Yes I am!

I reckon young boys are even shriller than young girls. However, the voices of both, especially when yelling at the tops of said voices, can set my teeth on edge.

Smile and bite on your pearls?

I reckon the two year old could deafen any passing bat!

When they're gone you'll be able to relax to the gentle thrum of the washing machine.

Well, she's not two until Saturday. She's a Halloween baby!

GNHQ

Whot no Halloween bats or witches?

Come on wake up!

galen I think I have gone deaf once Mum and Dad come in and I disappear upstairs for a shower and to regain my head, during the day there isnt the smallest space to think. I am sat here having the last piece of the day and a cup of tea, can hear that the noise will be down stairs in about 2 mins and will continue uuntil at least 6pm?must say its worse school holiday with a 20month, 8 yr girl and 10yr old boy.

That should be peace not piece the noise is rotting my brain cells.p

Just be grateful that they come to visit you. Before you look round they will be grown up and gone

I know exactly how you feel Galen. My DD and DGS's aged 2 and 6 were here for over 10 weeks in the summer. It was lovely to see them come but as much as I love them, equally good to see them go.

glass I don't know how you do it every day, I really don't!
My little dgd is coming tomorrow just for the day and I must admit that we do a lot of shouting and laughing. The neighbours have to suffer!

One of my DGSs (now just 4) talks absolutely non-stop and always at max decibels. I have found that if I speak to him very quietly (almost a whisper) he will start to mirror that and get a bit - but not much! - quieter.

My DGS (one soon) is really finding his voice.....

PS I want BATS- not balls!

Galen - I have just seen your name immortalised on my OH's Laxido box - such fame!

? [thiconfused]

I am spending this week in a small holiday 'chalet' with 2 DDs, 2 SiLs and 4GCs (5, 4 3 & 3) and it is noisy and cramped and wet and messy,but it is fun. None of them appear to do anything they are told; one managed to fall right on top of the only cow pat in sight and another went paddling in the sea and got soaked from head to foot; just waiting for the next crisis! It will only last until Saturday when I can go home and relish the peace and quiet and remove the ear plugs until the next time. It's all or nothing .........

My eight year old grandson has just departed after staying here since Sunday. He is a one man noise machine; throw grandad into the mix and it is enough to send you doolally! We went swimming yesterday and this morning DH couldn't hear a thing because of waterlogged ears, so they were shouting at each other across the Today programme with the sound turned up. We have also had some extremely noisy games of ludo. Now he's gone home it is - to quote the words of a song from My Fair Lady - as quiet as an undiscovered tomb! And gosh, we do miss him!

Galen - it is a laxative manufactured by Galen.

I am envious. I would love to see more of my DGC but because of distance and another reason it is less than I would like

I too can't bear the shrieking, a friend came to stay years ago with her son and daughter who both did it, I was just so glad that neither of my two boys did.

Galen my grandson was also born on Halloween, we should have known...........

He will be 7 this year, or is it 8?

It's only a few disrupted days. Try going to bed early, getting up when your granddaughters do and enjoying being with them in the mornings.
You could look at books with them, speaking very quietly. Try a glove puppet or soft toy which is very shy and prefers a quiet atmosphere. Even try the perfidious, 'Granny can't hear you when you shout!' - it has been known to work!!
Just a few thoughts on things which worked for me. Good luck!

I am left exhausted after a day with small grandchildren's whirlwind activity and deafening shouting. When the ones who live further away come to stay they are up until my bedtime and beyond.
I don't complain, that's how children are meant to be and I can enjoy the peace and quiet when they've gone.

I have 3 DGC every weekend for 3 to 4 days as their Dad lives with me. The other two DGDs also visit Saturdays and/or Sundays. Now they are older 8, 6 and 3 there is less actual screaming (mostly from the girls) as I told them it was banned! It has taken a while!

This seems to have been replaced by singing? pop songs. It is hard to know if the songs have no real tunes to start with or my DGDs are tone deaf!

As they talk at the highest volume I frequently remind them (quietly) that I am standing right next to them

I usually have 3 days off but most of these are taken up with washing, clearing toys, finding missing clothes, cleaning and shopping ready for the next onslaught.

And I used to think 'when I retire.....' How wrong was I!

You'll survive Galen, you're made of stern and positive stuff. I always imagine your dgd as very like you