Teaching moments

Hi Grandma.

Good morning boys, how are you?

I just love when the twins FaceTime me. Usually it's via their iPad but I noticed it was on their mother's phone. Regardless what media they use, it makes no difference to me.

We started chitchatting, laughing and being silly then they started playing. When this happens they set the phone/ipad down and begin doing whatever they do, fortunately with me on the other end I get to be in on the fun.

They were at the top of the stairs trying to figure out how to slide down.

One of the boys said, Grandma I'm gonna slide on my belly.
The other one said, No your gonna hit your head.

This is where I stepped in. I told them find something like a blanket to sit on so you can slide on your bottom.

Ok Grandma!!! 

I waited for the results as I can't see whats going on, I can only hear them.

No, it's not working.

Well try a sleeping bag, do you have one you can use?

No, I don't know where it is.

Ok, well you need something that can slide on the carpet.

A minute later, one of the twins come back with a huge stuffed Killer Whale. 

How about this Grandma?

Hey good idea! Sit on its back and hold on to the fin.

What do I do with my feet?

Use them to push yourself down the stairs.

Yee Haw he says, but then reports, It's not working either.

Yeah, you need something plastic or slippery.

I know, hold on Grandma.

He comes back with an ice pack.

How about this?

You could give it a try, it's kinda small and might make your bottom cold.

Yeah.

Then a text came through from my son who obviously was listening to us play.

Apparently he and his wife were sleeping in and must have given the phone to the boys so I can distract them long enough for them to get a few extra Zzzz's. 

 Overhearing us was probably more than they could bear as the text that came through read:

"Please teach them something else."

I couldn't help but laugh. Teach them something else,  it's problem solving for goodness sake, they weren't going to get hurt and besides it was fun trying to see what method they could come up with to slide down the stairs.

Non the less, they are the parents and he did say please so I redirected the boys to their room where they made a fort under their bed.

I told them they should get some play food and have a breakfast picnic.

'We don't have the kitchen anymore, they replied.

How about some fruit snacks or cereal then.

Ok Grandma!!!

One of the boys ran and brought back a box of cereal, crawled under the bed where his brother waited and they began munching away.

We're having a breakfast picnic huh? 
Yep replied his brother.

It was then that I had to go so I made sure they were to clean up any droppings and put the box back in the pantry when they were done.

The assured me they would and I left it at that.

We went from problem solving to survival skills. Not bad for a days lesson.