It’s been quite a spell since we’ve had an overnight guest here at The Compound that was so young, but G-3 was scheduled to arrive early on Thursday morning. This was the weekend that we’d been warned…I mean told about. The time had come, and GG, (Grandpa Gary) and GJ, (Grandma Jill) were called into action.
R and A “needed” a little R and R…a few days off and just wanting to get away from it all, (getting away from it all…I don’t get it), but anyway…Our weekend began early on Thursday morning right on time with Mom and Dad dropping off G-3 along with all of her “stuff.” It’s all very important and necessary for the proper care and well-being for someone this young and this important, we’re told. After an hour or so of review with R and A and getting things set up, (by the way, it took three of us about 15 minutes to set up just the play pen), and organizing the “stuff” that we needed to have here at The Compound, in order to be the proper and thorough care givers for G-3, and we figured we were finally ready for the big weekend.
Unfortunately, the Guest Cottage had already been booked for the long Memorial Day weekend here for the big “Annual Kick-Off to Summer Festival.” Although, certainly a major disappointment for G-3 not getting to stay in the famed Guest Cottage, she was offered a luxurious private suite in the guest wing inside the Main House.
Just as R and A were about ready to leave for the airport for their much anticipated get-a-way; R turns to A and asks, “Did you give ‘em the list?” “No…I almost forget, but here it is!” A responded. “It’s all there. It’s pretty self-explanatory. Everything you need to know should be on the List. If you have any questions you can give us a call, we’ll have our communication devices with us all the time”, she said as they walked out the front door. “Gotta go, or we’ll miss our flight!” R exclaimed as they both scurried away.
Jill and I came back in the house and tried to figure out what to do next - while all the time knowing that we would have to get into a new routine fast; one that would keep GJ pretty busy. G-3 settled in quickly with ne’er a whine or a whimper. After all, she was at The Compound … how bad could it be?!
I stayed at home for a few hours that morning to help get G-3 reacquainted with the surroundings here and to help out with any issues that may arise with her, you know – like being in a new place so early in the day, and to make sure that everything was going to be O.K. I had to go to “work”, (after all, it was a Thursday for Pete’s sake), and take care of a few things and run some errands and do some other chores that demanded my attention and needed to be taken care of.
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| It's A Tea Party! |
I’d been gone for several hours and when I returned home, I walked into the house and things seemed to be just fine. …I sort of thought that when I returned home I would have to step up and help solve some problems regarding G-3 and any potential issues with her Mom and Dad being out of town; but G-3 was playing quietly and contently on the floor with various toys that GJ had put out for her.
But I also noticed something a little weird, almost immediately. It was as if no one had missed me, or perhaps even knew that I’d been gone for a while. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled that everything was O.K. when I got back home; but it’s as if nobody needed me, not even Jill. It was as if I was no longer the center of attention…Then it hit me - There was a new kid in town. G-3 was the “new” center of attraction, and she was grabbing the spotlight!
There were no snacks or samplers for me to nibble on when I got home. I went to get something cold and refreshing from the refrigerator and I realized that the fridge had been cleaned out, and, “reorganized” - to make room for all the “food and things” that G-3 would “need” during her stay here. Then I quickly noticed that my treats had been moved to the wayside...Shit!
Oh well…I’ll probably get over all of this, ...eventually!
Anyway, I said to Jill, “We’d better take a look at their “List” and see if we’ve forgotten how to do this kid thing. Maybe we’ll need to take a crash course on child care and development, or maybe we can just wing-it.” I proceeded to review the list. It was a fairly thorough list, for relative newcomers to the parenting game, to throw together in such a hurry. It had the all-important timelines and schedule of events that were to naturally occur, in any given 24 hour day.
The List started off with the 6:00am wake-up call and the subsequent feeding to get her to go back to sleep, followed by the actual acceptable wake-up time of between 8 and 9; then breakfast at 9:30, then get her dressed, play a little, then a snack at 11:15, then a little more play. And finally, the mid-day Break for GJ, Nap Time right at noon.
