(This article is four or so years ago.. The girls have since become much better. Only on occasion do I tell them, "You all need Nanny 911!" And then one of the twins tells me, "You mean Nanny McVay?" (They know!)
NANA 911....................and so the story goes...........
You haven't lived until you are bordering 56 difficult years of life, along with at least that many serious regrets you are trying to outlive, and your children ask you to "sit" with their one year old twins and their ADHD 21/2 year old. All beautiful little blonde girls of scary genetic descent. Which connects us directly back to one of the at least 56 serious regrets that have hovered very closely in my mind for a lifetime. We just don't discuss them.
Keep in mind that these children have never sat at the table for meals because my son is one that takes a long time to make decisions, even regarding the purchase of a set of table and chairs. Again due to what he has observed thru my many regrets. Heck he had all three of those children before he finally married the poor woman. She figured he was trying to make sure he found the best one (deal) like he picks cars and houses, and tables and chairs. Actually, it was again, the old generational curses holding his brain hostage. (They are all married, happy, and doing very well these several years later)
Now, back to "sitting" with the children. These are not children, they surely came from I don't know where because the word "sitting" has not happened to me since the day I walked into that house to "sit" with them. In fact they never sit. Nor do they sleep much. They scream, fight, throw their food, their plates, and rock their beds across their room in the middle of the night. Scared me so bad one night that I called 911. When the police arrived, I was under the bed. They inquired as to who was "sitting" with the children. I told them I thought the babies where sleeping. The officer said, "Yea Right, lady, that’s why they are laughing and have moved their beds at least ten feet a minute since we arrived." At that point I told him the whole story of my life. He quietly left when I turned my back to him to finish one of my many nervous paces during the story. I thought it was a bit more interesting than that, NOT! It took me some time to get back to sleep, and then, out of nowhere I heard, "DAD!" "Dad, where's my food?" I said, Nana's here, remember?." I said I put your snack out on the floor in front of the TV with the controller and a your juice box." Can you believe this kid? She gets up by herself, used to be at 4:30a.m., then 5:30a.m., now she is at least at 6:30a.m. So her parents set up her little "do da daily" snack in front of the TV so they can sleep until a normal 7:00 a.m. Do notice she is only 2 1/2 years old!!! (Again as years pass she is sleeping well and is a sweet young girl in 2nd grade now)
Trying to "sit" yet never "sit" at someone else's house is really trying when you have several lists posted in every room on walls, refrigerators, toilets, and cupboards. Schedules (my son is a perfectionist) so schedules are very important. Bottles at 6:30 p.m. sharp. Bed at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Bless Nana, Meme, Papa Joe, and thirty more, then recite the prayer, then turn on the CD player and push play. Turn on the little star light, close the door and do not open it until morning. MORNING: change three soggy diapers, feed corn flakes, watch babies throw corn flakes all over the floor and walls. Don't use bowls, just put the flakes on high chair tray and let 'em roll, then after cereal give them juice in juice boxes in refrigerator. So I poked the straw that came with the box thru the hole and the darn thing squirted all over me and the floor. Gave the girls their juice boxes and they did the same thing. They squirted them everywhere. I said to myself, "These are not my G-babies!" I taught MY children better manners!. I searched the house for a mop. Don't these people ever mop! Then I realized they just got all hardwood floors and before that they had all carpet. They hadn't had time to buy a mop. They did have a Swiffer though...Soooo I took baby wipes and stuck them into the pinchers and mopped away. Due to the sticky everywhere I used nearly an entire box of wipes. I am sure my frugal son will notice that one. He may also notice the hard kernels of old dried up macaroni and cheese stuck in the cracks of his nice new deck. They don't match the color he chose to stain it by the way. I tried sweeping it with the broom I found in the closet. I have never in my life seen a broom like his. It is so old it is worn down to a 1/4 of a broom. For real...it is so stiff because the give is gone...I might as well just use the dust pan alone.
