we left her. again.
In keeping with our goal to win Parents of the Year, Ali and I dropped Maya at her grandparents. Again.
So we could escape to New York for a few days. Again.
In a cab at JFK. Messy hair all around.
Prior to our departure, I put on my dictator-hat and shared a few rules that I wanted Maya to adhere to over Spring Break:
- Make sure you change out of your pajamas. Every day. No excuses.
- Have a fruit or vegetable with every meal. And no, French fries don’t count. And no, I don’t care if potatoes are a vegetable.
- Don’t forget to finish your social studies project before the week is over. Yes I packed it in your bag. No, I don’t care if it’s not due until April 5th.
- No more than 30 minutes of TV a day. And only things that are on the DVR. I don’t want you watching commercials and asking me for things like Pop Tarts and Lunchables.
- And while we’re on the subject of food? No cake for breakfast. I mean it.
At The Stanton Social: Snapper tacos (The Best), Pizza, Veggie Slider, Cauliflower with Raisins
I’m not sure why I bother with my list of instructions seeing as Maya will basically do the opposite of all of the above. I know it and she knows it.
And apparently Ali knows it. Because the only thing he told her before we left was as follows: “I set up the Xbox in the living room. Make sure you use it. It was a lot of work to get it connected.”
On the bright side, at least the Xbox will get her out of bed?
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
No cake for breakfast? Well clearly that is because pie is the appropriate breakfast entree.
Don’t give Maya any ideas!!
No cakes for breakfast, and no staying in pyjamas! I was chanelling in my 8 year old self and did not have as much fun as Maya did! To have those kind of rules set for Maya she must be leading a very exciting life! I think the follow up blog should be about how she interpreted those rules! 🙂
Or maybe how she ignored all the rules…which is the most likely scenario. 🙂
Rules, Rules, Rules!! I’m sure she’ll have a great time I know how much I now treasure the time spent with my grandparents. Hope you guys have a wonderful time in NYC!
Thanks Fran…we are having a great time here so far!
Loved the instruction where you say French fries don’t count as vegetable. I have never left purvi with any one till now. But I am sure I would give her the same set of instructions if I would leave her. Have a great trip!!!
You are a good mom to never have left your daughter. I bet she’ll be far more adjusted than my kid. 🙂
my grandma always let us do whatever we wanted. as long as mom and dad didn’t know about ALL the shenanigans. I love grandparents…
My grandparents never let us do ANYTHING! Not sure why I didn’t have mellow grandparents?
You shouldnt have bothered with the rules..No place for rules at grandparents’ place for the grandchildren..I still remember my summer vacations spent at my grandparents’ place..Rules become null and void the moment my mom goes back after dropping me at my grandparents’ place..:) My grandpa used to say, “Forget about her.This is my place We go by my rules.”. and what fun we used to have.. My grandpa had a huge collection of books. We used to read them to each other and have endless discussions. My mum would have asked me to learn some traditional recipes from my grandma but kitchen was the last place I would ever go to..:)
I think Maya’s grandfather may have said those exact words!! Crazy.
I love that you had discussions on books…now THAT is impressive!
Ali knows what’s up! Haha! Have a wonderful trip and I’m sure Maya will enjoy her alone time as well. 🙂
Thanks Parita!
Ali definitely knows what’s up. 🙂
Have a fun time in NY, it’s still cold though in here. No spring yet. Your hair doesn’t look messy, wait ’till you see mine 😉
I think you couldn’t expect Maya to follow through with all the rules when she’s with her grandparents, plus, it’s a spring break! Ali knows what he’s talking about! 😉
The weather is great! It was actually too warm for my coat today. Crazy how quickly the temps change here.
Ali and Glenn are on the same page, hahaha. And I hear you about the DVR situation, commercials are the worst! Have fun in NY and tell us all about it since I probably will never go. And by tell I mean THE FOOD!
I hope you get out here Marie…it’s just the most amazing place. And the food is amazing too!
