Good Morning!
So first of all, thank you for all your constructive ideas and suggestions, it is very much appreciated!
Now some more of our life story as I feel the need to explain one or two things better....
I do refer to our granddaughters as ‘ours’, because they are!
Our daughter and son-in-law suffered many miscarriages, before, in between and after the births of our 2 precious little miracles. Both her Dad and I have been with them both every step of the way, throughout each heartbreaking loss and the births of both of their babies. We are a very close family, however we always remember our role in their babies lives, which is why we are guided by them both as their parents in everything we do for our DGD’s.
It was actually my husband and I who were very young when we became parents to our DD. I was just 18 and my husband just 19. We both worked, my husband during the day and I worked evenings and weekends. We had very little family time, but we did what we had to do to support our growing family. We have another daughter and a son, who at present still live with us.
Our DD and SIL could’ve done what we did as the job that my SIL has, he could choose to work evenings and weekends and our DD work Monday-Friday. However, my husband and I were able to offer them free childcare and, after going through so many fertility problems to have their babies, they were extremely grateful of this as they would have that time to spend as a family. Despite our DD having to work full time for the moment, they make every minute with their babies count, their dinner is ready as soon as they get home and household chores are done when the babies are in bed. Our DD and SIL quite often don’t sit down together until 9.30. They’re both absolutely shattered, but have big smiles on their faces because the know how very lucky they are! We are immensely proud of them both as parents ❤️
Our DD and SIL both have to work. After having DGD1, DD returned to the job she had been in for the 7 years before, part time. After 3 weeks of being back at work, she was offered a promotion, which meant going back to full time. Our DD wants to work, wanted her daughter to be proud of her Mummy, so she accepted this role, for this reason. After DGD2 arrived, there was no way she would return to full time and on her return to work after 12 months maternity leave, she expected to have to give up her promoted role, however her employer wanted her back that much she was allowed to keep her role on a 3 day week basis.
When COVID-19 hit and my husband had to shield, her employer offered her furlough. They fully understood that our DD wanted her girls to be cared for by us and as we couldn’t take the risk of having our DGD’s during the pandemic, while DD and SIL were still working, furlough was the best solution.
As the pandemic has continued, unfortunately my husband is still at great risk. Our DD applied for a new job working from home, meaning no travelling time which was an added bonus. The only downside is that the position is full time, 5 days over a 7 day week for a probationary period of 6 months, after which she can reduce her hours to part time.
As our DGD’s are still very young, it would be impossible for our DD to do her job whilst giving her girls the attention they need. Rather than expect her Dad and I to have the girls 5 days a week, our DD and SIL are trying to work their rotas between them so that we are only taking care of them 2-3 days a week, during DD’s probationary period. So Bibbity they didn’t ‘plan their family around their work rotas’, they are trying to work their childcare between them. As DGD1 has been so used to being with me, she is probably just missing me as she isn’t spending as much time here.
We care for both of our DGD’s. They get on very well and like the same things. DGD2 doesn’t always want to stay over, she loves to go home and gets very excited when Mummy and Daddy finish work. We have a caravan and up until the last few weeks had been taking both our DGD’s there for the days we were having them, which they both love!
DGD1 is a worrier and a deep thinker, she talks a lot about her Great Grandad and does ask lots of questions about why people/animals die when they’re old. DD and SIL got her a hamster in January, but unfortunately that died in June. My husband and I have both just had birthdays so maybe, with what’s happening at the moment with the pandemic and us having birthdays, she’s worried about something happening to us. Her staying over has never been an issue for our DD, SIL or us. It’s always been as and when and to be honest, because DD was on furlough from March until August, up until the last few weeks she hasn’t wanted to as much. Maybe she’s finding Mummy working full time a bit tough. Because she’s always been more than happy to come here I didn’t really think about that.
You’ve given me so many things to think about, so thank you!