There are reasons women don't give birth in their 60's.
Giblet took us to the fire station and pulled the string for the siren, honked the horn, turned on the lights, and got a sticker and a trading card for his troubles.
He took us to the park and went on the swings - super high and super fast, in his estimation. The big slide was too scary (thank you, god of grandmas) but the little slide and the bouncing horse were almost as much fun as the bouncing fire engine..... even if the wheel in the park was very small, not like the wheel on the real fire engine which was super big.
He ate lunch and took me through his pre-nap routine, and fell fast asleep.
So did Grampa and Gramma.
It was five hours of nonstop chatter and entertainment and motion. Five hours of managing the rapidly shifting emotions of a three year old. Five hours of love and hugs and tantrums and running and Look At Me!
There's a reason young women are fertile. If raising young ones were left to old ones, there would be a lot of kids raising themselves as their caretakers struggled to keep up.
We two, at least, are totally out of shape for the project.
That is the major advantage of being the grandparent -- do the fun stuff and then go home. I LOVE spending active time with my grandson, but when I think about all those grandparents who find themselves having to raise their grandchildren, I take the time to be extremely grateful.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly where I went. I wanted to keep the post lighthearted, but my brain was fixated on elders raising youngsters all afternoon. I am a lucky woman.
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I usually require a full day of recovery after a day with the grandkids. They wear me out, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
ReplyDeleteIt's the best kind of tired there is!
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Isn’t that the truth! Ours mostly adults with whom we can have a drink!
ReplyDeleteGrown up kids are wonderful, too, but I'm not wishing away these years, either.
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It takes a lot of energy to be a grandparent. Our kids are coming to stay for the next week. They love to get out from under their parents' control and we are pretty relaxed about what we allow them to do. I have some rules, but it's pretty loosey-goosey around here for that week. I want them to have wonderful memories of spending time with us when they get to be old. Enjoy these small-people years. They fly by and then you begin tall-people years! It is easier.
ReplyDelete7 is easier than 3...... and Gramma and Grampa have very few rules, too. Just staying safe and being kind. Beyond that, the messes are clean-able and the fun is memorable. Plus, I am the queen of ice cream for breakfast!
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