its so hard looking after my lovely GC

Supernanny bet your GD has a great time with you. I am sure her mum will be grateful if you can still amuse her for a few hours when new baby comes along and when she goes to school you can have similar fun times with the little one. Sometimes it is lovely to spend time with just one of them and I think they like a bit of individual attention

When DD moved back to this area it was so that I could have youngest DGS who will be 2 in March whilst she returned to full time work.
Unfortunately due to his special needs she is unable to work. I do have him 2-3 times a week. Of course I wish he didn't have heath problems, but I am secretly glad DD is unable to work. As I don't think I could cope Monday-Friday.

Now my DD and her husband are both back at work I am looking after GS2 who is just 1 most days and GS1 who is 7 after school. I enjoyed the 5 years I spent looking after GS1 and found it far more fun than looking after my own had been (probably because it was more fun than working!)
It is harder this time because I am older, there are now 2 of them, and because he is ill my husband is always at home now. He doesn't enjoy small children and being ill makes it worse so the whole situation is more stressful than it was, but hopefully we can make it work.

I'm looking after my grandson (4 years old tomorrow) and his baby brother (10 months) for two days a week at the moment and it's exhausting. The older one will be back at school next week, but it's the baby that I find particularly tiring as he wants/needs attention all the time and he's a heavyweight to pick up and carry around. Still, I'm savouring every moment as they'll be moving away at the end of the month and it will take a two hour car drive to visit hem, rather than the twenty minutes it takes now.
Still, they've bought a house with a rather lush granny annexe to tempt me into going to stay as often as I can.

I have the three GC (2,3 & 4) for four days a week. The secret is to get them out of the house for at least part of the day. I hate soft play centres or anything of that nature, but there are other options. Libraries often run story sessions for free. You local Children's Services will provide you with a list of Play and Stay Groups in your area. Garden Centres are great if they have a pet section. Take them to the supermarket to buy their lunch ingredients with a promise of a choice of pudding or biscuits if they behave. Get them outside to jump in puddles and take them to local parks when the weather allows.
I would go stir crazy if I had to stay inside with three little ones all day, but the time certainly goes quickly if you get out. However you do have to allow plenty of time for putting on shoes or wellies, coats, hats, getting them into seat belts or onto buses, but it all fills up the time and is a learning curve for them.

Hi,
Just joined and enjoyed the postings! I'm about to enter month four of looking after my three grandchildren,8,6 and 4 in New Zealand--- here until April when I go back to UK. Also in the middle of a divorce after nearly 47 years. Like the rest of you, I love my grandchildren to bits, but struggle with so many aspects of their behaviour. For instance they all still eat with their fingers. The way they speak to/shout at their parents truly upsets me. They're pretty OK with me because they know I mean what I say---- Mum and Dad are full of empty threats. Any advice? Adore my daughters in law by the way. Think we all do an amazing job for very little recognition.

Advice?
Simply be pleased with way they behave for you and ignore the way they behave with their parents. It may be that your son and DiL will notice and learn from that, if not best put up and not rock the boat.
Enjoy your time with them.

Sandy1948 Don't think you need any advice. As you say "Mum & Dad are full of empty threats" but "they know I mean what I say" says it all.

My 3yr DGDs mum does lots of threats but never carries them out, so consequently DGD doesn't listen to her at all, just carries on doing her own thing. However she knows she has to behave differently at her dad's and mine and adapts accordingly.

I applaud you looking after 3 at once, your obviously doing a great job!

Commiserations on your divorce.

Aka I am filled with admiration! You must have a lot of stamina!

Welcome to Gransnet Sandy. I think after three months of looking after my grandchildren I'd be ready to drop, but it might be worth it to spend such a long time in NZ. I have a daughter in Auckland, but she and her husband don't have children and I don't really fancy looking after her three manic dogs. Sorry to hear about the divorce and hope that it hasn't been too traumatic.

Is there such a thing as a glamorous Gran? I may start the day sort of glamorous, but by 3pm definitely not, grubby hand prints on skirt, paint/chocolate (yes I do give chocolate as a treat/bribe) tomato soup, spilt juice etc......., when I return from taking DGC home, I sit with a cup of tea and DONT MOVE for at least an hour.

BUT still look forward to doing it all again the next day...... and yes planning is the key.

We really do save this government some money.

