This trick began with a shopping expedition I had at Target.  They had the best selection of superhero hats and gloves that I had ever seen.  So, I went crazy and purchased too many and could not wait to give them to my two superhero grandchildren.

My boys were so excited when they saw their favorite superheroes in every conceivable hat, glove and color combination.  I knew I was the best Grandma ever… until the next day. My daughter called to inform me that her morning had been awful.  My beautiful boys had fought over their plethora of superhero accessories and it was ugly.

I was picking up the boys from preschool that day and I had to think fast.  So, I invented “Josh’s Grandmother”.  Coincidently, “Josh” also has a brother. He and his brother also happen to be very close in age to my boys. Once I buckled up the boys and I was on my way, I began my story.

“Do you remember Josh’s Grandmother? Josh is going to be 5 and he has a brother who is going to be 3.  I think they have knapsacks just like yours.”

My boys both told me that they were the same age. “Really?” I said.

“Well, you won’t believe what happened to them.  They were fighting over their superhero hats and gloves.  Josh’s Grandmother was so upset.  Do you know what she did?  She gave all their superhero hats and gloves to the poor children.  Unfortunately, now the boys just have brown hats and gloves with nothing on them.”

My older grandson looked shocked.  He confessed, “Grandma, we were fighting over our superhero hats and gloves this morning.”

“That is terrible,” I replied.

“Grandma, would you give our hats and gloves to the poor children?” said my younger grandson.

“Do you think I should?  I feel so bad when you fight,” I said sadly.

“We promise we will not fight. We will share!”  They both seemed to say that simultaneously.

“Well, that sounds great! But if you forget…”  I was interrupted by their words, “Grandma, we won’t forget!”

Josh’s Grandmother saved the day!

In another incidence, my older grandson finally graduated to a booster seat and was now able to retire his old car seat. In his eyes he was “big” and he had the 4o pounds to prove it.  I found the perfect blue sports theme booster seat for my car.  He loved it and once again I knew I was the best grandma in the entire world.

All was well until I put him in the car seat and he began squirming all over the place.

I knew he was experiencing his new found freedom but I have places to go and people to see.  He is not safe and I cannot drive while he is dancing in his booster seat.

So as not to pollute the moment, I said in my best Grandmother voice, “Sweetheart, please sit nicely.  I am afraid you will get hurt.”

My darling chose to ignore my words and the dancing continued. I then switched gears and reported that I had just gotten off the phone with Josh’s Grandmother and that she has a big problem.

I said, “Josh’s Grandmother has searched every store in Toronto for a booster seat for her grandson and she can only find the pink princess booster seats. Josh’s Grandmother knows that sometimes when boys sit in a new blue sports booster seat they can be silly and then they have to return to their old car seat.  So, she was wondering if I knew any boys that were unable to sit nicely in their new booster seats.  Josh’s Grandmother told me that I should mention her problem to all the Grandmothers.   Perhaps, one of the Grandmothers has a new blue sports booster seat that they are not using.”

Suddenly, the dancing stopped.  Ten minutes later… I complimented my darling on how nicely he was sitting in his new blue sports booster seat.

This Grandparent Feels that by sharing our “tricks” we can make the grandparenting ride a pleasant journey. What kinds of tricks have you used to help discipline your grandchildren?