The schedule indicated that Naps should last for 1 to 1.5 hours, then to be followed immediately by lunch, not just any lunch, but a healthy lunch mind you. Then after lunch, a little more playtime. GJ improvised and kept her busy with a variety of interactive toys, GJ’s special dishes and other treasures from the kitchen drawer, stuffed animals, books and the like. Then another snack, (man, I think I’ve been missing out on this snack-all-day-long thing for quite some time. I’ll discuss that issue with The Committee later.) Anyway, the list goes on with yet another nap, another wake-up, one more snack, some more play, and then a healthy dinner at dinner time. After dinner, the always important and must have bath-time was to take place. After the bath we get to watch a Mickey Mouse video, and finally…Bedtime! (Disclaimer: Surveillance equipment was of course, in place to keep tabs on the toddler, just in case she became unruly during the night!)
Although they were not listed specifically or called for in the timeline or even in the schedule, we soon realized that Diaper changes were necessary and quickly became mandatory chores and occurred at various times throughout the day, with or without warning.
There was also another List outlining healthy food options for each of the multiple feeding sessions and snacks, (I don’t remember ever getting healthy food choices as a kid...Hmm) along with suggested reading lists, cartoon and movie suggestions, etc. There was also a third List, a list with all the necessary emergency “Contact Info”, you know, doctors, insurance, baby sitters, etc. etc., just in case.
At first glance, their List(s) seemed to be carefully thought through and complete with every possible issue being addressed in one way or another.
But Not So Fast…my young apprentices - upon further review by The Committee, the List(s) provided by R and A were found to be missing some very important and key details, and needed to be revised and updated for the complete and proper care of G-3 here at The Compound.
Oh, their List would’ve been just fine for someone who may be easily satisfied with a simple, “No Frills” kind of lifestyle, but here at The Compound, we want everybody to have fun and Live-A-Little, no matter how old they are!
The shortcomings on their List(s), or perhaps, just mere oversights by the new parents – as listed here, may or may not be in order of importance, but are as follows:
1 - Hugs and snuggles for GG and GJ – after waking up in the morning, before naps, after naps, before bedtime, and pretty much any other time of the day that we can get one.
2 – The popular “Peek-A-Boo” and “Hide and Seek” games with GJ.
3 - Driving down to the gate in the Golf Cart with GG to fetch the morning paper, as well as subsequent rides up and down the lane during the designated play times.
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| "The Big Bridge" |
4 - The Stair-Climber exercise routine, where G-3 instructs GG in the finer points of how to properly go - up and down the staircase, really fast …again and again and again!
5 - Walks in the backyard with GJ to look at the pretty trees, and to learn about nature here at The Compound, and maybe even see some birds!
6 - Tea Time (snack time) at the little white table and chairs in the “Grotto”.
7 - Taking a stroll through the “Grotto” with GJ to study and learn about all the pretty rocks and walk across the “Big Bridge”. (I can just hear GJ say, "Don't worry dear, we'll cross that "bridge" when we get there!")
8 - Music lessons. We began with the piano. The recorder will be next.
9 - The “How To” lessons, learning how to dress up in GJ’s pretty jewelry.
10. – The Art and Design Workshop - learning Coloring Books Skills with GJ.
11 - Every hour – on the hour…to watch and listen for the Cuckoo Clock to say …cuckoo, cuckoo, etc. Not to mention hearing the Grandfather Clock chime in the entry hall. That’s pretty exciting for all of us!
12 - And Last, but not least, “A Big ‘Ol Pillow Fight” with GJ just before bedtime. Every kid needs to have a pillow fight at sleepovers, and they need to learn how sooner or later!
The Pillow Fight is probably the most exciting event of the day for G-3, next to the Golf Cart rides with GG, of course!
One of the things I’ve learned over the weekend here with G-3, and after telling her lots and lots of stories, is that if I talk long enough, I can put just about anybody to sleep! (It must be a gift - I didn’t know I had!)
We tried and tried to get R and A to extend their exciting “get-a-way” vacation and enjoy their time away for a few more days. But I think they were missing G-3 a little too much and returned home anyway, and our weekend with G-3 ended way too soon!
I guess we’ll just have to wait ‘til next time. But, you guys had better go again soon!
That goes for L and A, too! We're ready any time...just sayin'!
