After spending more than a week with Grandma and Pa, Connor has been in for a rude awakening since being back home. He's not the only little boy in the house, and Mommy is not quite as accommodating as he'd like. Here are just a few of the things Connor's had to adjust to since rejoining the real world.
Less Attention. And this one kills him, for he so loves to be the center of everyone's attention. He loves to talk and have you respond. He loves to play games with you and have you play with him. He loves to be in the middle of everything. He hates having two brothers who cut in on HIS attention.
Sharing. All of the toys are his, or at least they should be, to hear him tell it. He hates that he now has to share and take turns. He didn't have to last week, and he doesn't want to this week!
Milk. Our sippy cups at home are filled with milk most of the time, with the occasional apple juice or water thrown into the mix. Gone is the never-ending grape Kool-aid (once this weekend while visiting he even felt the need to inform me that "Babies no like grape! Connor's grape!"). Also gone are the Capri Sun pouches and the sips of Pepsi from Pa's cup.
Play Buddy. Connor loves to play games, like saying "Where's Connor?" and having you find him (never mind that he's giving himself away by asking the question, the boy simply cannot remain quiet for any length of time). He's been severely disappointed that Mommy doesn't join in every single time, never mind that she's busy changing two other little boys diapers or fixing lunch or trying to get some laundry done. He says he misses Grandpa, who he could order around and get down on the floor to play with him at all times.
Being in Charge. Connor likes to be bossy, to be in control, and to set the tone for whatever you're doing. He's had trouble adjusting to the fact that he is NOT ALLOWED to tell Mommy what to do. "C'mere Mommy! Right Now!" does not fly in this household. Neither does "Stop that! Connor's toys. Babies leave 'lone!"
Boat in the Water. He's mentioned it about once every hour since we've been home. He asks every night at dinner if we're going "Boat in the water later?" and is always disappointed to find out that we're not, that we don't have a boat here at our house, and that we're not immediately going back to the lake.
Ride the Tractor. During his visit last week, he seems to recall getting to ride on Grandpa's "tractor" (aka, the old lawn mower without a deck or blades) at least once a day. He reminds me of it here at home, even though we don't own a riding lawn mower.
Gimme Hug. This one is, indeed, adorable, and it's something he's always done quite a bit around the house. But while on vacation, he got in the habit of doing it ALL the time. He asks for it at the most inopportune moments - like when I'm trying to take five minutes to eat my lunch, or when I'm changing a diaper, or when I'm fixing everyone's dinner. He's having to learn a little more patience again, since every wish and whim is not instantly gratified (sorry, Grandma, the boy has to learn).
Nap Time. While he sometimes took naps on his visit, he didn't always. And I have a feeling that if he resisted very hard, he won the battle. That doesn't happen at home. If he's acting tired, he gets put in bed, regardless of whining, whimpering, crying and outright screaming. He says he thinks nap times should be optional, and he would probably never exercise the option. He'd rather fall asleep on the couch.
Learning New Words. Things like the long, drawn-out "Well!" when things don't go just as he thinks they should, or "You stinker!" when someone does something a little bit bad (usually Connor, calling himself a "stinker"), or finally, wanting someone to wipe his "bottom" instead of his butt. It's cute to see the differences in language after only a week.
Comprehension. This one would be hilarious, if it weren't so annoying. Clearly used to having his own way, he's having trouble being reprimanded or being told what to do. For instance, "Share with your brother," or "Leave brother's toys alone," are always met with a confused "What?" or "What you say?" He knows exactly what, and what I've said, for that matter. He chooses not to understand.
It's a slow process, readjusting to the normal rules of life after living it up with Grandma and Pa at the lake for so long. He says if he knew how to write, he'd sneak in here later and post an open letter to Grandma that essentially says "Save me! Mommy bad! No share! No brothers! Grape Kool-aid now! Donals now! Swimmin' and boat in the water! Back the trailer in the water. No drink (the lake)! Keep mouth closed (as if)! Kick and paddle! Save me! Mommy bad!"
