looking after grandkids

I suspect that we are beginning to see the dawn of helicopter grandparents as well as parents - and I don't think it is necessarily in the interests of grandchildren.

Cassis is made with vodka rose mine will be ready in time for the Ch word (not allowed to mention it on GN yet) it's also nice made into Kir. If you're still interested then I'll post a link. Or perhaps you'd prefer to make raspberry gin, that's something I must start off today.

Nonu we're off to Seahouses. Never visited that part of the world but I'm told it's beautiful and there's loads to see and do. We've hired a cottage for the week.

I think the phrase 'a change is as good as a rest' applies here. It's been a busy year of childminding but two more start school in September so apart from school runs (three GC in three different schools ) I'll only have the smallest (and fiestiest) next year.

Think I would rather look after the GC than do that lot, aka!

Do you have a recipe for cassis please (if you have time), as we have loads of blackcurrants (as long as it's not made with vodka that is).

The one thing that would worry me, Silverfish, is allowing her to run wild particularly as they may be allowed outside of the garden and she is not [worrying]. As long as she is being fed, has suncream and sunhat on, is being supervised (essential at her age) and is having fun I think that is fine for a couple of days a week. She is getting more structure with you and that is good.

Just completed 3 days and nights with 2 and half year old GS; then wee toddler GD plus 5 year old GS today. I am off to bed now! The general mayhem in need of tidying up will have to wait till tomorrow.

silverfish Crème de cassis is a sweet liqueur made from blackcurrants. It's delicious served over crushed ice on a hot day.

Aka I'm looking after my four year old grandson for the week and in spite of the weather he has HUGE amounts of energy whereas the heat has sapped all my get up and go. We've been out of the house for most of the day, returning only a few minutes ago for bath and bedtime and I'm genuinely exhausted. Tomorrow we're going to the forest to sit under some shady trees and the Wonderful Man can chase him around and they can both burn a bit of energy off. When grandson leaves I am not planning on doing anything for a week except recover.

Whats a cassis

AKA, you made me feel tired, ive had DGD for 4 hours then work for 4 hours, I did tidy up this morning before she came and prepared lunch but then we just played, I went to work and got nasty sunburn despite factor 60, came home chucked an instant into oven and now Im shattered. Going to bed soon, how do you do all that you've done. Is it me just a lazy so and so.

Where are you going ?

Somewhere exotic?

{smile]

Aka Good Grief!

Hmmm let me think about that.......
Three grandchildren versus your list of jobs

I've been like a whirling dervish Ana

In two days???

Aka, you must surely be Superwoman...

I'm off on holiday on Friday and have house sitters coming in so everything has to be ship shape. But it's far more exhausting looking after a 2, 3 and 4 year old several days a week.

I feel tired just reading your post Aka!

All that in 2 days . I'm still vacuuming the house [and I've done a bit of washing]. It would take me two weeks minimum to decorate a room . It's no wonder my ex used to say I existed in a different dimension/time zone to the rest of the world....

Now it's the school holidays, both DD and DDiL being teacher and TA respectively I'm not needed (as much) for child minding.

It's amazing what you can get done with it the little perishes darling being under your fee and demanding constant attention to sort out their various squabbles there.

In two days I have painted the hall, landing and stairs; washed the bedroom carpets; stripped the blackcurrant, gooseberry bushes and plum treee;made plum and gooseberry jams; started making cassis; cleaned out all my kitchen cupboards and sorted the contents; made tea bread; pruned bushes; staked my delphiniums and hollyhocks and mended a shirt for the SiL.

Normally after they've all gone all I'm fit for is to chuck left out toys into a box and collapse with a

I'd like to know that, if the child is actually going into the neighbours house as well that there are safety measures in place such as stair gates/no blind cords hanging down/upstairs open windows etc if a child in my care was playing elsewhere whilst I was responsible for them. I think structured play only works for little girls whereas little boys need to run around and let off steam [I know that's generalisation]. But I am a bit of a worrier.

I assume you mean there is no fence between the two neighbours gardens, not no fence between the children and main road?

If you do mean no fence between the neighbours bit the gardens are otherwise secure with no access to roads then tbh I'd be happy to let my 2 year old play and run around with children older and younger there.
Older children do tend to be pretty good around younger ones.

I think structured play is good but I also think that children are in education conforming to dociety and rules and targets from far too young these days. I think its important to let them have the freedom to just run around get over excited and be silly sometimes.
Obviously not all the time though.

I think you and your dgd's other grandmother are creating a really good balance for her with your varied styles.

However if you mean your dgd has access to the road at her other dgm house then I think you are completely right I would never allow a child of that age play near a road as they.have no perception of danger whatsoever and is a risk of being injured which needs addressing.

Yes when my children were small the day was reasonably structured (although not to the extent that if anything happened we were totally flexible) but within the day we did all sorts of different stuff, mostly out of doors given the chance, down by the river or up on the moors or beach. Children like structure I think, We take our grandchildren to Cornwall every year and although they are getting too old for the structure now (13 and 9) they particularly the 9 year old loves stopping for breakfast on the way down at the same spot to play ball etc and when we get there we have a running commentary on what is different or the same. The 13 year old is changing though so not sure how long these holidays will continue.

Running around shouting is an enjoyable way to let off steam but they should be enough other things to do.

I would be worried that there might not be enough supervision for the under two yr old, but otherwise let them choose what to play with for a greater part of the time.
At two days a week a bit of wild adventure will not do them much harm. Just walk past a primary school play ground at break, the children are running around shouting and enjoying themselves .

That way they can can develop their own skills and interests. They will be organised enough at school.

Yes, I was laughing at aggie's post. The bit about stopping them from being 'insular snobs'.

Your little one will be mixing with all different children as she starts nursery/school and you won't be able to pick and choose her friends for her she will find her own way and be the better for it,just let it go and as long as other gran is watching over her don't be too worried.

There's time for structured activity, but there should also be time for kids to make their own entertainment without adult input. Some children get so used to being organised all the time they say they are bored if left to their own devices for 5 minutes. A bit of both has got to be the best way surely?

I'm in "other nannies" camp. If the 2 and 5 yr old want to run around the garden "expressing" themselves that's fine. If they want a drink they ask politely. There is paper and crayons available if they want it. There is a large toy box from which they help themselves.
I feel they get enough structured activity at nursery and school. The 5 yr old usually needs to let off steam when he comes out of school. As has been said there is no right way, just your way.