She's Lost Her Mind

Power corrupts.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I worry about getting too big for my britches.....figuratively.  (Sidebar:  Wisecrack:  Literally, I am carrying a wide load.... too many "Oh, Henry" candy bars and too little exercise.....)

I have known down-to-earth folks that "lose their minds" when they get in a new situation.  I worry.  My doctorate is in common sense and I'm finding out that common sense isn't too common.

No, I'm not talking about my career.  I'm talking about being a Nana....or, as Mary Michael calls me, "Nanny!"  (Yes, like the goat.....I find it charming.)

MM is in a position of power.  I adore her.  Her every whim calls for my help, assistance, and understanding....or a resounding, "NO, we will not wipe our sticky hands on the cat."

She's four.  I'm 64.  This is a bad situation.

"Nanny, let's go upstairs and play cave."  (I have all the beds made.  Playing cave requires at least one bed to be stripped to the bones and a soft cave constructed out of the pillows, covers, blankets, sheets...you know, a soft cave.

This is different than "nest".....we drag all of the bedding to the middle of the floor and create a nest big enough for the two of us.

Or "house".....this requires the dining room chairs draped with blankets and sheets with an imaginary door.

Or "train"....we place the chairs in a line and we eat cookies and take trips.

Sally is starting to play more with me.  She loves lining up her baby dolls and taking care of them.  I have no problem playing dolls as long as she wants.  Sally is moving into the realm of toddler hood with far more caution and trepidation than MM did.

We read.  We laugh.  We eat.  We play.

I want to give my granddaughters a sense of wonder and delight.  I want them to chase the lightening bugs and look at the stars.  I want their childhood to be a childhood.  AND I am enjoying every minute of their being.