Grandma’s night

There are two little girls in the bedroom across the hall. I can hear them talking and singing,  a little whine here and there. Most importantly, they are NOT sleeping.

It is 9:30 pm. One little girl is 4 (“and a half!”), the other is 2 1/2. They are in the bedroom I have set aside as theirs, in a queen bed side by side. They have been sleeping together during weekend visits at their maternal grandmother’s home, which I have been assured have gone well.

This is our first try at having both girls stay over without their parents. They were very excited about the plan. I was even more excited. I made a stop at the bullseye store to pick up some groceries for them, some special towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, dishes and a bathroom step stool.

We had a great evening together, but they were desperate to see Bop (grandpa). He did not get home until about an hour ago. Once he arrived, they were bundled off to bed pronto. They were very cooperative, pleasant and happy.

Now we are struggling. We’ve had one expedition led by the younger sister. I would not be surprised if it was instigated by her big sister. I can almost hear it “Go downstairs and find Ga”. Returned to the bedroom, the wheedling began. They don’t like the bed. They are not tired. They are hot. There are too many pillows.They don’t want to sleep together. They don’t want to sleep apart.

Ahhhh, yes-I’d forgotten.

Little do they know how seasoned I am in these games. My grandparenting skills have been honed both as the child in that bed and the parent of such children. I was not born yesterday, my dears.

It is so wonderful to see these two bonding as sisters. The baby is still too young to stay without parents, as she is still nursing. But I am hopeful that eventually all three will be strongly bonded. As adults, my sisters and I have been close. As teenagers, we fought with each other constantly.  I literally have scars from some of the more intense arguments. As young children, we were inseparable.

That is my hope for my granddaughters. Having a close bond with your sisters is incomparable to any other relationship in life.

The giggles seem to have subsided. The room has been quiet for several minutes now.

If I were to dare to peek in (I do not, yet), I imagine they are sleeping facing each other on their polka dot pillows, each clutching the piles of stuffed animals they gathered around them.

Sweetness personified.

Best appreciated after an hour of spice.