The damn sunblock!

Thanks again everyone!

That's a relief. It is awful to fall out with nearest and dearest.

As Greyduster says, years ago there wasn`t the same worry about sunburn and skin cancer, and I didn`t put sun cream on our kids, and don`t remember them ever getting burnt.
I was paid a few years ago for minding various grandchildren whilst their parents worked, but it was rarely for more than 7 or 8 hours a day, I was paid the princely sum of £1 an hour, but it was a hell of a lot less than a child minder would have charged, and helped me to save for things like Christmas and holidays.
Grandmama123, I`m so pleased that you and your daughter have sorted things out.

I am glad it is getting sorted now, it must have been very upsetting.
You have quite a lot of responsibility G123; particularly having charge of two lively boys - and a toddler with a swimming pool in the equation too, so you need eyes in then back of your head constantly. It 's a very long day too.

I think that at 8 the boys should be encouraged to start taking responsibility for themselves, start thinking about the consequences of actions or non-actions, although they will still need help and reminders.

The Australian advice is: 'slip, slap, slop,seek, slide' (t shirt, hat, suncream, seek shade, sunglasses) and the children all have hats as part of their school uniform. However, last year there was a case of a child who had developed rickets in sunny Cairns because his mother had never let him outside without sunblock and a hat. So they do need a bit of sun, perhaps starting with five minutes a day working slowly up to 20 minutes a day on bare arms and legs.

You're a star for doing it all. Couldn't do that early start, me!

That is great Grandmama123. I am glad you and your daughter were able to reach an understanding. I don't think it is a good thing to be a perpetual nodding dog, so perhaps you have struck a blow for respect? to you, it sounds as if you are doing a great job.

Phew, I'm glad you're all sorted out now, Grandmama123. Family fall outs are always upsetting.

Thanks jinglebellsfrock,
It's not that I decided they were old enough it didn't get done because I forgot! Last minute, I asked them to apply some, but they don't apply accordingly. In my defence, yes, I was sensitive about this for some reason, I said they should be old enough to do it. Which frankly I still believe.... Ok, I'll can be there and watch, which I usually do when I am with them all day.
I know what you are saying, however, in real life when things get hectic, things get missed, and just thought the conversation about it got a little too serious.
Anyway, thank you for your comment and yes, I will be more aware of doing the one duty which means a lot to my daughter

My daughter just left, we chatted. I guess it boils down to me being a bit sensitive to being asked to do things, as well as, I told her that her managerial ways got to me and I also tried to let her know that grandma's don't like rules and being tired that day, everything became bigger than it should.
I did feel very badly quitting on them and leaving them stuck. That part made me sick, I did over react with that, but, at the time, I felt as though my efforts were not appreciated. She told me how much she loves me and appreciate all I do for her family and that she just asked about sunscreen.... So... I am on board again folks, I will babysit and it will be on a part time schedule soon as per her new schedule.
I want to thank you all so very very much for taking the time to comment and offer your suggestions and ideas when I needed to talk to other g ma's.

As you are paid for the babysitting, you should have put the sunscreen on as instructed. Not up to you to decide when the boys are old enough to do it themselves. That's up to the parent.

I think that the paid skivvy/help needs a holiday. That is above and beyond grandmotherly devotion to have to get up at 5.30am every day. You are no longer 29 and it is such a responsibility. If your DD can find somebody to do what you do during those long hours, good luck to her.

I think that's a good sign. I suspect she has realises that she went over the top a bit and is coming to smooth things over. I do hope so anyway. Yes, she needs you and so do your grandchildren.

Hi Elainel, perhaps it is sunscreen, I'm not sure just now. Either way she is dramatic about it.
I hate conflict too and being confronted makes me sick.
She's quite the gal sometimes. Out spoken.

My daughter wants to chat.
She is coming over in a hour.
What should I say?
Recap .. She didn't like my comment about how I felt her almost 8 year olds were old enough. And I had had it and quit!
Guess she still needs me...... I thought I had my life back.
Lol

I am a nurse too. Kids in the UK especially Scotland are developing Vit D deficiencies now because of the lack of sunshine in the UK. High protection sun screen is now recommended not sun block! Anyway if the kids were away all day they would have to re-apply it them selves. Is this not what is done in Oz? Any Australian Gransnetters?
Hope you can sort it out with your daughter Grandmama I hate conflict and shame for your grandsons and granddaughter if they are used to having you to care for them x

gillybob,
I get what you are saying, the only thing she 'stressed', her words, were to ensure the s screen is applied. I failed!!
I look at at it this way, I'm 64 I set my alarm for 5:30am so I can relax getting ready and I am picked up in an hour and a bit. I have my coffee, choose my outfit, I want to feel good all day. Have my smoke! As a gm the child receives so much more in terms of teachings, nurturing and pure love given. I know those boys inside and out. We all have have a good time, my g daughter and I are bestie's and I was just getting her into Pooh Bear and Christopher Robin stories on my iPad, songs and ABC's! Heaps of fun.
I'm sure she's aggravated I said they should be old enough as that is when all hell broke. As I disagreed with her! That day I was exhausted and had one of those horrible humidity headaches to boot. Figures.

While we were away last week, we visited a little bay near where we used to live in West Wales when our children were small. We spent a lot of time on that beach with the children in the summer and my son said "I don't remember you ever putting sun cream on us". I told him that no-one was kicking up a fuss about there being a hole in the ozone layer forty odd years ago. I don't think I ever bought sun cream or worried about whether they had hats on. I can't remember them suffering from sunburn either despite the salt air and the wind off the sea.

Jalima,
Good point about the vit D deficiency. My husband also says the need the vit D, the sun block is over done. I agree that they may not be pro's applying the cream, but they surely need to learn now! Little Dani is busy girl I always have my eye on her. So need they need to be helpful, which they are if you ask.
The fact my daughter used the words, I stressed they use it daily, I would ask any paid employee, is the job too much?, I am allowed to ask, just turned my goat!
I'm sure they think I am super sensitive or messed up by quitting on the spot. I did what my gut told me to do. We never spoke to our parents like that when they baby sat.

Hi Bibbity,
My daughter is surgical nurse in the OR, her husband and herself leave their home before 7am. They pick me up and take me to their home and usually I do have to wake them, feed them, I do the dishes, tidy a bit but my main focus is our one and half year old grand daughters safety and nurturing. The camp ended Friday. It only lasted a week, however, they have a pool at their home, and when we are all there all day they put the sun block on. Yes, 12 hours was a long long day, no napping for me lol!
The special snowflake comment made me chuckle

Yes, I do get paid for year round baby sitting, we look at it as my job, otherwise I would work elsewhere. Both parents are out of the house by by 7am, kids still asleep one on the verge of waking. I live in Canada. I love this forum!

Surley as well she should take this opportunity as a unpleasant life lesson for the boys.

You didn't apply sun cream when you were told. Now you're burnt and it Hurts. Sorry it hurts but hopefully now you'll remember to take extra care.

I feel for you. With the kind of pressure you appear to have been under, I would have forgotten altogether even to ask the boys to apply sun cream! My GS is a nightmare when it comes to sun cream and my daughter does "get the face on" if I she finds out I have either (a) forgotten to apply it; (b) given up trying to get it onto a stroppy, argumentative nine year old without wrestling him to the ground and sitting on him! Life is too short. I would add that it is almost the only thing he does have a strop about. Having said that, I agree that your daughter is pushing the boundaries a bit talking to you as if she employed you! Not acceptable. They can be a bit of a pain, our adult children. I've just spent a week with both mine and their respective partners - never again!

Ps are you in the States Granny123?
Sunshine? ?
A bus to camp?

However, do hope it all works out, although you do sounds as if you had your hands more than full, perhaps your DD should find someone to share the childcare.

I do think they need a bit of help with sunscreen as they could miss bits, even at 8.
However, they could have put it on each other. Obviously not wearing their hats either were they? Little boys!
If they are covered in sun block every time they go out and never get any natural vitamin D they could end up with a deficiency and even rickets.

Hope you can sort it out soon, I expect your DD was upset because one of them was burnt and it just escalated.

Oh dear. We had a sunscreen nightmare many years ago on holiday in Spain. The DC were old enough to apply their own and I reminded them over and over about it. One day DS insisted he had put his on and charged off into the sea. Unfortunately he'd put it on before taking off his teeshirt and ended up burnt. I felt very guilty - I hadn't checked that someone had helped do his back - but certainly made amends, sitting with him playing games in the shade for the rest of the holiday