Coming to terms with grandchildren growing up

I'm like you sadiesnan grateful for each day x

I love all my GC equally they are all special in their own way love em, But I know what you mean Granarchist my mil can be like that favouring the GS over my DD which means that now DD doesn't make the effort anymore and now GS doesn't visit as much either. As you sow so shall you reap.......

My grandchildren are 40, 44 and 48 and we keep in touch via Facebook. My great children are 17, 6, 5 and 2. Because I am house bound and they live miles away I don't get to see them but my son who looks after the little ones while my granddaughter is working sends me DVDs of their activities. I married young as did my son but I fear that with couples having children later in life I fear that they will not see their great grandchildren.

My grandchildren are aged 2, 5, 6, 8, 25 and 26. My proudest moment so far was when my eldest grand daughter married and asked me to be a witness! Guess there are lots more proud moments to come!

I have one DGD and she is going to nursery so I am at a loss not to be looking after her while her dear Mum works.

We have one granddaughter who turned 2 earlier this month and would love it if another came along. However it took a long time for my daughter to get pregnant with her and it seems to be taking just as long for another, assuming they are trying of course! As my daughter and her husband are only children they didnt want to have only one themselves.
We love the one we have to bits of course, but another baby to cuddle would be such a blessing! Thankfully, we all live in the same town and we help a lot with babysitting and sleepovers. When she was a (very) small baby it was quite nerve-wracking, but as a toddler it's much fun, if exhausting.
She is a real joy to us but I admit I feel a bit sad if she is to be our only one.

I had children late-ish, and due to the way things are, there will be no more grandchildren and probably no great grandchildren in the future come to that
But I treasure the grandchildren I have now, but will treasure them at all ages, not just the younger years.

You are all so lucky. Because my daughter is estranged, I never see my little grandson (must be about 7 or 8 by now) and have never really met him. Keep trying to persuade son to leave home, find Ms Right and provide the next generation (not too bothered what order!) My daughter was at nursery with a little girl whose mum had remarried, so niece and aunt were almost exactly the same age - that seems so ideal!!! Enjoy time with your grandkids, folks!

As there are 19 years between my oldest and youngest child the younger ones (I have 5) have yet to start producing and by the time they've done so the older grandchildren will be ready to make me a great-granny I hope. I might be too far into my dotage to care by then though.

My eldest grandchild went off to university as the youngest started school in September. I've been closely involved with them all and adore babies but I've outgrown the broodiness just as I did after 4 children of my own.
I have no longing to go back to nappies, runny noses or pushing a pram uphill. Older children are half the work and twice the fun of toddlers. Eventually you reach the unbelievable day when one of these children drives you round town in her own car.

Victoria08, I always feel nervous looking after my grandchildren. Believe it or not I worked in a Nursery for seven years, so I should not be nervous! I'm ok with the eldest who is nearly four. The other two are nearly three, and 10 months. I don't see these two so often as they live further away. When asked to babysit them my heart skips a beat with fear. I don't know what it is. After all, my first baby was born when I was a very young wife in Germany. I had no family to help or advise, yet I coped. Good luck tomorrow. I'm sure it will all go well. At least small babies have good long sleeps!

I know how you feel spotandstripes, in exactly the same position but all the different ages are good fun. The 16 year old dgs made me smile to myself the other day when he asked if I was al'right coping with everything at Christmas (obviously thinks I'm well past it) and the 4 year olds school Nativity Play really cheered me up.

Spotsandstripes you have so much to look forward to, my GC are grown up now, three of them. They have all been to university, two of them are studying for further degrees. We love their company and educate us in the ways of the world and what is or not PC! Looking forward to catching up with them in the next few weeks.
Enjoy them , it seems no time since youngest GD was donkey in Nativity play, this year she had her first as teacher of 6 year olds and their performance, lots of funny stories!

I do empathise, as I have enjoyed the baby and toddler stages with my five grandchildren. The youngest, a two year old girl, is a joy. She and I have at least one day out a week, and have done since she was born, so I feel sad already that this will end to some extent as she grows older. However, her nine year old brother decided to accompany us this week, as he was off school, but recovered. He got his lunch at McDonalds, including a fizzy drink, - a rare treat -, and he got a word search book and pencils. He even got bubble gum! He explained that the chewing of this would help relax his stiff neck - the cause of his absence from school. He really enjoyed our browse in Poundland. We ended up with a session at the library. I suspect he may well want to come on more shopping trips!

