We had a fantastic Father’s Day this year. Duhdee didn’t want anything and he’s really hard to buy for without instruction because he’s very particular…it’s the engineer in him, I guess. Monkey and I gave him something that I knew he would love though, the gift of time. We gave him a bunch of “gift certificates” that he can use to get down time as he needs it. Now I just need to make sure he uses them! He’s not very good at doing nothing but I do think the “sleep in as late as he wants” one will get used in short order 🙂
Once we were up and dressed we jumped in the truck and headed to Maine. We had to tend our experimental garden and I had managed to plan a lobster feed for my dad that included ALL of my siblings and ALL of the grandkids, this is not easy to do now that 5 of the 6 grandkids are teenagers. We stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts to grab something to eat on the way and I heard myself saying something I wish I’d heard my mom say just once in my life.
(After Monkey had finished his muffin)
“If you want any more to eat, you’ll just have to eat donuts!”
He didn’t seem to mind, lol.
When we got to my parent’s house it was raining steadily so I convinced (it wasn’t that hard) my sister to Monkey-sit while Duhdee and I played in the mud. Just before we left Monkey grabbed two of the remote controls (and more than one is a universal, I don’t know why), handed one to Grampa and kept the other for himself. They were seated side by side on the couch flipping when we walked out. I barely got a “bye” from the little punk.
Monkey had such a great time that day, he did so amazing. I know he expects every trip to Grammy & Grampa’s house to be a party but it amazes me how social he is becoming with everyone. He spent a long time playing ball with Grampa and then both of his Uncles, which was a first, he tends to avoid direct interaction with all 3 of them. He was also not shy about telling them what to do “Up high!” was a favorite, lol. He wore out the dogs playing ball after he finished with everyone else…and he still had energy to spare, of course.
My dad really seemed to enjoy himself and all the attention Monkey gave him. He also seemed to take great pleasure in telling me to check out my “redneck” son. Monkey had grabbed my mother’s little red rocker (she has had it since she was Monkey’s age, it’s an antique a couple times over now) ((I’m sure glad my mom never reads this but somehow I’m sure this will make it’s way back to her via my tattletale sister :-p)) and pulled it as close to the TV as he could get it so he could watch NASCAR. Prior to that he’d been standing with his nose practically touching the screen as he watched. In a few years I expect he’ll be asking to go hunting with Grampa *sigh*
We had him hand out high fives and hugs before we mentioned that we were leaving and he did better than normal, we may be on to something there. He also did great on the ride home, the day before he’d spent an hour (AN HOUR!!) whining “Home! House! Dogs!” over and over and over until my ears bled. I STILL didn’t shush him, though, but we were pretty close. My mom can’t wait for the day we tell our “non-verbal” boy to STOP TALKING OMG! The day is not too far off, I imagine.
