Guest Author - Pam Garlick

I hate admitting this, but the other day I was keeping two of my granddaughters, Rachel and Angela, occupied while their parents washed windows for us. I was only too grateful for the time with the kids, and the help we were getting from our children. But at the end of the day, I think Grammy’s energy was sapped more than if I’d been helping with the window washing chore.

I had hurt myself the week before moving some furniture, one of the reasons the kids were helping us. Unfortunately, I can’t blame my exhaustion on that injury. The kids and I spent most of the day in our pool and being in the water is therapeutic.

No, my exhaustion was in mentally keeping up with these two energetic girls. The two and a half years that separates them was just enough of a gap that the younger, Angela, could not do all the things that Rachel could do in the water. Besides we think Rachel is actually part fish.

It seemed whenever Rachel would show off one of her feats, Angela would in turn call for my attention, too.

“Look what I can do, Grammy,” she’d shout, and I’d turn to watch her take a turn at showing off some spectacular skill.

Yes, Grammy did so enjoy watching them both. However, it soon became apparent that whenever one called for me to look, the other quickly followed suit. It was almost dizzying as my head turned back and forth more than a booble head would bobble in the back window of a New York City cab.

I tried to find activities they both might enjoy, but it seemed there was again the age and skill differences. And, of course, personality differences. It seemed that whatever I came up with one or the other didn’t want to do it.

Then strangely we came upon a happy medium. But before I explain I have to admit I am not prone to talking politics with seven and five year olds. However, in this case, it came about rather by accident. Or, perhaps by mental exhaustion.

“Let’s play mermaid queen,” Rachel suggested.

“I think the mermaid should be mayor,” Angela countered.

“Hey, why stop with queen or mayor,” I interceded. “Let’s have a mermaid president.”

Both seemed to think that was a great idea.

“You be the president first, Grammy,” Rachel suggested, to which they both agreed.

Now here is where I got just a little political. Or, maybe I had just been bobbing my head in the sun a little too long. I told them my name was President Hillary.

Hey, the both liked the sound of that. I’m sure Hillary would too. Not to mention around 50% of the polled voters out there. Ooops! Did I say I wasn’t going to get political?

Well, we struck on quite a game as each of us took our turn playing Hillary the Mermaid President. We would order the mere citizen mermaids around like they were worker bees and Hillary their queen.

I’m sorry, I keep digressing. We were playing president, not queen. But you get what I mean. And the important thing was both my darling granddaughters were content with this new game. So, who am I too complain? It gave my head a rest from bobbing.

Yes, we had a very good afternoon, in spite of their obvious competitive nature. I was quite proud of the fact that we’d come up with such a creative and fun game. Not to mention the lessons they received in the process when the president told them about the White House, which of course was under water. She also told them about Congress and the Justice Department, of course explaining them on an elementary level.

Soon, my dear girls will be heading off the school. If they are asked, “What did you do this summer?” I certainly hope they will speak fondly of the lesson they received in Political Science from their grandmother. Like how Mermaid President Hillary ruled over the sea word, with the help of two schools of fish, the Republican Fish and the Democratic Fish, who were also broken down into two groups, the House of Representatives and the Senate whose jobs were to make laws. Then there was the Justice Departments which were like police fish, and the Supreme Court who made decisions about those laws and the people they effected.

If any of you readers out there just happen to be a teacher who has a student who comes to school telling about this sea world government, I want to proudly say, I’m the Grammy who taught your student all about it.

I hope you are all having a great summer with the children in your life. If you run out of creative ideas, please feel free to play Mermaid President.

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