First, Vince is not grumpy with her but he expects a certain “standard”. When Addie first got here, we would ask her a question and if she didn’t want to answer, she simply ignored us. She would come in from outside and one of us might say “Where have you been?” No response. Or, Vince might say “Addie, would you go ahead and take your bath?” No response.
About the second night, we talked to her and told her that we expected her to answer us when we asked her a question. “We don’t ignore you when you ask us something and we don’t want you to ignore us when we ask you something.” We explained about being courteous and how she would feel if she asked her teacher or mom or a friend something, and they ignored her.
She agreed and she really did better after that about answering us.
But, her feelings were hurt and she went into the bedroom and cried. I went and talked to her and one of the things we talked about was that Grumps never knew his grandparents and he never got to spend time with them so he doesn’t remember what it was like when he was little and spent time with his grandparents . . because he never knew them.
The next night she and I were talking and she said “Granny, I think I know why Grumps seems angry.” I said “Why?” She said “He never knew his grandparents and I bet he never went trick or treating!” I almost laughed. I wanted to say “What the heck does trick or treating have to do with it?” but I didn’t say that. I did say “When we move to Missouri, maybe you and I can buy him a Halloween costume, you and I can act like his parents and take him to go trick or treating! She thought that was hilarious and you can bet she’s going to remember it and want to buy Grumps a Halloween costume.
Valerie Zagami says
Adorable! That will be fun. I lived with grandparents and both great grandfathers. They were a unique bunch and when you realize how different their lives were with a chatty little girl like me!!
Sara Fridley says
She obviously had lots of fun with you both during her stay. It’s good that she gets used to the “rules” at your house too now that you will be so close by. She’s one lucky little girl to have 2 sets of beloved grandparents around to love her. I’m afraid that I’m the “grumpy granny” for my 2 grandkids who were with us this weekend. I made them pick up toys, throw away wrappers from snacks, etc. And I think I spent the whole weekend reminding a 5 year old boy to use his indoor voice. LOL
Judy Laquidara says
Addie pretty much already knows to pick up thing and pick up after herself though she probably tested the limits a bit being with us for the first time but she’s really good about keeping things clean and she was after me the entire time to “get organized”!
Carolyn Sullivan says
I want Pictures!!! of Grumps in a costume
Joyce in Washington says
Oh the horrors of not trick or treating! Just have to love young minds and how they work.
Elle says
It is wonderful she is learning valuable life lessons with you among all the adventures and fun. We emmigrated when I was an infant, so I am living vicariously through Addie. And……I am sooooo jealous 😉 What a wonderful life she is having surrounded by love 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
I definitely want to see pictures of that! LOL I can just see you now!
Susan Nixon says
And he should go. =)
Sandi B says
I can’t wIt for Halloween!!!!!
Twyla says
Like you I try to explain why some people act the way they do or why we do certain things. I firmly believe this helps them understand about people’s actions, the way we do things maybe different from parents and why we want things done a certain way. Just this week we had our six yr old great granddaughter and explained to her toys had to be picked up before we went to bed in case we had to get out of the house in a hurry or when Pa took our little dog out he would not step on a toy and break it or say bad words.
Judy Laquidara says
Yes! We do all we can to lessen the chance of a bad word! 🙂
I did the same thing with Addie. At first when I asked her to pick things up, she said “I’m not done playing yet” but (1) she was probably done and (2) I explained that with Rita being blind, we can’t leave things in the floor that would cause her to have an accident so she understood that and was very good about picking things up and even told me a few times that I needed to be more careful about leaving things in Rita’s way!