Day Nine: the novelty of Grandma and Grandpa in Arizona had worn off.  We were in a routine:  school drop-off, go for a walk, straighten the house, do the laundry, work on a project or two, watch “All Creatures Great and Small,” pick-up from school, homework, dinner, get kids to evening activities, showers, prayers, bed.  But like I said it was Day 9, we were no longer an anomaly. Their parents’ pep talk about being good for Grandma and Grandpa had worn off, and I think the true colors were beginning to fly.

Dinner that night was Buffet Leftovers.  Everyone built their own plate, heated it up then met at the dinner table for sparkling conversation.  Ha!  First of all, the dish with left-over hamburger for building your own taco got knocked off the counter by a hand grabbing for the last of the hardshell taco shells.  Had it been the black bean bowl or even the spaghetti bowl the reaction from the masses would not have been so deafening.  Trying to preserve some of the coveted meat, I scooped it from the floor and returned it to the bowl.  “Gross, Grandma!”  Who knew this generation was a bunch of germaphobes.  So, all through dinner the underlying theme was “Wish I had more hamburger for my taco.”

After dinner we decided to play Catan.  Catan is always an adventure, eliciting moans and growls and triumphant cheers all within a single round, but generally they get over it and move on.  Not tonight!  “Grandma, Griffin is messing up the resource cards.  He’s doing it on purpose.”  Which I’m pretty sure he was.  “Addie is not in charge of the resource cards.  Tell her to stop.”  Which only incited more OCD behavior.  “Griffin, you always put the robber on my hex.”  “Only because you always put him on mine.”  I was really having a good time.  We eventually got through the game.  I won partially because I never saw the robber.  

“OK kids, hit the showers.”  I was ready for them to be in bed.  They left the table, moved into another room and started in on another disagreement.  I think this one had to do with Griffin using some of Addie’s big paper clips for one of his creations.  They hadn’t even heard me. I waited, then said again, “Time for the showers.”  No movement toward upstairs.  Finally, I raised my voice and firmly stated, “Everyone to the couch, now.”  A Scotch Blessing ensued.  Scotch Blessings come quite naturally to me.  Immediately after the blessing, they moved to the showers and went to bed rather quickly.  We skipped prayers and my Welsh poem that night.  The Scotch Blessing seemed adequate.  

The next morning everyone got up.  There was not a single unkind behavior, smug look or rude comment.  It was, “Do you want me to fix your water bottle?”  “Here’s your shoes.”  “I’ll meet you in the car.”  An occasional Scotch Blessing helps to remind all that everyone contributes to the Good Life!