Got Panda Bear moved into her own place last weekend. Yesterday helped her get her own car.
A Monte Carlo. I’m jealous.
Worse yet was that in the process of shopping, my wife saw exactly the car that I want. For a price slightly less than what we’re getting back in taxes. She said that if she had the money, she would’ve bought the car for me on the spot.
That’s what I call love.
Too bad the IRS is taking our tax return. Oh well, better luck next year.
But at least we got our house back from marauding, partially disciplined grandchildren who tear apart every roll of toilet paper that they come across.
Yes, there were a few issues with them here and there. But we still love them. Especially when their mother isn’t around for them to undermine our discipline of them. And we still like to have them around. Just not all the time, especially in the evening when they like to make the most noise and the rest of us are settling down into our evening routines. I’m a firm believer in reasonable bedtimes, and the evenings belonging to the grownups for whatever they want to do. And bedtimes for small children not extending to 10-11 in the evening.
But anyways, we got grandson Beanpole enrolled in a preschool just around the block from us. Since I pass right by Panda Bear’s new digs on the way home from work in the morning, I offered to pick him up and take him to school so she didn’t have to bother getting Baby M up and all dressed to go out early in the morning, and let her pick him up in the afternoons.
So that’s my new job in the mornings, after I get out of the one I detest.
This morning, he was a bit apprehensive when he realized that Mama wasn’t going with him today. After prying him loose from her and going out the door, I picked him up and looked directly into his face, telling him this was going to be our new morning routine and that I knew it was a little scary for him going without Mama, but everything would be fine and he would soon get used to it and not mind so much. Followed up with a smooch to the forehead.
He seemed to be okay with this.
Since the school is so close to our house and parking is lousy, I opted to park at the house and walk with him around the corner to the school. He seemed to be okay with this as well.
As I stood inside the school waiting on the teachers to arrive so I could leave him, I noticed that the few moms and dads that were waiting as well were considerably younger than I was. That I was definitely the only grandpa there. And I’m barely into my mid-forties.
And I’m okay with this.
I gave him a hug and kiss goodbye, then walked to the front door. Before I walked out I turned around and saw him helping his teacher and the other kids set up chairs for their day. And more moms and dads (and maybe even aunts and uncles and a caring stepparent or boyfriend or two) hug and kiss their children goodbye.
I think I could get used to this routine.
Awww… you’re such a good Grandpa… and Dad!
I used to cherish the few times I was allowed to bring my step-daughter to school.
Sounds wonderful to me
I’m laughing because my sister just turned 42 and she has a 2 year old. She’ll be the parent everyone thinks is the grandparent. Bwhahahaha.
I was with her four year old a couple years ago, at the park. A four year old came up to me and said, “Are you her grandma?” I was 45 at the time. I nearly fell out. My kids’ eyes bugged out. Then I realized, my own grandma was 45 when I was 5. It’s just that everyone around me is having kids so late, that I don’t think of myself as grandparent age… but I am.
I’m excited for your new routine. I think you will LOVE it.