grannys shattered!!

[mullein3]

i have had my grandkids here all week they are 3 &2 and boy am i knackered!! you seem to forget how much energy little kids have ..the sticky hands everywhere toys scattered..crumbs at every meal time..I have been as grumpy as old nick!!! Have had to watch cbbs every day by the time we got them to bed i had to go shortly after..havnt seen any telly cant read a book or come on the computer..its amazing how selfish one becomes when the kids have left home and gone and you have time for yourself..to be honest i am praying they go today as the constant chatter is doing my head in..it was lovely to see them but it will be nice when they are back in their own house..makes me sound evil which isnt true!! do any other grandparents feel the same...mine live about an hour away so i only see them once a month this is the first time they have stayed..also they bought their dog with them and it keeps trying to mount my dog so i am not amused and i have to move around everywhere taking my dog with me as he is to silly to fight his own battles even though he is three times the size of their dog..I have spent all week guarding my dogs bottom!! i cant wait for peace to resume!!

[woofgang]

mullein, that's why nature pumps Mums full of bonding hormones, its so they can't see straight and recognise what little (insert your own description here)s kids are. I have two god children and a great niece that I love to bits The god kids live close by and when they were smaller I used to sit a bit and they visited often, its klovely to see them and WONDERFUL when they go!!

PS we are childless, not by choice but happy to be so

[andy-hughes]

We have two grandchildren whom we adore, but biology dictates that having children is a young adult's game.

Built into us as humans is the vitality and energy that children need, which we loose as they grow and leave, and we settle into a more 'adult' routine. One generation removed is great - you can see the children, and then hand them back, and go back to your peaceful ordered exitsence.

This is the way it's supposed to be, so don't feel guilty.

[mullein3]

i dont feel guilty they have gone and the peace is wonderfull we are still clearing up..some of it can wait till tommorow as we are both tired..we are going to have an early lunch and flop out on the sofas...and watch something more entertaining than cbbs...they are lovely little kids but the mess and hassle is past a joke..we do grow out of it with age..my dog is glad they have gone and he is not being stalked by their dog...

[maggie01]

I know exactly how you feel. One minute our living room is tidy and roomy and the next there's not a space to move in. The grandchildren have to lie on the floor to do anything and everywhere's a tip within five minutes. Baby is 8months old so everything has to be moved . It's lovely to see them but it's great when the house is back to normal. My dogs disappear when they come and only emerge when all is quiet.

[JuliaSix]

Sounds like enjoyable mahem. I'm waiting patiently for grandchildren, and no doubt will feel like others when they're there, and when they're gone. But, I'm prepared to risk it !

[sunnyside]

Im' not a grandparent yet, just a parent...but I hope to be someday.

I am lucky to have both my kid's grandparents close and involved in my kid's life.

I never had grandparents close to me as far as relationship, the ones living close didn't want anything to do with us when we were younger. Then as they got older and were lonlier (I guess), they wanted our company - but we didn't really know them and it felt very uncomfortable. We didn't even really mourn for them when they passed, ashamed to say. We could have learned so much from them.

My theory with parents and grandparents is you will get out of the relationship what you (the parent or grandparent) put into it. Common sense really...

Hang in there when they come...as you know they grow up fast. A two and three year-old at the same time is difficult for even parents.

My mom, (dad passed) takes my kids a couple times a month to stay at her house. They have a routine that they really look forward to. It's dinner out, then rent movies.

[mullein3]

I am involved with them i speak to them daily on the phone..and see them every 3 or 4 weeks for a whole day...I spoil them rotton and allways provide birthday partys for them etc..I am not very well and stress makes me worse..and i am tidy and clean and the house looked like a bomb had hit it and toys were everywhere..and my daughter their mother didnt lift a finger which is normal!! so me and mr m was shattered..it will be better when they are older and hopefully they wont bring their dog again...I have a big wool rug and it was wrinkled all week it nearly drove me crazy as i like everything just so!! we both cleaned for 3 hours each this morning and we still have more to do!!

[Robinia]

Hi mullein! Hope in the midst of all that mayhem you enjoyed your Christmas, that the turkey got cooked & mr.m didn't do anything drastic. Is the tree still standing?

I know how you must feel - just a few hours with my granddaughters & I'm shattered. And there's only me here to chase them round & clean up afterwards. It's amazing how mentally tiring they are as well as physically. I've just found out that my daughter in law is expecting another one in June too!
I'm not too sure about being better when they are older, I think they just become demanding in different ways.

Hope you have a peaceful weekend once you've cleared the destruction & calmed Connor down, poor chap having to spend the week looking behind him!!

Happy New Year! hope you can stay awake to see it in.

[tigerthecat]

You describe parts of my life - and I'm his mother. Your description is vivid. I find this aspect of parenting a struggle. I don't feel guilty about it and I'm not going to justify it either. This is what small children are like. Enjoy your peace, tidy home and tv of your choice. We have no family to give us the respite you offer yours, whether they know it or not you are a life saver to them all. Keep up the good work :-)

[mullein3]

hi robina..the dog slept most of the day yesterday..i touched his bum for a joke he wasnt amused he showed me a row of pearly teeth..I have come to the conclusion i can stand the kids for the day when they visit..a few days is too much!!! our living room in the smallest room the dining room is twice as large so we were like sardines tripping over shoes socks slipperstoys..grrrrrrrr...i flipped at one point and made them take stuff upstairs..thank goodness for peace and quiet..we were thinking of going to the sales today but i think its best if we stay in and clean the carpets!!! get it all back to normal...the grandson was the best he just watched the telly and played with his thomas trains..and i let him bake some biscuits..the granddaughter never stopped talking and whining...she was swinging on my computer cabinet door and i told her to stop so she did it again to defy me..so i told her louder that stopped her..she was like that all weeek..oh well they will only come for the day next time...happy new year...

[Robinia]

Hope you've done all that cleaning to welcome in the new year mullein. I have to laugh at your dog - he's going to be paranoid.

Wishing you & your family a Very Happy New Year!!

[Rubberduckie]

I think you sound like a star! We didn't have grandparental support when our 2 kids were small and any breaks from the slog were precious! I hope your son/daughter apprciates you. I'd get them to find different lodging for the dog next time, though- there's only so much you can do.

[arranarab]

My unmarried daughter and her son have lived full -time with us continually since he was born and I wouldn't want it any other way. I feel so priveleged to be a part of this beautiful little boy's life and he gets the best of both worlds. His grandpa and I love him to bits and have forgotten what peace and quiet and a tidy home are but it won't last forever and in another 18 months or so he will be at school and I know I will look forward to him bringing back his little bits and pieces to show us. Who cares if we can't have the tranquility we would expect to have at our time of life--he brings us so much joy and can light up a room with just a smile or a laugh. Life is too short and childhood too soon over. People tell us we are the exception rather than the rule but if there's love to spare........!