My hubby and I are blessed to be grandparents six times over. Their ages range from 4 to 9. Unfortunately, the parents of our blessings live down the hill in three different arenas: Chino, Rancho Mirage and Hesperia.
Papa and I are unmercifully invited to every Little League game, soccer game, piano recital and Christmas pageant, and we’ve been showing up, although worn and weary.
Rather than drive up and down and round and round in historical heat, rain, sleet and snow, we really enjoy our personal time with the grandkids. After kayaking at the lake, we get a big kick out of loud, messy sleepovers with all six kids crammed onto the pullout making a mess with pizza and ice cream, while we do tequila shots in the kitchen.
However, the parents insist that we show up for all these activities because “all the other grandparents are there!” Well, all the other grandparents practically live next door: in Chino, Rancho Mirage and Hesperia. We live in Crestline and we are not moving anywhere!
Are we being lazy, stubborn old folks by refusing to continue this sports-fan charade? After all, our children were raised up here. THEY LEFT US!
Tired-a-Driving in Crestline
Dear Tired Grandparents,
I can’t get the image out of my head of six brothers, sisters and cousins having a pepperoni pizza fight while you two are doing shots in the kitchen. That tidbit in your letter has brought out the green-eyed monster in me, because I’m 140 days sober and jealous as all get out.
To answer your question, as a lazy, stubborn old folk myself, I dread going DTH in the heat, during the rainy season and during a snowstorm warning, which is pretty much all the darned time. During the recent threat of evacuation from my perfectly comfy little cabin, my daughter invited me to come on down. I tell ya, I’d rather stick needles in my eye.
Send cards! Kids love getting fun and fantastic greeting cards of congratulations on a good game, etc., especially when there’s a crisp stash of cash inside. “Sorry we couldn’t be there. Looking forward to another cousin camp-out at the cabin. Love, Grandpa and Grandma.”
Trust me on this. In no time at all, you’ll be the favorite grandparents without having to buckle up, fill the tank and maneuver the highways.
Sidney
Send your questions for Sidney to Sidney@thealpinemountaineer.com or by snail mail to Dear Sidney, The Alpine Mountaineer, P.O. Box 4572, Crestline, CA 92325.
This advice is intended for entertainment purposes only. No animals were harmed in the writing of this column.
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