So, we totally use the 5 second rule in our house when it comes to food items that have been dropped on the floor. Correction: the girls and I use the 5 second rule — I can’t speak for DH, and even if he did use it, I doubt he’d want me to put it out there for all to know. Anywhoodle, the 5 second rule is in full effect.

The other day, my mom had come over for lunch and Co dropped a grape or four over the side of her tray. My mom subscribes to the “kiss it up to God” rule of dropped items and put it into practice. Mo watched her with intense curiosity, and demanded (seriously) that Yia–Yia explain what she did.

After “Kissing it up to God 101” was complete, lunch was over, another granddaughter/grandmother moment was in the books. Fast forward to today’s lunchtime at my parents house. Yia–Yia is out, Co-dizzle is doing her chipmunk impression with at least half a dozen grapes wedged into her cheeks, and Mo is trying to cajole Pop-Pop out his last remaining potato chips.

Lunch was pretty basic: tuna sandwiches, grapes, chips and sliced cucumbers. The girls did a pretty good job on it, considering they both had had breakfast at home, snack at school and snack in the car on the way to my parents house . I don’t know if they’ve trained me to give them snack as soon as they get in the car or I’ve trained them to expect it, but as soon as they are secured in the car seats, cries for snack (or “nack” as Co says) abound!

Mo ate most of her sandwich, a few grapes and all of her chips. She saw that Pop-Pop was methodically eating what was left of his and so began to negotiate with him for some chips.

Mo: How about five chips?

Pop-Pop: How about ten chips? (I should have warned him that she’s quick.)

Mo: Okay!

Pop-Pop: Wait, wait. You know that ten is more than five?

Mo: Yes (like duh, old man, gimme the chips).

So, Pop-Pop tries to stall and gives her a few cucumber slices with the promise that once those are eaten, she can have the chips. As she’s eating those, he makes short work of the chips he has left and tries to cover up the rest with his hand at the bottom of the bowl. When Mo asks for her chips, Pop-Pop turns the bowl upside down and says, “They’re all gone!” and of course, one lonely chip breaks free from his grasp and hits the floor.

Faster than you can say “Lay’s”, Mo is out her seat, smooching the chip, raising it to the sky and popping it in her mouth.

That kid learns quick, I tell ya.