Confessions of a Guilty Grandmother

I woke up this morning in a wonderful mood, for a bad reason

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When the alarm goes off every morning, I hit the snooze button and try to sneak in ten extra minutes. I usually drag myself up onto my feet and into the shower, where I try to shampoo and scrub myself into mental clarity. I usually start the coffee just as my almost-three-year-old grandson arrives with his Mom.

My days are pretty routine. Max arrives at the house, his grampa and I have our coffee and check the news while he plays. Then Papa goes to work, and Max and I spend the day together. It’s not hard, although it is tiring for this old lady.

But today, for some reason, I woke up before the alarm. I hustled, old lady style, into the shower and hummed my way through my morning ablutions. I found myself looking forward to the day with joyful anticipation, and for a moment, I wondered why.

Then it hit me: Max’s older brother, Johnny, will be staying at home with us today instead of going to kindergarten. Johnny is sick with a bad cold and a cough. He needs special nurturing today.

And I am the Nonni on duty.

God help me, the idea of caring for my sweet boy all day makes me absolutely giddy. The homemade chicken soup is simmering on the stove, the box of…