Pragmatist
Pragmatist

Yeah, I'm gonna be an after school granny.  Correction: I am an after school granny.

And I got my feet wet, very wet, this weekend.  Mom had to be out of town this weekend, and I had the girls from Friday after school until Sunday evening.

I'd forgotten what it was like to have kids in the house. 

Two girls, ages 9 and 11, and pretty well behaved.  But since they camped out in my living room, they were pretty much underfoot the whole time, along with their baggage.  Note:  I do have two bedrooms, but the extra is now a storage room.  Have to do something about that.

And picky eaters?!  Their Mom warned me, but I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  No green veggies, the younger one doesn't like potatoes, but she loves potato chips.  Go figure.  Friday night dinner was mostly macaroni and cheese, but not from the box.  I have more pride than that.  They did enjoy dessert most heartily, though.  Ice cream and Snickerdoodles.

We (actually they) had to go swimming right after school, and they were good about getting out of the pool when I called time.  But what a mess in the bathroom.  Towels on the floor, and the room awash.  Had to instruct the older one on the use of shower curtains, and DON'T get into the tub on the shower head end.

Saturday morning we all got up in plenty of time, and walked to shul.  Once there that was the last I saw of them until just before time to go home.  They had lunch, but not with me.  That's OK.  I don't think kids socialize with their parents, but with their friends.  I was asked if they could swim on the Sabbath, and I said technically--no.  Swimming is considered in the same class as bathing, and bathing (unless in cold water, I suppose) makes the water heater pilot go on to heat more water, and we're not supposed to use fire in any form on the Sabbath.  And a pilot light is seen as using fire.

OK, conversation:  
Me: What do you think your mother would say?  I'll go along with what you think your mother would say.  (How's that for waffling?)
Girl:  Well, I think my Mom would say....(pause)....I think my Mom would say...well, just this once.  I think she'd say it's OK just this once.
Me:  You think so?
Girl:  Yes, I think she'd say it was OK just this once, but never again.
Me:  OK, we'll go swimming.  
Both girls:  Yaaay!

Sunday we were supposed to go on a picnic with the younger one's class.  They decided they wanted to go skating.  So we went skating.  Poor choice.  The older girl can skate, but not well.  The younger one spent the time pulling herself along the railing on the wall.  Very briefly she got on the middle of the floor.  Staggeringly.

The time was cut short because the music was so loud I was getting frantic.  I absolutely can't handle the decibels.  Why does the current music (if that's what it is) have to played at the same decibel level of a jet plane taking off????

So we came home, and the girls went swimming.

Later on, a gentleman neighbor asked the girls if they'd like to go swimming. *rolls eyes*  How could I say no?

Sunday was mostly me hiding out in my room and reading the paper while the girls watched movies.  I have several videos that Rowena left behind, so there was no lacking entertainment. That evening we had some kind of a throw-together dinner, and watched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Oh, that was such fun.  However, Mom arrived before the movie was over, and the girls were so happy to see her they didn't mind not seeing the end.  

That was my initiation.

This afternoon I picked them up from school, got gas, then came home for more swimming.  We had been home long enough for the girls to get out of their wet clothes and put a snack together, then Mom arrived.  No homework got done.  Next time I need gas, or have an errand, I'll take care of business before pick-up time at school.  The homework has to be at least started before Mom gets here; otherwise, bedtime comes very late, or the homework doesn't get done.  Either way is not good.  School is out at 3:45, but it's closer to 4:00 before the girls come through the gate.  That doesn't leave a whole lot of time to get things done before Mom comes to get them.  Gotta get organized.

I think there'll be swimming another month maybe, then we'll settle in to the routine of snack then homework.  When school is out, but Mom still has to go to work, I'll have the girls all day.  I hope I'm up to it.

As I said, I'd forgotten what it was like to have kids around.  Fortunately, they're well-mannered.  I'll probably be writing about my granny job and not much else for awhile.  So be warned.

Shalom