I took them, the three KiKi's, or children, (KiKi's came from the oldest not being able to say the twins names) to my house which I thought would give me a break, anyway I have animals I needed to tend to. Forget that! The oldest girl opened the door and let the dog get out the door and run away. The little girls had previously surrounded the poor dog. They get so excited they hit her and jump on her and chase her. So when the door came open she took her opportunity. Smart Dog! No regrets on that one. So far the twins have dumped the entire box of hair bands, barrettes, rubber bands all over the bathroom floor. Took me a half hour or more to separate all those into the appropriate compartments. They push the carbon monoxide button until the squeal makes you crazy and you unplug it because monoxide is easier than this!!! They pushed the screen out of the front door pulled all the toilet paper off the roll and down the hall, take their shoes and socks off
directly after I put them on. Take their pig tails out after great duress in getting them in! Pull all the cushions off the sofa, and don't tell this one, but the oldest pee-ed on the new sofa so I blotted it and put it out on the deck to sun dry. "They" say the sun kills the germs. Whoever "they" is better be right. I mean this is a favor not a job, because there AINT enough money for this one honey.
This morning I had to drive to another city to go to my old bank and sign some loan papers for another son to have a vehicle. You try getting ready with three under three. They wanted to help. I wore black. NOT a good idea. When I finally got to the bank, I have boogers on my pants, Vaseline on my shirt, milk, powder, juice, peanut butter and poop on various parts of my attire. It was rather warm out but I didn't care, I donned a jacket anyway. In the truck on the way to the bank, the one KiKi hit the other in the face. Crying became song to me. I had to find something positive somehow. I only had to pull over once when suddenly one KiKi is crying and rather than use my rear view mirror for traffic safety purposes, I AIM the mirror directly on the KiKi's in the back seat. Well this time I saw one of them falling over in their car seat. I am like Oh My God! I pull over where there isn't really a place to pull over...Who cares, the kid is sinking fast. I reach back even though I have a bad shoulder and neck issue and with one strong thrust I push that kid back into position. Fully knowing that every turn may bring about this issue. Not to mention the danger of it. At this point I already have the oldest, but not legally old enough, in the front seat in a car seat, because I couldn’t get it hooked into the back seat. These people have three different car seats. All of which one would need a coarse in car seats to be able to handle all the straps adn hooks etc.. Well I have had no coarse in car seats since my children where small which seems like a century ago!! We ate at the table...we said no and flicked fingers at 10 months offering them limits and the beginning of some sort of discipline. Not at my sons house...the TV controls are covered with black tape. There is no furniture to speak of...A sofa, a loveseat and a TV. No table and chairs, no end tables, nothing to say no to. The cupboards are all locked, which by the way is a real trip when the Nana has arthritis and can’t get them open, HELLO!! Therefore, the cupboards are not only childproof, but Nana Proof...
They make rubber things for us old folks to open lids, and gutter cleaners with long handles, and hooks that put our socks on, and pills to help us have sex, but NO EASY CUPBOARD OPENERS. Don't they know we aren't that old? It’s just our joints, not our brains. Now to finish this part, the bedroom doors are also closed, the bathroom is off limits, even their own rooms are closed unless sleep is happening. They have no fence.......soooo.... weren't we all a mess?....a Nana, a set of twins, and a 2 1/'2 year old pissed off Kid because not only did she get one to have to share Mom and Dad with, but TWO.... She punches them whenever she gets the chance. She pulls their hair, lays on them, pushes them down, and anything else she can think of. Yet she also Mother's them. An interesting week I have had watching the Love Hate of siblings. And watching these children be away from their parents for the first time ever.
By the way, the will is in the closet in an open safe. I always hoped they would leave the children in my care...but after these past few days, I decided I didn't have the courage to look in the safe to see if I was the chosen one. Jesus was the chosen one and he suffered....that's another reason I didn't check. Surprise me!!! After all they have medicine for everything now. Even Nana's that can’t get childproof cupboards open. Why the 2 1/2 year old can get ALL childproof caps off all things. We know this because she has visited ER for overdose of meds she can open. She showed me how...So surely she could open those cupboards if I needed her to.
And good news, the great g-parents are with them tonight! And tomorrow! Then it is my turn again until
Tuesday when we take a trip to the airport to pick up the Mama and DaDa. Thank God for a healthy flight please.
...I bet they are missing those children a bunch. Good for them. I have been there, done that, thank you. Next time they can hire a nanny! I would rather be just a plain "old" Nana. Wish you could see me, because I don't look like anyone’s Nana, after these few days the only thing missing is the flour in my face and hair. Wonder if I will think the same things at age 70? Maybe!
