Originally posted Jan 2, 2008 

Grandma is getting her payback for all those times I refused to eat my peas, strolled in a little late for curfew (which hardly ever happened because I was, ahem, the “perfect” daughter), and for the ten-plus times she and Daddy packed up and moved me all over the southeastern United States. She sweeps into our home like a force of nature and instantly transforms into Over-Indulgent, Super-Fun Grandma—cue the Superwoman theme song.

Now don’t get me wrong—I adore my mother and appreciate every sacrifice she made for me. All those cheerleading uniforms, the “little extras” during college, indulging me when I decided I was destined to be a soccer star or a flight attendant (that adventure lasted all of six months)… she poured so much into helping me become the woman I am today. (The good parts. I only blame her for the bad stuff when I want something—hehe.)

And truly, I’m grateful she now has grandchildren who absolutely worship her. Little Buckaroo thinks Grandma hung the moon, which explains his Fence Vigil last week—standing at the edge of the yard waiting for her car like a lovesick puppy.

I’m never surprised by what she’ll do for these boys. Dinosaur battles, hide-and-seek, forty-three consecutive games of Go Fish… she’s all in. I walk by, shake my head, and wonder, Did she ever play 43 games of Go Fish in a row with me?
Then the real worry hits: Oh no, Little Buckaroo is going to expect me to keep up these Grandma-Level Play Standards after she leaves.

Later, I walked into the kitchen and found her latest high-tech invention. Who needs fancy toys? All she needed was a handful of plastic cups and some string. It started as “cup communicators,” then became a volleyball net, then somehow a pulley system to drag Littlest Buckaroo around the kitchen. I wish I still had the receipts for their Christmas toys—I could return everything and just buy a couple packs of Dixie cups.

We were sad to see Fun Grandma head back to Mississippi this morning. Especially me—because I didn’t do a single load of laundry or wash one dish the whole time she was here. When you live inside a State Park in a whole different state from the rest of your family, a Grandma visit feels like a miracle. She plays nonstop with the boys while cleaning the house. It is unbelievable.

Look at that huge smile on her face… Is it because she’s holding two of the sweetest boys on Earth? Or is she thinking, I get to go home and rest now?

Sigh. Yawn. Mama is officially back on full-time duty.

But just wait—one day, when the Little Buckaroos have kids of their own…
It’ll be payback time.