With my other two grand children living in Guyana, I find the one day a fortnight I spend looking after my two grand children, who are rather closer to home, very precious. They are 2 and 4 but our 4 year old grandson is now at school. Even so I find it exhausting. I am not very big and prone to back ache so all the lifting - buggy, grand daughter if a dog comes anywhere near us, bending etc is very tiring. I'm not sure I'd get through it if it wasn't for my husband - good old grandpa - coming with me. I am often amazed at how many Grandads appear to opt out of this fabulous experience. But failing that and as someone else suggested, have plenty of jig saws and games bought from charity shops ready to ring the changes from their toys at home and be organised so you have everything needed for an activity. Remember the 'doing' is often more enjoyable and important than the outcome for younger children.

Hi there eastendgranny - yes charity shops are a great source of jigsaws and books. Good suggestion.
Hello Sandy i have a son in NZ, Wellington region. Empty threats are irritating aren't they. I had a cousin who used to say to her son, when he was about 5, "father christmas won't come". This would be said in august. However if it is any comfort he is now a delightful young man of 20.

My grandsons are now overseas for a while and although I miss them terribly I don't miss the exhaustion! I used to be a reception teacher and should have found two children easy-peasy but somehow your grandchildren are just different! I always preferred one at a time but usually that was not convenient and found the two together less of a pleasure. When they return they will be that bit older (currently 3 and 5) so I hope easier to cope with. Having said that I'd give anything to have them right now!

I could say the same as everyone else on here, we love them but find them exhausting. It all boils down to the fact that we are really too old to do the running around that PARENTS should be doing.So, DON'T.
Grandparents can do their 'bit' of course, but have their own needs as well.We shouldn't be making ourselves feel tired or ill.
Children would keep you forever pushing swings and what-not in the play park, it's not their fault, they don't know your energy levels, all adults look the same to them 30 or 60.So set 'times' for going to the park, and depending on their ages, tell them frankly that you get tired.I do this.
There are a few placid peaceful activities to do, drawing, play doh jigsaws etc.A bit of tv or dvd or young computer games.I sometimes just include them in my little trips to a shop [not supermarket] but for specific things like buying wool or sewing things, they seem to like little shops. I always buy them a little treat on the way back.Mabye a 'nature walk' that's not too far with a purpose, like looking for 'signs of Spring' or certain birds.

A very good thought rosesarered - the fact that our grandchildren don't realize how they tire us out and it is up to us not to step outside our limits so that we enjoy their company. 4 of my grandchildren are now out of the 'caring' bracket but a little surprise arrived a lot later in the name of Jamie who is 6 years old in May. The others we had in pairs which was quite difficult - doing things that they both enjoyed. Our latest little one is much easier on his own.
When he is 6 we will be able to take him to Nature Club and give Mum and Dad some peace on a Saturday. He's also keen on cooking - we try to make a meal for him to take home for all the family. Getting them outdoors as Aka says is a good thing - taking them to a park or open country where they can run about to their heart's content is ideal. It's more of a problem in the winter and with the weather we've had recently - hopeless!!

We look after 2 GC 7.20 till 6 Mon to Friday. Easier now one is at school, but now it's the holidays . . .

I was thinking about this thread only the other day, because next door have two twin girls, aged almost three, and their grandma has them three days a week, one at her house and two in theirs. Their grandma really can't cope, she is always shouting at them and it worries me. They have a lovely big garden but she never takes them out in it, or lets them out, so of course they get fractious and bored. I don't know whether to say anything to my neighbours, but grandma is a different person when they get back home. He is a farmer so pops in and out and she is all smiley then. (I see her a lot because of the setup of our doors and drives and utility rooms) I do feel for her, they are not quiet children by nature. Maybe she is just waiting for them to be old enough to go to nursery school.

I wrote on another thread about taking my grandson out yesterday and there were no parents, only grandparents, looking after children in the play area. Today I took my grandson to the cinema and again those of us queuing up were all grandparents, although I spotted three parents with children later.
My grandson is very active (he's four) and I do find myself flagging at about four o'clock when my body is screaming out for a cup of tea and a nap rather than to play football/play snap/walk to the river/feed the fish/water all the plants/play snap/sing every nursery rhyme I know/go to the cinema/play snap/bake some cakes/play snap/make a fishtail loom band/throw stones in the sea........(you'll have gathered that he really likes to play snap )
After leaving the cinema we visited the sea for a while before returning home for a game of snap and then I put a DVD on to get a bit of a rest......bliss. Until he asked me what this (Makaton) sign means/and this one/and this one......and what's the sign for 'driving' granny........?
He's suddenly developed a chesty cough, so I've been sitting up until I'm sure he's okay (he gets pneumonia really quickly), but he seems settled so now I'm going to bed so that we can start another exciting day tomorrow.
I am really tired, but it's a privilege to be such a big part of my grandchildren's lives.