You haven't lived until you are bordering 56 difficult years of life, along with at least that many serious regrets you are trying to outlive, and your children ask you to "sit" with their one year old twins and their ADHD 21/2 year old. All beautiful little blonde girls of scary genetic descent. Which connects us directly back to one of the at least 56 serious regrets that have hovered very closely in my mind for a lifetime. We just don't discuss them.
Keep in mind that these children have never sat at the table for meals because my son is one that takes a long time to make decisions, even regarding the purchase of a set of table and chairs. Again due to what he has observed thru my many regrets. Heck he had all three of those children before he finally married the poor woman. She figured he was trying to make sure he found the best one (deal) like he picks cars and houses, and tables and chairs. Actually, it was again, the old generational curses holding his brain hostage. (They are all married, happy, and doing very well these several years later)
Now, back to "sitting" with the children. These are not children, they surely came from I don't know where because the word "sitting" has not happened to me since the day I walked into that house to "sit" with them. In fact they never sit. Nor do they sleep much. They scream, fight, throw their food, their plates, and rock their beds across their room in the middle of the night. Scared me so bad one night that I called 911. When the police arrived, I was under the bed. They inquired as to who was "sitting" with the children. I told them I thought the babies where sleeping. The officer said, "Yea Right, lady, that’s why they are laughing and have moved their beds at least ten feet a minute since we arrived." At that point I told him the whole story of my life. He quietly left when I turned my back to him to finish one of my many nervous paces during the story. I thought it was a bit more interesting than that, NOT! It took me some time to get back to sleep, and then, out of nowhere I heard, "DAD!" "Dad, where's my food?" I said, Nana's here, remember?." I said I put your snack out on the floor in front of the TV with the controller and a your juice box." Can you believe this kid? She gets up by herself, used to be at 4:30a.m., then 5:30a.m., now she is at least at 6:30a.m. So her parents set up her little "do da daily" snack in front of the TV so they can sleep until a normal 7:00 a.m. Do notice she is only 2 1/2 years old!!! (Again as years pass she is sleeping well and is a sweet young girl in 2nd grade now)
Trying to "sit" yet never "sit" at someone else's house is really trying when you have several lists posted in every room on walls, refrigerators, toilets, and cupboards. Schedules (my son is a perfectionist) so schedules are very important. Bottles at 6:30 p.m. sharp. Bed at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Bless Nana, Meme, Papa Joe, and thirty more, then recite the prayer, then turn on the CD player and push play. Turn on the little star light, close the door and do not open it until morning. MORNING: change three soggy diapers, feed corn flakes, watch babies throw corn flakes all over the floor and walls. Don't use bowls, just put the flakes on high chair tray and let 'em roll, then after cereal give them juice in juice boxes in refrigerator. So I poked the straw that came with the box thru the hole and the darn thing squirted all over me and the floor. Gave the girls their juice boxes and they did the same thing. They squirted them everywhere. I said to myself, "These are not my G-babies!" I taught MY children better manners!. I searched the house for a mop. Don't these people ever mop! Then I realized they just got all hardwood floors and before that they had all carpet. They hadn't had time to buy a mop. They did have a Swiffer though...Soooo I took baby wipes and stuck them into the pinchers and mopped away. Due to the sticky everywhere I used nearly an entire box of wipes. I am sure my frugal son will notice that one. He may also notice the hard kernels of old dried up macaroni and cheese stuck in the cracks of his nice new deck. They don't match the color he chose to stain it by the way. I tried sweeping it with the broom I found in the closet. I have never in my life seen a broom like his. It is so old it is worn down to a 1/4 of a broom. For real...it is so stiff because the give is gone...I might as well just use the dust pan alone.