We rarely followed any rules at my grandparents but still managed to eat on time, wake up on time and play to our hearts content. Its just got to do with their cool relaxed attitude! I am sure Maya will have so much fun! I really like Ali’s rule though 🙂
I hope I’m a cool, relaxed grandparent…since I’m quite the opposite as a parent!
Maya is with her grandparents, regardless of those rules you know whats going to happen 😛 While she is enjoying her spring break, eating cake in her PJ’s – you guys have a great time NYC 🙂
I almost want to eat cake in my PJ’s….just so I can tell her I did! 🙂
I don’t blame you for jetting off when you can without the kid. I’d be all over that if I had a ready babysitter. Well, they say ignorance is bliss. She’ll probably be breaking every rule but you won’t have to see it so you can just pretend it may not be happening and she can pretend she may not have broken every rule. Win win!!
Ignorance is bliss…but then Maya lets little things slip here and there and that’s where my imagination starts running wild!
Wait a second. You two jet off to New York City (again) without Maya (again), and she can’t even have cake for breakfast!? What gives?! But in all seriousness, I completely approve of the list you gave her. I hope to gain some of your parenting skills when my time comes, even if they don’t listen.
Well when you put it like that maybe I should let her have cake AND ice cream for breakfast…. 🙂
Oh yeah! I see where you are getting, I have a two year old who is being taken care by his grandma while I am at work and seriously he is already spoilt ..watches rhymes in youtube, not taking a nap during day and scattering all his toys in the living room which he doesn’t do over the weekend when I am there to watch him.
I feel your pain! It’s so much harder when they are really young and can’t understand how different people have different rules….
ali’s instructions make you look like the bad cop. LOL. a well balanced couple. Maya is so lucky!
I’m always the bad cop. Always!
Ali’s admonishment cracked me up.
On another note, you sound just like a French maman, going out and living your life like that. Kudos! And it doesn’t sound like Maya suffers one bit from grandparent time.
I am so happy that you are so blessed. 🙂
I think French mothers (what little I know about them from books!) are admirable. Thank you for comparing me to them!
i think its important to get away! I guess maya would agree, considering shes going to be playing xbox in her pjs eating cake. 😉 have so much fun in nYC!!!
Thank you Daisy!!
there are no rules when staying over at your grandparents place :). have a great vacay!! xxx
Thanks Piya! 🙂
Omigod, we are like minded… only currently it’s not prudent for us to fly to NY much as I’d love to. Instead, next week when the kiddo is on SB we’re dropping her off for a week long sleepover at my parents. And quite literally on the way to work this morning I was already drawing up plans to create worksheets for her to do each day while there. Each packet (one per day) will contain: one worksheet each of math, reading comprehension, and writing. She also has to read at least 20 minutes/day and write it down in a reading log. As for pajamas, I thought she was the only one who would stay in them all day! Beyond the work that I’m giving her I don’t want to know what else is happening there. What happens at grandma and grandpa’s stays at grandma and grandpa’s. This is the one time I agree with the DADT rule.
So I’m not the only one who creates worksheets and lesson plans for their child to endure during Spring Break. I feel so liberated right now! You have no idea Will. 🙂
Love this comment!
Have fun! It’s warmer now – FINALLY. I am sure the x-box will get a lot of use 🙂
The temps are great here Stacie! I can’t complain one bit.
Ooh! Enjoy your kid-free stay in New York!
Thank you YC…so far we are! Very much. 🙂
Awwww… Ameena… you are a tough mama! I guess it’s important, one parent has to be disciplinarian. Yeah, she’s not gonna listen.. can’t blame her. I love cake for breakfast, coffee cakes and all. That was sweet of Ali to setup Xbox for her. Stanton Social rocks… love that place. Beauty and Essex is suppose to be really good in the same area.. I have to go there soon. See you soon! 🙂
Stanton was good…some things were amazing, some just okay. I will definitely check out Beauty and Essex online! Thanks for the recommendation.
See you tomorrow!
Hope you enjoyed your trip to NYC, looking forward to seeing some photos!
