I just told dh he was a bloody old misery 😡

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 !!!

just seems like encouraging unnecessary consumerism to me.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Callistemon21

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

Yard waste and paint

Wrong post, Sorry.

Enjoying time with our grandchildren is so important. Have a lovely time. Men!!!!!

This reminds me of a visit I made to Paris with my niece for her 11th birthday (back in 1989 - a big anniversary for the French).

We arrived and our first visit was to the Eiffel Tower where I made two mistakes. Firstly I tried to persuade her not to buy a little glass tower full of coloured sand because I thought it was naff (not that I told her that). We had supper at the restaurant there and I made the mistake of not asking for her meat to be well cooked so there was blood over the plate.

So, don't try to persuade your GCs that something is tacky and always ask for the meat to be well cooked (if it's their first time in France) They will remember for a long time, as did my niece (until she was grown up)

Letting the children choose their own tree decoration is a lovely thing to do. I have done it in the past with my GC. Although I hasten to add I left Grandpa at home ! The children loved it , just do it!

Go for it you GNers with small GCs. They won't be small for long. I still remember my GM teaching me how to Victoria sandwiches and sitting eating our packed lunch on the top floor of the Science Museum, on a bench underneath a suspended plane. Many other outings too. In fact she (and my GF) contributed to shaping my future tastes (ballet, museums and stately homes)

Nannan2

Bella-Apparently some girls can start their periods that young nowadays, so i read somewhere.

I think she must have just had that talk at school. I will have to ask her mum next time and be prepared. One of my others has just had sex lessons at school that were animated films with soundtracks he spent his time here going whosh every time one of the girls bent over. I couldn't be cross because they have lived abroad for so many years but he did get the teachers stare when he did it to me.
You've just got to enjoy them while they are little.

Oh that generation of men are boring, selfish old curmudgeons. Not all of them but a lot.

He’s a miserable sod.
You are lovely they will LOVE it ❤️

Jane621

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.

Do you not have any say in this?

Fernhillnana

Oh that generation of men are boring, selfish old curmudgeons. Not all of them but a lot.

Which generation?

We don't know how old Mr Witzend is.