A grandparent legacy

We're fortunate enough to live close to my parents, and they (especially my mom) make a huge effort to spend time with the boys. Z gets to spend one morning a week with them, and A gets almost all day one day a week. These are two lucky boys, and I'm obviously very lucky to benefit from these arrangements.

My folks travel a lot for business and pleasure. Recently they were away again, and A kept pretending to be drinking wine, reading newspapers and going to California. My folks often drink wine with dinner, and often talk about various different events with friends where they drink wine and eat yummy food. A has clearly decided that this is the way things are supposed to be and thus likes to pour himself an imaginary glass of wine in one of his Seasame Street-themed cups. Drink up Cookie Monster.

My mom also apparently likes to read the newspaper while A reads his own books during his weekly visits. So, while my folks were away, he would pick up one of the board books and sit on the couch reading his newspaper. If I interrupted him, he'd say, "Shhh, Mommy. I reading newspaper."

Finally, part of my parents' annual travel seems to take them at least once if not twice to California to visit family and friends, and of course, drink great wine. Every time A got in his little Cozy Coup Police Car, he'd tell me he was going to California and ask me if I wanted anything. Thoughtful, no? He would usually bring me pizza (in the form of yet another board book) after driving the circle from our kitchen to dining room to foyer to kitchen again.

All of A's pretending definitely said "I miss Grandma and Grandpa" quite as clearly as the actual words.