I took them, the three KiKi's, or children, (KiKi's came from the oldest not being able to say the twins names) to my house which I thought would give me a break, anyway I have animals I needed to tend to. Forget that! The oldest girl opened the door and let the dog get out the door and run away. The little girls had previously surrounded the poor dog. They get so excited they hit her and jump on her and chase her. So when the door came open she took her opportunity. Smart Dog! No regrets on that one. So far the twins have dumped the entire box of hair bands, barrettes, rubber bands all over the bathroom floor. Took me a half hour or more to separate all those into the appropriate compartments. They push the carbon monoxide button until the squeal makes you crazy and you unplug it because monoxide is easier than this!!! They pushed the screen out of the front door pulled all the toilet paper off the roll and down the hall, take their shoes and socks off
directly after I put them on. Take their pig tails out after great duress in getting them in! Pull all the cushions off the sofa, and don't tell this one, but the oldest pee-ed on the new sofa so I blotted it and put it out on the deck to sun dry. "They" say the sun kills the germs. Whoever "they" is better be right. I mean this is a favor not a job, because there AINT enough money for this one honey.
This morning I had to drive to another city to go to my old bank and sign some loan papers for another son to have a vehicle. You try getting ready with three under three. They wanted to help. I wore black. NOT a good idea. When I finally got to the bank, I have boogers on my pants, Vaseline on my shirt, milk, powder, juice, peanut butter and poop on various parts of my attire. It was rather warm out but I didn't care, I donned a jacket anyway. In the truck on the way to the bank, the one KiKi hit the other in the face. Crying became song to me. I had to find something positive somehow. I only had to pull over once when suddenly one KiKi is crying and rather than use my rear view mirror for traffic safety purposes, I AIM the mirror directly on the KiKi's in the back seat. Well this time I saw one of them falling over in their car seat. I am like Oh My God! I pull over where there isn't really a place to pull over...Who cares, the kid is sinking fast. I reach back even though I have a bad shoulder and neck issue and with one strong thrust I push that kid back into position. Fully knowing that every turn may bring about this issue. Not to mention the danger of it. At this point I already have the oldest, but not legally old enough, in the front seat in a car seat, because I couldn’t get it hooked into the back seat. These people have three different car seats. All of which one would need a coarse in car seats to be able to handle all the straps adn hooks etc.. Well I have had no coarse in car seats since my children where small which seems like a century ago!! We ate at the table...we said no and flicked fingers at 10 months offering them limits and the beginning of some sort of discipline. Not at my sons house...the TV controls are covered with black tape. There is no furniture to speak of...A sofa, a loveseat and a TV. No table and chairs, no end tables, nothing to say no to. The cupboards are all locked, which by the way is a real trip when the Nana has arthritis and can’t get them open, HELLO!! Therefore, the cupboards are not only childproof, but Nana Proof...
They make rubber things for us old folks to open lids, and gutter cleaners with long handles, and hooks that put our socks on, and pills to help us have sex, but NO EASY CUPBOARD OPENERS. Don't they know we aren't that old? It’s just our joints, not our brains. Now to finish this part, the bedroom doors are also closed, the bathroom is off limits, even their own rooms are closed unless sleep is happening. They have no fence.......soooo.... weren't we all a mess?....a Nana, a set of twins, and a 2 1/'2 year old pissed off Kid because not only did she get one to have to share Mom and Dad with, but TWO.... She punches them whenever she gets the chance. She pulls their hair, lays on them, pushes them down, and anything else she can think of. Yet she also Mother's them. An interesting week I have had watching the Love Hate of siblings. And watching these children be away from their parents for the first time ever.
By the way, the will is in the closet in an open safe. I always hoped they would leave the children in my care...but after these past few days, I decided I didn't have the courage to look in the safe to see if I was the chosen one. Jesus was the chosen one and he suffered....that's another reason I didn't check. Surprise me!!! After all they have medicine for everything now. Even Nana's that can’t get childproof cupboards open. Why the 2 1/2 year old can get ALL childproof caps off all things. We know this because she has visited ER for overdose of meds she can open. She showed me how...So surely she could open those cupboards if I needed her to.
And good news, the great g-parents are with them tonight! And tomorrow! Then it is my turn again until
Tuesday when we take a trip to the airport to pick up the Mama and DaDa. Thank God for a healthy flight please.
...I bet they are missing those children a bunch. Good for them. I have been there, done that, thank you. Next time they can hire a nanny! I would rather be just a plain "old" Nana. Wish you could see me, because I don't look like anyone’s Nana, after these few days the only thing missing is the flour in my face and hair. Wonder if I will think the same things at age 70? Maybe!
I am a baby boomer after all.
