Madeline and Oliver arrived around noon for a sleep-over. I had already been pre-writing the script for the next twenty-four to thirty hours; and I came up with the ten-point system. It was scary at first because Oliver is having separation anxiety issues and I literally had to restrain him so Sam could drive away. I guess it is Oliver's age. Or it could be "the will to win", which is pretty prevalent if you are a George descendant. But, nevertheless, Sam was able to drive away and the grandchildren were mine.
Up front, I told Maddie and Oliver that they had to earn ten points in order to go to our Dollar Store or B&B or S&S to get a toy. There could absolutely, without a doubt, be NO WHINING!
Since my walk to the South end of the Ichetucknee River this week, I decided this would be the perfect place to get the children and Truett out in nature. There is an asphalt pavement leading to the dock, so this trip was ideal. Maddie pushed Truett in his wheelchair to the uppermost part of the dock and we locked the brakes on the wheelchair so he could watch us have fun.
(At this point, the grandchildren had earned two points!)
Then I told the grandchildren that they could dangle their feet in the river, but they were not to step on the platform where the tubers float in. However, my grandchildren didn't listen to me and Oliver slipped on the dock and landed on his buttocks on the platform in the water.
"Time to go," I announced.
So we wheeled mosquito-bitten Truett back to the parking lot. But, in the meantime, the kids wanted to sit in the tubes brought back by the tubers.
Hey, Merry Jennifer and Sam: "Your children really want to float down the Ichetucknee River!"
"But Oliver wants the boat ones!" I told them we would do it when you guys come with me!
Now back to the points.
After little Oliver cried (probably from embarrasment), he let it go, and he and Madeline hopped rocks. Because there was no whining whatsoever; therefore,the grandchildren earned more points! (Boy, I'm smart!) However, we had hours to kill until 8:00 p.m., their bedtime.
So I took them swimming in my pool. Not my favorite thing, I must say, but it had to be done. "Wear them out!" is my motto!
And finally, at 5:00 P.M., my grandchildren had earned ten points for being superb! So I took them to the Dollar Store.
Then we began the new ten-point system that lasts until Sam picks them up in the morning. "Hey, Sam. They have already earned five points and I told Madeline and Oliver you will take them to the good toy store . . .Toys R Us!"
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