I was 51 when my first GD arrived. She and her half brother (my half grandson?) played in my garden, went on picnics, flew kites and she baked in my kitchen - is now a very good cook. We are the best of friends now that she is grown-up and I do miss her now that she has gone to live 'down south'. The other four arrived in my 60s and live further away, so I have to make the effort to go to see them, but they are all delightful, even the 6-year-old who is a tearaway.

I had grandchildren when I was 46, 48, 56 and 63. We have been hands on with all of them and the 25 year old has been living with us for 9 years.

We manage very well and it is certainly the case that our lives have been enhanced by our GC although I'm not sure if, now we are both in our seventies, we would cope very well with babies/toddlers.

I can't think of anything better than a day spent with my first granddaughter. She is 2 and a quarter and does not stop talking and running. She is just a joy to have. It is lovely watching her rapport with my dad her great grandad.

Congratulations Nikki,

I was 20 years younger than you when I became a grandmother and now have 5 grandchildren between ages of 22 and 11 and about to become a great grandmother in November.
I have been involved in the care of all my grandchildren from birth and the three youngest ones live with me, my house is like a tip!.
None of them twins but my father was a twin and his mother had four children in four years.
It is easier now they are older as I no longer do the school run, the youngest goes and comes from school herself.
Your grandaughters are really lovely as well.

Congratulations fellow Gma I am a young Granny 48 and look after my daughters 26 boy, my grandson Charlie one day a week I am knackered too. I work a full four day week and some. So fully sympathise but I love it and my daughter and SiL are so appreciative plus I am a regular person in Charlie's life, he knows me I know him it's great.

Congratulations

Congratulations! I am the proud grandmother of twin girls who celebrate their 5th birthday on May 1st. I don't know where the time has gone since they were born so enjoy every minute. There is nothing better than a hug from a little girl who tells you she loves you better than anybody. I remember then going in opposite directions one walked before the other so you carried one and held the others hand, my daughter said this was easier! The crawler moved faster than her just walking sister so didn't see the point ! They have now been in school for two terms and seem very grow up. They fight but then gang up on the grow ups if their sister is told off. In short twins are wonderful and have transformed my life. I will be 61 in July they were born 2 months before my 57th birthday. Hard work I do get tired but so worth it sleep is very over rated when they are about.

Wonderful Nikki! I am lucky that my 3 daughters have easily had their babies, as did I, so I can only imagine how awful it was for your daughter and you. But, hey, you have your wonderful granddaughters now and your other 4 objectives can wait! Make the most of them because before you know it they will be all grown up and you will wonder where the time has gone.......

The whole tone of your blog is excitement and happiness. That is lovely.

Yes, I can relate to the older grandmother bit as I was 59, 60, 62, 63 & 64 when GC arrived. I went from being peacefully retired to a full-time, hands-on granny.
Exhausting? Yes.
Worth it? Most definitely.
All but one will be at school in September and I'm wondering where the time went. Make the most of those baby and toddler years.

There is nothing in this life that can be more fulfilling than when your DD delivers a baby she was told she could never conceive, we now have a 12 week old DGS who was conceived naturally after his two siblings were conceived by IVF, he was and still is a shock to all our systems but a better shock you couldnt have.
Enjoy every minute Nikki

Just wonderful. This is the sort of life-affirming story that really lifts the spirits.

What a lovely post Lucy , I am the Mother of twins, they are now in their 30"s.

However I remember it as clear as if it were yesterday, this one going this way, and this going that way.

Lot of hard work ,but lot of joy along the way !!

lovely post - I am a grandmother of twins and I can't keep up (in my early fifties!) It has spurred me on to do some exercise in the hope I can run after them when they go in opposite directions at speed! I am hoping to make it to their fifth birthday celebrations this weekend. They don't live nearby but I wish they did, however exhausting that would be.

We are 60s plus grandparents, over 70 now, and, yes, one notices the difference. DH does not pick them up and toss them in the air, nor will he be running after them in a hurry again, after trying to run after DGS when he looked like doing something dangerous just before Easter and went base over apex and is still nursing his wounds. DS grabbed DGS, who has now long forgotten the incident that caused the accident, the good telling off he got or the punishment of having to hold Daddy's hand for the rest of the walk. DH suffers on.

However as you get older so do they and DGD is a month short of seven and we can talk things through with her, explain things and she generally responds in a reasoned and rational way. When we are out she will skip around us, but not run away, we can sit and do things together for extended periods, all things that DGS, three, rising four, has yet to attain, hence the incident above. A few more years and he too will be amenable and less taxing of energy and less in need of constant active surveillance.

Lovely! Congratulations. As mother of twins at 33, I remember declaring I was 'getting too old for this lark' as it's exhausting chasing round after babies crawling off in different directions. This week I've been looking after twin grandaughters, one emptying and refilling the washing machine with tins of cat food whilst the other whipped the top off the bin and prepared to dive in - it's exhausting at 65, too. I'll probably be saying it's exhausting in a few more years. But then, before I retired I would come home after work, sink into my armchair and fall asleep for ten minutes. I know what I'd rather be doing - playing with my grandchildren and watching them grow and learn. I'll be playing with twin grandsons this afternoon. Two lively rascals who never seem to stay still these days. I feel very lucky to have these children in my life - all thanks to IVF.

Gorgeous babies! Lovely arm armsfull!