I just told dh he was a bloody old misery 😡

My husband’s just the same, miserable old devil. Somehow I make all the effort, he moans behind the scenes, makes no attempt to put himself out but is thought of as good old grandad.’ I do sometimes feel bit resentful.

I can’t imagine taking 3 or 4 young
children out on my own any more, especially upstairs on a bus! Depends how fit you are!
I think home-made decorations could mean just as much to young children and maybe more. Having said that, our own grandson isn’t very arty crafty - he prefers building mechanical gadgets.

Norah

pinkjj27

I have these romantic/ whimsilcal ideas about doing things like this then I remember the melt downs and tantrums and I decied to let them look on line.

We take them out in the garden/grounds and fields, and collect pretty stones and cones, sticks, conkers and trimmings - make our own (free) natural Christmas tat with online art supplies.

We wouldn't expect anything less Norah

You could get them knitting Christmas decorations Witzend, the Jean Greenhowe patterns shouldn't be too difficult to follow

Witzend

What a lovely idea. I think I'll copy and start that tradition with my 3 year old GS he'll love it. My DH always moans when I buy another toy for DGS - I just call him Bad Grandad lol.

pinkjj27

I have these romantic/ whimsilcal ideas about doing things like this then I remember the melt downs and tantrums and I decied to let them look on line.

We take them out in the garden/grounds and fields, and collect pretty stones and cones, sticks, conkers and trimmings - make our own (free) natural Christmas tat with online art supplies.

I have these romantic/ whimsilcal ideas about doing things like this then I remember the melt downs and tantrums and I decied to let them look on line.

Witzend

JaneJudge

The thought of taking 4 small children to a shopping centre fills me with dread tbare you mad? 😉

It’s only 3! Took the 2 elder for the same last year and they were fine - even usually human-hurricane Gds.
One thing they love about any trip to town is going on the bus - preferably front seats upstairs - they so rarely go on buses at home.

My grandson still calls me bus nanny as I am the only one who ever took him on a bus.

If someone told me that I was going to declare the content online of a minor marital disagreement for anyone in Gransnet to read, I'd laugh.

So envy you. My grumpy HD decided we should move to Tenerife so no more Xmas for us. But they all come to visit at Easter.

It is tat though isn't it? How about not adding to plastic waste and landfill and get creative with your GCs and make decorations from scratch. Help them make choices that contribute to a more sustainable future!

Go for it Witzend!

You've done it before and it was a success, and why should the smallest child be cheated of a treat the older ones have had last year?

You sound as if it is right up your street and even if it is tiring, well worth it to see the little ones' glee.

It seems most men fall into the "can't be bothered" attitude the older they get, and completely forget that what is "tat" to an adult can well be the most marvellous thing in the world to a child.

I still hang a plastic angel on my Christmas tree every year, not because it is anything startling - white plastic little child cherub - but when I was four and was given it, I was convinced it wasn't an angel but a true representation of Baby Jesus. Now I can see it for what it is, a cheap decoration, probably from Woolworth's, but in a corner of my heart it is still Baby Jesus. Something similar may just be the case with what your grandchildren buy on your shopping trip. I hope so.

Go where you want to with the children and ignore the miserable fool. Enjoy your time it doesn't last long. I wish I had had the courage to tell my other half what a miserable, negative person he is years ago then maybe I wouldn't be stuck here.

just seems like encouraging unnecessary consumerism to me.

I think it’s a lovely idea , ignore the Debbie downers on here .
Your GC will have a lovely day on the bus, theatre and choosing a Christmas bauble . As for the plastic tat comments . It’s a bauble which will hopefully be kept for years and brought out each Christmas.
You are creating lovely memories both for you and your gc. My dc were looked after by my dm during the school holidays , whilst I was working and have wonderful memories of those times .
As an avid theatre goer I love the idea of taking them to a show . I hope your dh is going with you because with little ones , they all want the loo at different times . I remember taking mine plus friends to a show when they were young and barely saw the show as I was constantly taking a child to the toilet !!!

I still have some 60 odd year old ‘ tat ‘ my G’ma bought for me - some Christmas and some from her holidays. How I treasure them!

Well, I’m pleased to see that the positive posts far outweigh the negative ones.
Those decs some have you have had for years were new once! Don’t forget, some families are just starting out on their own Christmas memory making journey and start, therefore, with what some of you describe as “tat”.
I have some that are nearing 80 years old, passed down and others that were bought only very recently. Tat? Maybe, but quite honestly, I don’t care. It’s my tat, and full of memories 😁😁.

How lovely you’ll have a great time and make more memories with the gc. I used to do this but mine are grown up now but I still like to mooch around JL Xmas shop.

I'm not sure it is 'tat'. I have a Christmas decoration bought when I was a child in Singapore some 55 years ago and I still treasure it!

I agree with your husband.

The issue of buying plastic tat is coming up for me. My granddaughter buys so much 'made in China' often from Amazon. I don't want to be a killjoy but I am acutely aware of global warming and buying one time use plastics that will ultimately end up in landfill.
Treats seem to mainly be these junky items that are heavily advertised and seen as 'desirable' by peers. What to do?

It’s a man thing ! I have just been moaned at for buying a huge pumpkin for the grandkids and I haven’t told him yet that I have booked Cadbury World for end of November

October? No to JL Christmas shop. Plenty of time to do that. Why not spend the precious time playing games, doing crafts, baking etc. Agree with only one activity out of the house a day

Norah

welbeck

i agree with your husband

I do as well. I don't purchase useless tat and don't want our GC in shops making unnecessary disposable purchases.

You would evidently absolutely love the mega-piece of useless plastic tat I bought them for Halloween - sitting in the garden at the moment, waiting for their arrival.

I did post about it before and admitted to being an utterly disgraceful hypocrite, since I’m usually as anti plastic tat as anybody - especially as regards all the ghastly black and orange stuff in the shops for Halloween.

He’s huge!!

I'm very anti tat but I love all my christmas decorations that I've bought over the last 30 years. They don't match, there is no theme but most have been bought with purpose and I enjoy putting them on the tree every year.
Enjoy these precious days with your GC.

This did make me smile as my grumpy husband/grandad would have said exactly the same! Lovely idea, and good luck with it. Could you possibly take a friend with you?

I love your plan! Can I join you? Our grandchildren are 1, 4 and 6 and I'm sure they would love to do this!