We have 2 lovely daughters both married to sons-in-law who are fine with us. Much to sadness for us all children just haven't happened for the eldest and her husband and with them being 40+ don't think it will happen now. After some years our youngest daughter gave us a delightful grandson who is now nearly 2. He is of course 'the apple of our eye' but lives 140 miles away from us. Due to career demands of both this daughter and her husband they do not plan on having any more children so our days with baby grandchildren have been very few. However we try to make the most of each stage and love to see him learning different skills. So make the most of your grandchildren, (and your children, even when they are adults!) and just enjoy them, each age is something different for you and them.

My DD1 had her son when we were already mid-sixties, he's 7 now, and DD2 has 18month old twins. We may not see them grow up to adulthood, and I often wonder what the future holds for them. Enjoy all ages.

Welcome spots I think its all been said here but it is lovely to see them grow to adults and before you know it they are producing babies so the circle of life goes on and on. Enjoy them whatever their age. I don't relish being called great grandmas - potentially this year or next but I shall love the baby (providing they don't call it something ludicrous- that was the Lady Bracknell in me coming out).

My grandchildren are 17,15 and 7,all boys.They are all delightful in their own way-the oldest is intelligent and funny,I can have adult conversations with him or a good laugh.The other two,both Aspergers children are also great fun to be with and the middle one,although quiet,also has a great sense of humour and is very clever at puzzles and woodwork,so we spend time making birdhouses,furniture and working things out!
The youngest is a real character and often has me in tucks of laughter.He still snuggles up for a read and I think he loves my dog more than me!
No,I will never have the thrill of a newborn grandchild in my arms again but I treasure the memories of those times and enjoy looking back at photos with them.Each child is different and special.Don't regret them growing older because the excitement of Santa may be gone but there is still lots of fun and pleasure to enjoy as they grow older.

sadiesnan Victoria Yes I used to be very nervous when I was in sole charge of my granddaughter when she was a baby. The first time we had her overnight she was only three weeks old. I didn't sleep a wink. I just kept listening to the little sounds she made, getting up to check on her (she was in a crib beside our bed). Looking back though, I'm glad I did it all. It was a joy

Yes, it is sad when our grandchildren start growing up. But my youngest is 13 now, and my eldest is 26 and has become a friend as well as my grand-daughter. Every age has it's pleasures.

Tomorrow I am being left in sole charge of my three month old grandson while his respective parents go of to London for the day.
This is the first time I have had him for this long, and am feeling a bit apprehensive. He is a lovely baby and normally very happy, as long as he is being played with and fed at regular intervals.
I guess I am worried something might go wrong. Silly really, I guess. But you never know.

Do any other grans feel nervous having sole charge.

Also I have a bad back, and after several hours of lifting and changing nappies etc, I feel exhausted.

My youngest granddaughter will be 6 in the middle of January. Don't worry it just lets you move on with them Mine are all a great source of joy no matter what age they are. Iv'e just spent most of last week attending school plays which they were involved in and many tears of joy were shed. Its better as well as different

My greatest wish is to see my grandchildren grow up. I had ovarian cancer two years ago, so every day with my family is a bonus. I've made myself cry now.

We only have one granddaughter. She has been very much part of our lives since the day she was born, staying the night lots of times etc. She is 15 now and we don't see quite as much of her as we did, as she goes out more with her friends etc which is perfectly natural. I do miss her staying over (she still does but only occasionally now). However she is a really beautiful girl and as soon as she sees DH or me she flings her arms around us.

I know what you mean in a way spotsandstripes ! I had our youngest 2 DGS here the other day and the youngest is 20 months and now dishes out his cuddles more sparingly lol

I had all of my grandchildren sleepover from new born to give their mums a break and because I secretly love that time in the middle of the night where everyone else is asleep except you and the baby and you get a cuddle and a snuggle !!

BUT.... every age has its bonuses. I have one DGD - The Queen of the Universe and we shop together at the grand old age of 9 . We 'do lunch' and have a mooch round the shops or we go off for a girlie movie or swim .

With our 6 year DGS we go outside and play or we stay in and build HUGELY complicated lego things ( what happened to a simple box of bricks eh? ).

With our 4 year old DGS we play cars and do sticking and painting or head to the gym for a swim and soft play every week.

It just keeps gettiung better and better , so whilst I understand , don't be down hearted you've got years and years of playing left yet ;-)) x