Chillin' After Preschool

My four children are all adults now - ages 25, 28, 30, and 32, and my memories of what we did together and what we snacked on after school back in those days are getting kind of foggy.

During most of their childhoods, I was a stay at home mom, and so after school I would meet my kiddos at the nearby elementary school and walk home together with them.  I was fortunate to be able to do this each day, as it seemed to be the tiny window of time during which they would tell me all the juicy details of what happened at school that day.

The healthy snack that did NOT happen at my house.

Immediately upon arriving home, the starving troops always demanded an after school snack.  Although I always had Martha Stewartesque dreams of offering them healthy fruits and veggies, the reality is that some days, well actually, many days, no, truthfully most days, they simply got a handful of cookies or pretzels.

I have my own personal philosophy about kids and how after school time should be spent, and I am sure not everyone will agree with me.  I believe most young children need a break after a long, full day of school, and so I would deal out the snacks and then encourage my children to go outside and play.  Run around and just PLAY.  Many happy hours were spent playing with the neighborhood friends in those hours prior to dinner.  Homework happened after dinner before the bath and bedtime rituals.

So when recently I had the opportunity to accompany daughter Lindsay to pick up my cutest-in-the-whole-world grandbaby from preschool, I was glad to go.

Here she is after the pick-up.  She always makes a mini fashion statement.

Boy have the after school components changed.  Ellie is technologically advanced.  While mommy Lindsay cooks dinner, Ellie enjoys baby songs, like "The ABC Song"  and "Ladybug, Ladybug,"  on her i-pad!  

It is truly a new era.  Here she is in all of her cuteness again.  Just because I love her.

Want a different song?  Just touch the i-pad.  I noticed when she did so, she at least got her mom running to "fix things."

Her preferred snack of the day was a mini container of cheese goldfish.  

                                   

This is her daily routine - put down the soft blanket, get out the i-pad, turn on the baby tunes,  and eat mini goldfish, all the while rocking out to the music.  

Mom is nearby, and Dad on his way home, too.  Cross the legs and kick back - all is right in Ellie's world at this moment.