Early last summer I started talking to Colette about becoming active in something she enjoys — like dancing or gymnastics. I would’ve bet $100 bucks she’d have leaned toward dance. Getting to wear make-up and amazing outfits and performing? I thought that would’ve been the perfect fit.
I was wrong. My beautiful, sensitive and uncoordinated granddaughter chose gymnastics. She’ll likely never be an Olympic gold medalist, but she sure puts forth the effort. She continues to run up and jump on that springboard even though she splats while others land in headstands.
We teach our children to be careful because we don’t want them to get hurt. Gymnastics is sort of a ‘controlled crazy’ sport that encourages trying things that might actually cause pain. Even though I want her to be brave and confident, as a Nana it’s sometimes hard to watch.
Seriously, why can’t you practice balance on the ground? 🙂
Out and about with my 2 favorites (Ben and Colette) on Saturday with food in mind. Colette picked the restaurant and we knew it would be Red Lobster. When she picks, it’s always Red Lobster.
The service was lackluster and the food was bad. I had blood in my plate but the steak was looked done. The pasta choices for Ben and Coco were equally as unappealing. I ate very little and the guy that never leaves a bite of food walked out with a box.
Food smells in the car never bother me, but this time I could barely stand it. A couple other stops later and we knew the take home boxes would (and should) be thrown away. That was the first thing we did upon arriving back home.
The remainder of the night I spent on the couch and in bed… so sick I thought I’d die. I’m pretty sure my steak had gone south and the dark center wasn’t really that it was overdone, but instead dark as in spoiled. Basically, we paid $70 bucks for poor service and yucky food.
One bad experience and I can promise that we won’t eat Red Lobster for a very, very long time. I sure was happier on the way there than on the way home.
So yesterday I went for an eye exam at the Wal-mart Vision Center. I’m not sure that was the best choice. My first clue was when I had pay BEFORE seeing the optometrist. All the times I’ve been to the doctor, eye doctor, dentist, etc. — I’ve never been asked to pay up front.
Next, I was told that I have a cataract on one eye.
Her: 50 is awfully young to have a cataract. Me: Ummm… I only wish I was 50. Her: (looking at my chart and checking my age) Well, you’re still awfully young to have a cataract.
No matter… it’s there. Nothing urgent, but I was informed it would be a great time to have a multi-something implant and lose the glasses/contacts. My Nanny had cataract surgery a whole bunch of times so I guess I’m taking after her. Yippee! Maybe I’ll live to be 100, too.
Next, I was working on passport photos and fell back in time to our last Disney trip. When I saw this photo… I laughed out loud:
You can almost see my pink flip flops on Ben’s feet; I was 25 lbs heavier then; and Perry? His white legs — and that puffy belly — makes him look like he’s hopped a few too many parks. 🙂
Yesterday was Colette’s last “free” day before starting the new school year. As a last summer hurrah, she wanted to eat at Red Lobster and hit Target for a new LOL Surprise Doll. She LOVES them! LOL dolls are purchased wrapped in layers of hard to remove packaging and once opened, the doll you get is a surprise, as are all the accessories that are included.
You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.
Once Colette saw the ‘surprise’ doll inside, she got quiet. Assuming the doll was one she already had, we asked, “What did you get?”
“A boy,” she said. “It’s inappropriate. I don’t want it.”
She thrusts the boy LOL doll at me. I take it and find the ‘surprise’ is a penis and scrotum. The hole in the end of the penis is where the doll pees.
We tell her to put little dude’s pants on him but she’s not having it. She explains, “The girl LOLs don’t have their private parts showing!” She goes on to explain the pee hole is just between legs on the girl dolls without anything else there. She again tells me this dude doll is inappropriate.
I know Barbie has boobs and Ken has a ‘bulge’ – but if a 9-year-old
thinks her ‘kid’s toy’ is inappropriate to the point she wants nothing to do
with it, who am I to disagree?
I’m not so much of a prude that I’m offended by the “Mom” tattoo — even though it IS on a bottle sucking, peeing (ummm… BABY) doll — but do think a ‘reputable company’ might want to reevaluate the product they’re selling to kids.
A quick Google search told me lots of parents aren’t happy to be surprised by a teeny penis and accompanying anatomy. One Mom of a 4-year-old was pretty crazy after her daughter wanted to know why her doll had bubbles down there.
I wish Colette would give lessons on how to operate an iPhone — rather than share game play — with her great Meemaw.
It’s funny how grand parenting works. Colette can say one little thing and I’ll hear the story retold a bajillion times. Those pesky non-neighbors hang on her every word. On the other hand, I could tell them something important and 5 short minutes later I have to repeat it. 🙂
If I could just get them to call Coco with technology issues instead of me, it would be a win/win!
