And I Thought MILK Spoiled Fast.

By Rachel

I remember when we were kids, my Mom would complain about how grumpy we’d act after coming home from Grandparents or friend’s houses. About how we got spoiled and had to get back into a routine.

NATURALLY, one would assume that since my Mom experienced this as a Mom, she would be super careful to make sure that SHE didn’t create that same affect on her Grandkids. Right?

Obviously, that assumption doesn’t take into account The principle of Grandkids: The Chance To Pay Your Kids Back.

My kid always comes back grumpy, selfish, demanding, and whiny.

(And really, I don’t have any presumptions at all that this is my Mom’s fault in any way. It’s just really more fun to be at other people’s houses that your own. That, and the fact that Gramamma can devote every second of your time together to meeting your every desire.)

How DO kids spoil that quickly? I mean really – all it takes is 24 hours to decide that the world owes you whatever you want??

And then as a parent, you’re in a Catch-21: You don’t want to discipline them because that just emphasizes how UNfun you are compared to the obvious TOTAL bliss that you ripped them away from to bring them back to reality. But at the same time, you can’t allow all of the grump.

Alas, it’s the price you pay to take a break. And it’s a VERY worthwhile price.

And really – who am I kidding?

I came back from vacation grumpy, sleepy, spoiled, selfish, and edgy.

How DO we spoil so quickly?

Rachel blogs at Grasping for Objectivity in my Subjective Life.