Teenagers, Lunch Box Messages, and Breakfast Fairies
Posted By drsao on March 18, 2008
One of my grandangels will be twelve April 16th. Her name is Leanna – but we call her Nanna (because, when she was born, her little 15-month-old cousin, Harry, could not say LEANNA!) Sometimes we call her Banana – and her brother, Cooper 4, calls her WEE-NANA. But whatever we call her, I think she is getting ready to join the world of “TEENAGER-DOM.” Did you ask what was my first clue?
CLUE 1 – This morning when I woke Nanna up for school, I noticed pictures of NON-FAMILY boys around her room. HM – come to find out the pictures were of members of the JONAS BROTHERS BAND. Nick is her favorite – and his picture was closest to her bed. How is that for a clue??
CLUE 2 – I got another CLUE recently. I always put LUNCH BOX MESSAGES in the girls’ lunch boxes. There is always a picture of them doing something special, accompanied by a little Dr. Seuss-like rhyme. For example, yesterday their rhyme was “I HOPE YOU AREN’T WEARING ANYTHING BUT GREEN OR YOU MIGHT GET PINCHED BY A LEPRECHAUN WHO IS MEAN.” Today the rhyme is simple “TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, IT’S MARCH 18th, AND YOU LOOK GREAT!” As of this year, Nanna’s LUNCH BOX MESSAGES are put beside her place at the breakfast table – middle school folks can’t really be observed reading messages from home tucked into their lunch boxes – HELLO! Those who are approaching TEENAGER-DOM have to consider the rules of impression management!
CLUE 3 – My third clue came this morning. Every school morning, the BREAKFAST FAIRY (an invisible and wonderful soul) sets the breakfast table with china, napkins, little bowls of fruit, egg cups holding vitamins, and at least two lighted candles. This morning the BREAKFAST FAIRY made the mistake of writing a note to Nanna on her LUNCH BOX MESSAGE. It said…..
Calcium
Protein
Fruit
Make Good Choices……Listen to the Voices
LOVE, THE BREAKFAST FAIRY
Leanna looked at me and said (WITH A BIG SMILE,) “Grandma, I haven’t believed in the Breakfast Fairy since I was 8. But it is still ok if she makes the table pretty and lights the candles – but the note from the Breakfast Fairy and STUFF LIKE THAT – you can drop that now if you want!”
I guess we all pass through the LAND OF TEENAGER- DOM before we become adults. sigh……at least she said it politely and with a SMILE! 🙂
I guess it won’t be long before I can’t call her Nanna Banana either!
But the truth is, I miss her BREAKFAST FAIRY DAYS already!
But wait – no need for alarm……Sarah is only 8 – and Cooper is only 4. LONG LIVE THE BREAKFAST FAIRY DAYS…..at least for a few more years! 🙂
You sound like a fantastic grandma! I hope one day when I have some grandbabies I will think up some unique traditions like this. They will never forget! And thanks for reminding me of my grandma who has been gone now twenty years but who left quite an impression on me too!