And you have to give Maya rules, at least you sound like Parents of the year 🙂
I guess if we at least sound like good parents then that’s half the battle? LOL
I am inspired Ameena
Inspired to leave your child behind? I am not a good influence. 🙂
I have a vacation planned and I am two minds about taking my 3.5 year old
There is absolutely nothing wrong with an entire day spent in PJ’s. I call that a productive day since I made it out of bed. Probably to get some cake for breakfast.
Love it. You crack me up Kim!
I have left my twins many times as well. Now that they are growing up, they don’t like the idea of being ‘left’. But again, Iam inspired. Parents need the time as a couple!
Good 🙂
Maya looks forward to us leaving her I think! I don’t blame her. If I had me for a mom I’d love a bit of freedom here and there….
All these fantastic food pictures are killing me. If you post pictures of your shopping too, that would just take it over the top 🙂
For the first time, in a really long time, I actually bought some clothes! I won’t bother sharing the pics though because my shopping is always monochromatic. 🙂
Have an awesome time in NYC!! I am sure Maya is going to have a blast too. I wish I had a week where I could contemplate staying in my PJs for days 🙂
Thanks Rhonda!
I hope a nice week of PJ’s is in your future!!
We drive to the city a lot. Mother in law lives in NJ which is 3 hrs. for us and then 10 minutes to NYC driving. Don’t let your daughter know you go there a lot. We asked Rachel (my daughter) for her sweet sixteen if she wanted a party. NOT. Take me and some friends to NYC for the weekend was her call. We’ll go to the Hard Rock (her taste buds need some work). It was a blast. And I have pics of her and her friends with a fake Cookie Monster to prove it. At least it wasn’t that cowboy dude in underwear 🙂 Have fun.
Maya knows we go here a lot…but luckily most of the time she is with us!
She already said she wants her next birthday at Dylan’s Candy Bar….scary.
First, happy belated birthday to Maya. I found your lessons learned very….well, true.
So glad you were able to jet off to NYC. And jealous. Maya will be perfectly happy at home with the Xbox. No need to feel guilty…
I wish I felt guiltier than I do…but I’m having too good of a time. 🙂
How fun! Have the best time in NY! Happy Birthday to Maya 🙂
Thank you Jamie!
I’m trying to envision my mom enforcing my rules on my kids while I’m away… #nevergonnahappen. Have a great trip, though!!!
#nevergonnahappen might be the best hashtag ever. I think I could use it for everything!
Parents need alone time and kids spending time with grandparents is a good thing. As for bad hair, well, it doesn’t look so bad, and you aren’t supposed to have amazing hair after a flight, anyway.
Thanks MFM…I feel better about the hair now. 🙂
Rules are meant to be broken, right? 😉 Enjoy NYC!
Thanks Kiran! We had a great time!
Have a fruit or vegetable with every meal…. that is good advice 🙂
I m hooked girl…you write so well..thanks for dropping bye.
By not Bye 🙂
Thank you Nayana! I appreciate the kind words.
I think it’s great that you can leave Maya. I think it means you are a well adjusted parent. I really enjoyed NYC when I went, the little of it I saw. Hope it has been great! Love,
Shauna xo
NY was great…I hope that you get back there soon to visit again. And thanks for thinking I’m well-adjusted. Not sure anyone has ever said that before. LOL
I think you are probably back by now – hope you enjoyed it!
We are back…the trip was great!
Well, on the plus side, you won’t be the one who has to deal with the sugar high that is bound to ensue when she DOES eat cake for breakfast! Hope you had a great trip, Ameena!
Such a good point Megan….the sugar high that Maya gets? It’s ridiculous!
How was New York? You lucky girl! X
NY was great! Sad that I had to leave. 🙂
It’s the Indian in me…spending time with grandparents is advisable all around. Kids gotta know her family, right? If Date Night with a babysitter is acceptable, then Quick Vacay with grandparents is also acceptable. And the potato debate- I can see myself having it with my son, esp since he is only two and already picks up a small bag of potato chips and says “mama cheeeeeps’ with adoring eyes.
“cheeeeps…” too cute. It’s definitely hard to say no at that age! But it does get easier as they get older. 🙂
I love the rules ! esp the 1 st one ! I need it for myself ! love ur blog posts, keep posting !