All in all, a very successful visit. Yes my mom was exhausted by the time we left, even though we were out of the house during the day two days out of five. Yes my father looked totally pooped after he spent an hour chasing after his grandson while I looked at aquarium exhibits with his wife. (hahaha!) But the Dao was totally charming, declaring "GRANDMA'S HOUSE! HAPPY! in an impromptu manner several times a day, saying "Uncle Bob! I Love You!", and being gleefully happy to see grandpa. One couldn't ask for a more appreciative kid! LOL!
It is such a relief to visit with my son: I don't get all the speeches about how if only I'd do this or that I'd snag a guy and have grandchildren for them and be happy. They don't have time or the inclination to quiz me on my life: everything revolves around the Dao, his nonstop energy, his utterances, his growth, his eating, etc. So very nonstress for me. Thankfully I am not getting a lot of criticism on how I am raising him, but then when the grandparents are there, I tend to stand back and let them be the stars.
I can see that it would be a real stress reducer to have them close enough to visit with him regularly. I could read the paper while he climbed on Grandma, look at the aquarium while Grandpa chased him outside. It is really wonderful to see one's parents in the grandparent position instead of parenting. Once or twice my mom spoke sharpy to the Dao when he was totally disobeying, and he was rather shocked. But in general, they are just fun people enjoying him, instead of disciplining, criticizing etc.
And the Dao is so fun to travel with. He is interested in everything: the taxi, the restaurant in the airport, the plane, the de-icing of the wings, the in-plane tv, the baggage, driving in the car, taking the subway, pretty much everything. He was even a pretty good kid while I shopped for books for over an hour in a Chinatown bookstore. He did fill up his backpack with books and present himself at the cash register asking to "BUY" LOL! Poor boy only got what mama picked out.
It is funny: I always find that the barber cuts his hair in too military of a boy's style, so I asked for it to be longer this time for winter... and all the ladies in Chinatown thought he was a girl. Who knew that there was "Chinese girl" short hair cut...
And then there is the problem of me saying a few things in Chinese. I mustn't massacre the pronunciation too much (thanks to Dora the Explorer in mandarin!) as they immediately start talking to me in Chinese, and then I am in over my head.
OK, I am supposed to be working on my tax report for tomorrow, as well as a volunteer drawing contract (also for tomorrow) so I'll wrap up this very vague vacation account.
Xin nian kuai le! Happy Chinese New Year of the OX!!
Oh I know I would have been sunk a million times over, if it weren't for the grandparental assistance...
Happy Belated New Year's to you too!
Posted by: Val | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 06:45 PM