52 Moments - Week 34

The Grandparent Effect - I've heard about this weird phenomenon grandparents have on their grandchildren.  It is like a fog that rolls in just as the parents are walking out of the room or the house.  It takes its grip on your child when Grandparents watch him or her.  You expect a frantic call with a screaming kid in the background, but you don't receive it.  Instead you learn the kid behaved.... PERFECTLY.  Which is only ruined when Mom and Dad return.  As soon as they show up, the "fog" disappears.  Kids go back to "normal" and whine & cry & complain just like Mom and Dad never left.

I'm told I used to do it as a kid.  My Grandma (hi Grandma) would watch my sister and me.  When my parents picked us up they would hear nothing but good reviews.  They would walk away amazed and mostly confused - was that my child?

Well the Grandparent Effect took place this past weekend with Emma at Grandpa and Pepere's.  After an hour long car ride of hell (sorry, but it was a tough one.  There were so many fights, tears, and throwing things - that's new - both Seth and I wanted to jump out of the car), Emma walked into Grandpa and Pepere's house with a huge smile on her face and like nothing happened.  Meanwhile her parent's were traumatized, non-responsive, and exhausted.  She put on the charm all weekend until we picked her up Sunday morning.  And within ten minutes of us walking through the door, she started whining about something - both Grandpa and Pepere were aghast.  "What was that?  She hasn't done that ALL weekend????"  How do you explain this phenomenon????  The GRANDPARENT EFFECT.  Its my only explanation.  :)