Dear Reader Column 09-01-11

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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life


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Dear Reader,

My grandson Paul may only be four years old, but already he understands, and more importantly, believes, "If you build it, they will come," or Paul's interpretation: "If he can plan it, it can happen."

When my husband and I pick Paul up from day school, after he devours the snack we've brought along: a juice bag, a square of Co-jack cheese and a single wrapped piece of Dove dark chocolate (it's become a ritual), the boy's brain is fueled and the event planning begins. From the backseat of our car, we hear a verbal orchestration of today's, tomorrow's, and even next week's plans, for fun things to do with Grandma and Grandpa, including specific days and times when these fun activities could be implemented around his school schedule. A grown-up who didn't know our grandson might smile, and simply think this planning is merely the babbling of a four-year-old, but my husband and I know the truth. And the truth is that one of our grandson's aptitudes, even at his tender young age, is the ability to plan activities--detailed activities--and make them happen.

"How about if we go to your house today Grandma and we plant flowers, and make chocolate chip cookies, and then I can have a sleep over?"

If the savvy little planner, doesn't hear a full-out "yes," he starts diagramming the sentence, breaking subjects up into individual questions, beginning with a confirmation, that we are in fact, taking him to our house, not simply picking him up from school and taking him home.

"Grandma, are we going to 'your' house right now?"

"Yes, Paul we're going our house."

"Are we going 'in' your house?" From experience, Paul realizes that 'in' is the key word. 'In' means that his grandparents aren't just stopping by their house to pick something up, before they take him home.

"Do you have flowers to plant Grandma, or do we need to stop at the plant store? And maybe we need to buy chocolate chips? The grocery store is on the way home." (The boy never forgets what roads lead to Grandma's house, the grocery store, or the beach.)

Constantly making plans, our family's activity director, not only makes sure things happen, but that they happen on time. Once that boy learned the meaning of yesterday, today and tomorrow, his brain became both a date and time daytimer, which means the little dickens never forgets.

"Grandma can we make pies on Thursday?"

"Yes, Paul."

But if Grandma gets busy on Thursday and forgets, not to worry, Paul doesn't. He can't orchestrate a phone call by himself yet, but he is adept at recruiting his Mom or Dad to call Grandma.

"Today's Thursday, Grandma, remember, we're going to make cherry pies."

"You're right, Paul. I'm sorry I forgot. I'll come and get you soon."

"Okay, Grandma, and on the way back to your house, do we need to stop at the grocery store on the corner, to buy cherries?"

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Ask an author a question, win a custom tote bag, find some gems that you might have overlooked. Meet this week's featured authors. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

SNAPPED by Laura Griffin

LITTLE BLACK DRESS by Susan McBride

1105 YAKIMA STREET by Debbie Macomber

DRY AS RAIN by Gina Holmes

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader