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Grandparenting

Parental expectations

(52 Posts)
sufuller Sat 04-Jun-16 12:39:57

My DH and I have been looking after my DGD since she was a few weeks old. Generally we have her from 8a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Tuesday till Friday and I take her and my daughter to Tumbletots on Mondays which takes up a couple of hours in the middle of the day. Don't get me wrong we love looking after her, we are both 61 and retired teachers. We set up our house like a nursery and she is learning a lot with us. She is now 29 months old and is as bright as a button. Our problem is the rules that we have to follow regarding what she can and can't eat, when she can or can't go outside to play and even the fact that she is not even supposed to watch Bing! It really upsets me when we are trying our very best and wouldn't do anything to harm her in any way. However I feel she is not allowed to be a normal toddler! I do not want to fall out with my DD. Help. So much for grandparents' rules!

gettingonabit Thu 09-Jun-16 07:46:59

I'm no expert in the development of young children-far from it- but it's my understanding that children do not socialise in any meaningful sense until they are 3 or 4 years old. I believe too that "learning" at this age is meaningless. The child is still practically a baby fgs!

Many of us have undertaken activities with our little charges; I took dd to a lovely little music group (sobs nostalgically) but it was for MY benefit, not dd's. It was something to do, to get out of the house, to meet people, to give structure to the day in between naps and meals.

I think what's most worrying about your situation, OP, is the lack of respect your daughter seems to have for you. Not only have you brought up children yourself, but you have also had a long and successful career as a teacher of other people's children. Not only does your daughter appear to have no respect for that, but she doesn't seem to give a jot about your wellbeing either.

I'm sorry but she sounds utterly deluded and selfish. She's going to have one heck of a shock when the LO starts school.