SUGAR!!!!!!!

I taught school for 18 years. I was a pre-school teacher for 3 years before that. I've raised 2 children. I have two 3 (almost 4) year old grandsons--and 1 infant grand-daughter. Yet there is always a chance to forget things I once knew, or to re-learn old lessons. Today was one of those days.

It started out very well. I got up early and was ready when Nicholas woke up. He ate a good breakfast and my normally dawdling little boy was ready to go in time for storytime at the library. On the way home I stopped at Publix to fulfill a craving I've had since I got here. I bought a Publix Pressed Cuban for lunch. Nicholas asked if he could have a cookie so we headed to the Bakery department for a free cookie.

"Which one do you want?" I asked. "Chocolate chip, Sugar, or the one with Sprinkles?"

"I want the M&M cookie because that's my favorite race car!" Nicholas answered pointing to the BIG cookie in the display case...the one for $1.49, not the smaller free cookies. (Nicholas loves NASCAR and his bed looks like Kyle Busch's 18 M&M car.) Of course being the grandmother I indulged him and bought the big cookie.

After we ate our lunch we split the big cookie and then Nicholas went to his room for his afternoon 'Quiet time'. He rarely naps, but he always has a 2 hour quiet time in his room. Or maybe I should say his parents and grandmas always get a 2 hour quiet time when he's in his room! I knew there would be no nap after that cookie but he was good and played quietly with his books and cars.

Then it turned 5:00. I think Publix should add a warning label to their cookies. WARNING: This cookie contains 8-Hour Time Release Sugar Granules. As soon as Jen and Dave walked through the door The Energizer Bunny took off. The Dawdler moved into Warp Speed.

"Mommy! Did you See THIS? GRANBERRY! WATCH!"
"Nicholas...shh, we're right here."
"ok." (pause) MOMMY! DID YOU SEE THIS??? GRANBERRY !!!! WATCH!!!"
"Nicholas.... SHHHHH: we see you."
"Time to wash up for dinner. Go Potty first.'
Boing, boing, boing....'Granberry...I go weally fast!"
"Yes, you did. Go potty.'
"Take my shorts off?"
"Yes"
"Take my underwear off?"
"Yes"
"Don't throw them?"
"No"
WHOOSH.....he kicks them across the bathroom
"OHH! They went high!"
Finally we make it to the dinner table. His little hands wave everywhere. He plows through his nachos and taco. And now it is BED-Time. Sure!
Jen manages to get him into PJ's and settles him for stories. After she tucks him in she brings him a sippy cup of water to keep by his bed.
"OOH! Cold Water! I love cold water Mommy!!"
Yep, he's ready to go to sleep.

You've heard the grandparent jokes about buying the kids the sugary treats and then sending them home? Oops, I forgot to go home.