Not a Particularly Good Day...

Last night, after we watched our movie--a Veggie Tale DVD that Grandma Judy gave the children--the children both bedded down in the living room. Robin was on the couch, and Ryan was on the pulled-down chair futon. They both conked out immediately, bless them. It was nice!

Today, however, hasn't been the best. Yesterday, I told the children that they couldn't play with Jack today until they picked up their rooms and the messes they had left in the living room. There was a lot of hesitation. Then the aggressive behavior began. Ryan was the aggressor on every occasion (four, to be exact...so far) resulting in tears from his sister. The first incident was particularly bad: he bit Robin, hard, on the back of her arm. We ended up having to do first aid on that one. I sent him to his room with the stipulation that he was at risk of not being able to play with his beloved Jack if he didn't follow through on cleaning up his room, etc. He apologized to Robin, blah, blah...and did an excellent job of picking up his room...but there was more misbehavior to come. After the third incident, when Jack was here playing, I had to send him home and tell Ryan that he couldn't play anymore until he learned how to control his behavior. There was yet another incident after that. We've gone over the Golden Rule. We've gone over how saying "sorry" means "I won't do it again". (Of course, in his 6-year-old mind, he did something DIFFERENT each time, so he hadn't done the same thing again!) He is the sharpest, cutest little dude on the planet, but when he gets mad, look out!

Tomorrow is Grandma Judy's birthday. We have made a cake for her, and Robin is working on a gift. I hope to leave them with Judy for a bit tomorrow so I can get some things done for the Christmas Eve early dinner that we are having here on Thursday. I guess I didn't realize what a "planner" I am. It is to the point that I have to know things days in advance so I can plan everything to my own satisfaction. When did that happen??

This morning over breakfast, the children and I talked about what to do if I should get incapacitated when they are here visiting. We practiced using the phone. I posted my address and emergency phone numbers on the side of the refrigerator in case the children forgot, and also posted a list of what to do. First, call 9-1-1, and wait for the paramedics, then go to the neighbors for supervision until the other grandparents or their own parents can show up to take care of them. Robin was the driving force in the conversation. She had lots of questions! I was taking my pills at the time that we talked. Told the kids that I never used to take pills, but had many to ingest since the heart attack. Robin said, "I'm glad you're still alive." I said, "I am, too!" She came over and kissed me. A precious moment!

My friend "Big" Ryan came over this afternoon on his way to Target. While here, he delivered a HUGE poster of my grandchildren playing in the Florida surf just a year ago (today?), and brought gifts for the children. While he was here, he fixed the keyboard tray on the living room computer hutch, and helped me get a big computer chair out of what used to be Meg's bedroom. Don't know what I would do without my friends!

I mused today that it was a mere year ago that Meg, the children, and I were in Florida, watching the sun come up on the beach and feeding the greedy gulls. If you had told me then that, in twelve months, Megan would have given up custody of the children, been evicted from my house, and driven off into the sunset to California with a man she hardly knows, I would have called you a liar. No way! As the Allstate commercial goes...WAY! What a difference a year makes... There are other complications, but that is for another time and post.

The children are down. Ryan is in what he calls "the spare room"...(Meg's old room, and mine before that)...and Robin is on the couch. I allow this because I can! Quiet is good! I love my grandbabies!