We took 2 GDs ( 6 and 4) down to visit their cousins , the other 2 GDs ( 6 and 8) by the coast as it was such a hot day. Struggled with car seats for about 20 mins, put on portable DVD player, quiet. Then GD2 said she felt sick. Pulled over in ghastly industrial estate as she had started to throw up. Hauled her out of the car into bit of fresh air, while OH cleaned off his upholstery with his t shirt. Waited till GD felt better / changed then stopped the DVD as felt maybe watching the screen not good for sickness. other GD moaned that she felt fine so why couldn't she watch etc etc. managed to get to DDs intact GD2 felt fine immediately out of car and started charging around with her cousins. Youngest one (4) started to ask when could she go to the beach. A question she repeated at least 20 times while we were having recuperating cuppa. OH popped to get picnic items with 8 yo came back with back of unsuitable goodies chocolate milk, cake, biscuits etc chosen by child. There was a baguette and some grapes though so not too bad. Took several huge bags of towels, cossies, food, etc to beach with the 4 GDs. dD stayed home as she is trying to pack for their holiday. Youngest insisted on carrying her new cossie and managed to drop it several times on the way and we had to go back for it. Immediately on beach they wanted to put their costumes on, so had to retrieve lots of knickers, shoes etc thrown around and rush to seashore to make sure kids weren't hurling themselves in too deep. Slathering on sunscreen on 4 impatient kids. We told them they weren't to do swimming but just paddling and jumping in the waves but 2 of them managed to get waves over their heads before we anxiously hauled them back, they thought it hilarious of course.not much food eaten apart from crisps and chocolate milk. After it was becoming too hot so we retreated to a shady park where they chased each other around for ages and insisted on buying icecreams. Managed to get them all back to DDs intact ,they had some lovely games there before we braved the journey back with children sitting on newspapers , a story tape and instructions to look,out of windows.back home eventually no carsickness, kids fell asleep thank goodness. But they told their mum they'd had a lovely day! They're going on holiday camping at the weekend I am not envious! I think it is the responsibility which make me anxious when looking after the GDs.

Welcome to Gransnet Stacigran. Yes we are all more tired at our age than we were looking after our own children but it is worth it when someone small smiles at you and says "I love you Granny" they are the best words in any language. I have 5 year old twin grand-daughters and they live 150 miles away so I generally try and see them once a fortnight for the weekend or sometimes when I have leave booked for longer(I still work full time I am 61)

It is generally easier in their own house as they have all their toys there but when they come to me I have a good selection of toys drawing etc to keep them amused and a park at the end of the road, I find a good run about somewhere to use up their energy every day is essential. I am going down two weeks running later today as DD is moving house at the beginning of August and I am going to be chief amuser whilst she does the last bits of sorting out for the move. I'll be knackered by the end of Sunday but treasure every minute of time I have with them. Enjoy and put your feet up afterwards they are little for such a short time!

Had the 2 local GDs here today and we didn't go anywhere in the car, we played playmobil, dolls house, tent in the garden, making bunting for youngest birthday party, a little bit of TV watching , ipad playing and eating and drinking got us throughout the 10 hour day, plus dressing up, playing monsters, making pizza for lunch, making dolls clothes etc etc. they've just. Gone home and I'm exhausted even though they were fantastic, didn't cry or whine, but it's so tiring . I'm now enjoying glass of wine + archers + corrie in a min might just collapse after a bowl of pasta if I can manage to cooking?how did I manage with fulltime job, 4, children, house, study etc.....?

Phew i'v just got home after a day at the seaside with my local three youngest gradchildren, 5,4 & 2+ I'm whacked. But for a moment as I watched them standing in their underwear holding hand jumping waves and squealing with delight I want to freeze frame the picture in my heart to pull out Years from now to remind me how utterly unterly lovely they are. They spent most of the day throwing stones in water. Children the same the world over!

Ps no wine for me their staying the night. I'm bracing myself..I hope they sleep

I also love having the DGC here. I have youngest all day on Tues/Thurs and do school drop off /pick up for the 3 others on those days and have them back for tea. It is busy, noisy, messy and exhausting! Would I change it? No