she said, "I'll see you on Saturday." I asked Greg when the Superbowl was since I thought it was in 2 weeks and found I've lost a week somewhere. If you should find it please return it to me...I'm scattered enough now without losing time. Anyway, now we're in crunch mode for Superbowl. FYI....OUR SUPERBOWL SALE IS GOING TO EXTEND FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. As you know we take mail orders, e-mails, pony express, smoke signals...anyway you can get it here bring it on. We hope to see several of you in the shop. Debbie and Phyllis arrive tomorrow from Pennsylvania, and the rest of the Pennsylvania group arrives on Thursday. Stacy Stinson is hosting Janet Spring and Stacy Brown at her condo. Our Stitch 'n Bitch group will be here as well staying on the property with some of their guests so we will have a full house. Last year we had the blizzard that lasted the entire weekend....well it looks like we're having a northeaster this year. But that beats the snow the rest of you are going to get, so I'll be thinking of you. I'll also be thrilled to be missing the snow. But what a wonderful excuse to stay inside and stitch...and eat...and stitch...and eat. Have a great time, stay off the roads....and I'll be talking to you.