Wondering lately if there should be such a thing as “Grandmother School?” Granted we spent at least 1/3 of our lives raising children, but after a break of 40 years or so, it’s a little hard to be quite as thorough as we used to be. Thank goodness, at about the age of 5, they begin reminding you what you’re supposed to do. Last week, I had the privilege of flying back home with my daughter and her three (under 5) children. Boarding the plane, my daughter led, holding the infant in a hand-carried car seat, the 2 year old walked behind her, the 5 year old behind him and the huge 40 lb. car seat, being carried by me, bringing up the rear. I had my carry-on bag, swinging from one arm as I labored to carry this unwieldy load in front of me. Whapping everyone sitting on my right with my bag, and bumping into elbows with the car seat on my left. Finally, the fellow behind me offered to carry my bag. Why didn’t he offer to carry the car seat? All of a sudden, my granddaughter says “hey Grandma, you’re pushing me.” I couldn’t see anything, much less my little granddaughter in front of me. Everyone seated got a big laugh out of that, and I backed off.

I settled in my seat between the 2 year old and the 5 year old and pulled out my book, excited to have a few hours to read. Who was I kidding? I became so busy on that 3 hour trip, opening pretzels, cookies, holding drinks, wiping noses, mopping up spilled drinks, refereeing the use of the iPad, trying to pick up my book I dropped…needless to say, that trip flew by, no pun intended!

A few weekends ago, we were at a BBQ, sitting around with some neighbors, grandparents as well. The 2 year old was thirsty, so I helped hold a bottle of water to his mouth, he chugged and chugged away, my neighbors laughing hysterically, finally informed me I was pouring the water down the front of his shirt. Thank goodness it was a warm day.

How do they know so much as this age? They tell you when you make a wrong turn, they help you with the remote, they know which beeper is going off – is it the dryer, the microwave, the seat belt reminder? Speaking of seat belts, they tell you when they’re buckled, and they yell at you if you accidentally put the car in gear and they’re NOT buckled.
I must say, I hope I can remember to do all I’m supposed to do in the car when I have to leave them. No problem with that, PawPaw will tell me “how to drive.”

GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you.

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