its so hard looking after my lovely GC

Hi, I have my gd age 3 and gs age 1, 3 days a week 6.30 to 5...they are exhausting, the only way I cope is to be ultra organised, I have a list of all the suitable play parks, soft play and toddler clubs in the area. Gd attends pre school now, so I pick her up and go out for picnics. They are horrible if they don't get out every day, we have wet weather gear so rain or shine we go out. I also rotate toys so they don't get too bored. We have playdough, waterplay and painting sessions. Best part of the day is when they are snuggled up watching a film waiting for mummy and I can read my book. I am 55 and took redundancy to look after them. I don't regret it but it can be hard.

What I forgot to add is that it won't be long - given how fast the years rush by - before they start saying "Do we have to go and see that boring old grandmother?"

I have mentioned this before but I think our children "forget" that we are no longer the age we were when we looked after them as young children. Absentdaughter is full of admiration about my energy levels, but I think she sometimes forgets that I am old and even more exhausted than she is when I have looked after four children throughout the day on school holidays. I love my days with the little one (two and a half) and he makes it clear that he loves his days with me, but, boy, do I sleep well those nights.

I actually think it's my AGE! ;-) lol

I had SO much energy when my LO's were young , so we do have to rest up xx

I'm lucky enough to look after my DGS (15 months) one day a week, and it is certainly more tiring than when my DCs were tiny. I think it is partly because I feel I have to do much more with him - no sitting down on the job! When ours were small we didn't have ballparks etc so it was the garden, the house or the swings at the park. I don't remember feeling I had to entertain them all the time in the same way.

This is so funny , we have to laugh!

I think coping with 2 at a young age is much harder than coping with 1 at an older age , my DGS has special needs and it is so rewarding looking after him but I could NOT cope with two at a time!!

I had him to stay for a week when he was just 9 months of absolute cuteness ... By the end of the week I was a ZOMBIE! lol ... I took him to a local One O'Clock club and when it was home time I PUT ON SOME OTHER WOMANS BOOTS ....Didn't even realise till I was HALF WAY home and was too tired to walk back by then so had to ring the One O'Clock club and EMBARRASSINGLY explain that I had accidentley put on someone elses boots and come home with them , then I had to FACE the lady when she came to collect hers , wearing mine - I laugh now but it shows how TIRED I was LOOOOOOOL

So I can sympathise but long for more moments with my DGS now xx

Oh forgot to say welcome stacigran GN is a great forum

For a few years we looked after 2 GC 3 times a week but a couple of years ago I felt it was just too much for DH so discussed with DD and we cut it down. Now we have GD on Monday afternoons after school and during holidays she is now 10 and a delight. Do occasionally feel guilty about the other 2 but we are there in case of emergencies.

I remember when mine were small and we went visiting their paternal grandmother and she had a box of toys - well she considered them toys it was just a small box of rubbish broken toys and little else so when I became a GM I made sure I had a toy box full of interesting and in full working order toys not always new many purchased in local charity shops or church fetes.

I had my little dgd, 33mths, from 6pm last night until 12.30pm today, and she's coming back at about 7pm for another sleepover.
I'm filled with admiration for some of you who look after several dgc for days on end.

I'm shattered now, and I'm fit and healthy. I can't believe how exhausting it is looking after her, and she is such a good little girl, not a moments trouble.

Well done all you lovely grans!

hi everyone,,,,,reading down the messages,,,,it seems many of us are looking after the grandkids in one way or another, now is the summer hols,,,i help out when i can as their mums both go to work,,,,,,it seems you bring your own children up then you do it for the grandkids, what happened to the stay at home mums, then you have to entertain them,,,aaahhhh !!! i teach the kids how to bake cookies and cakes, then after that they want to do something else,,,im bored is the words at the moment,.....can we go to the park,,,,no nannie is tired and its too hot outside,,,,,,,i manage to put the tent up,,,,thats a 5 minite wonder.....outside and give them bread and jam sandwhiches,,,,,,they loved that,,,,,,,but yes you do get tired looking after them,,,,but enjoy while you can because they wont want to come when they are older it will be boyfreinds and girlfreinds they are interested in,,,,,,not nan and grandad. so look after yourself...dont wear yourself out......and set some ground rules....to the parents. ( if you dare ) !!!

DH is the one they all want to see when they come - but in times of need its Grandma they call for. I love them dearly but I'm not good at making stuff or playing games but if they can entertain themselves then I'm perfectly happy to have them for as long as required. Unfortunately life ain't like that most of the time and I end up a frazzled wreck. Still they all seem to want to come again - and again, so I must be doing something right I suppose. DH is brilliant with them though I have to say - in spite of the trail of mud and grass he leaves behind - and smells if he's been doing 'speriments!

I haven't seen much of GS1 for the last 18 months apart from picking him up from school once or twice a week so I was quite flattered when he said he would like to spend the first day of the holidays with me because he hadn't seen me for ages

Grandson told daughter today that he doesn't want to go home yet and asked if he can stay for an extra night. The compliment outweighed my need to flop with a glass of this evening, so he's now tucked up in bed and going home tomorrow.

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

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

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!

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.....?

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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!!

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.

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!