First Confession

A couple of nights ago, right before bed, Ella pulled me aside. She needed to talk. It seems she had been disillusioned by her recent visit from Grandpa. Something had gone wrong . . .

Ella: Mommy, something came to me when Grandpa was here.

Mommy: What kind of something?

Ella: Something came into me, into my head.

Mommy: Would you like to tell me about it?

Ella: Yes, it's just that it came into my head that I was bored. I just don't understand. Normally when Grandpa is here, I have so much fun, but this time I was bored.

Mommy: Do you have any idea why you were bored? What did you and Grandpa do together? Didn't you go to the park, go out for drinks and ice cream, and play Moms & Dads?*

Ella: Yes, we did all of those things. It's just that this time when we played Moms & Dads, Grandpa made me do all of these boring things that moms and dads really do. He made me feed my dolls, put them to bed, change their clothes, and stuff like that. I just didn't like it.

Mommy: Hmm, maybe you should think of a new game to play with Grandpa. Maybe he thinks Moms & Dads is boring too.

Ella: Okay, I'll think about it.

*Moms & Dads, as Ella calls it, is a make believe game that she enjoys every time she sees Grandpa. Essentially, it's just an improvised drama of an imaginary life in which she is married with children, a life in which she gets to call all of the shots. Grandpa typically indulges this fantasy, playing along for hours. She gives orders; he follows them. Sounds to me like Grandpa got smart this last visit.