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Grandparenting

Miss my grandson now he has gone to school

(13 Posts)
Lockers54 Thu 19-Sep-19 10:38:32

We relocated 100 miles away to help look after my grandson. I have spent two & a half days a week looking him. Last year he attended pre school & I looked after him for a few afternoons a week. A couple of weeks ago he started full time school and I miss him so much. However now I’m looking after his baby sister & I do get to collect him from school 3 nights a week. On a Tuesday I collect him & bring him back to ours for his tea & have some one on one time. I don’t remember missing my kids as much when I was younger & they went to school. I think looking after a baby is o different & I’m missing his communication & him so much. I know time will make things easier & that he has to attend school.

Fiachna50 Thu 19-Sep-19 11:24:27

I know how you feel as my grandchild started school in August. I do remember missing each of mine as they started. I collect them after school when parents are working and I love hearing about their day. Granny and Grandad now have a chance for a coffee during the day. Granny catches up on her reading now. I have to admit, find it a bit easier not having grandchild all day. Much as I love them, its nice to get a wee bit time back for yourself.

MawB Thu 19-Sep-19 11:41:35

You must have felt the same when your own children started school.
Life is a succession it seems of separations from the cutting of the umbilical cord to weaning to nursery to school - blink and they’ll be getting married!
‘Twas ever this - and so it should be! smile

kircubbin2000 Thu 19-Sep-19 13:02:03

My gs is 10 and has very little chat now when he comes home.
I have to prompt him to find out what he did at school or football and he never volunteers any information. Just growing up.

Luckygirl Thu 19-Sep-19 14:07:59

My last GS started school this term. I pick him and his sister up after school. I do of course miss the lovely times we had together when I looked after him, but it is wonderful to see him loving school and bouncing out with a smile at 3.15.

And no-one can take away the special bond that caring for him created - when his Mum picks him up from here he says "Goodbye Sweetheart" to me - what a cutie! smile

Sara65 Thu 19-Sep-19 17:12:49

It is a bit emotional as one by one they go off to school, I’ve got one left now who I have one day a week, and I know I will miss her when she joins her siblings. But I also know, that as I work the other four days, I’ll be very grateful to have some time to myself

thecatgrandma Thu 19-Sep-19 20:46:46

It’s the circle of life isn’t it? You want them to grow up ‘normally’ and the change in your relationship is inevitable. You have to adapt to it, it’s different, but you have to find other ways of keeping that rapport. In my case, against all odds and having been a lifelong football hater, I now go to matches with my 14 yo grandson and it’s something we are always talking or texting about, it’s a shared passion I never thought I’d have! The 10yo who doesn’t speak much now is also totally normal for that age, and I guess you just have to keep a relationship without getting in his face, and wait for that age to pass. They grow up, you have to grow with them. And be glad you were able to be in their lives as much as you could during those first 5 precious years.

BradfordLass72 Thu 19-Sep-19 21:26:38

Lucky you, not only 2 bites of the cherry but three!!

I wish I saw my own grandson so regularly, he's such fun.

BlueBelle Thu 19-Sep-19 21:28:00

Oh dear wait till he’s 12 and only grunts at you or he’s up up and essay with his mates it’s all totally normal and as it should be kids grow up, move away and move on Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
What a lucky granny you are, half the grans on here don’t ever see their grandkids or see them very little Your grandson has taken a step on the road to independence and you have another little one to look after
You probably didn’t miss your own kids so much because you were busy and had other things going on Don’t get too caught up with ‘only’ the grandkids, keep your own life open as well

Thingmajig Thu 19-Sep-19 21:56:50

We "lost" our oldest GC to school last month and now the visits are shorter (after school pickups x3/week), and no more sleepovers. We still have the wee one for a whole day a week plus the nursery pickup days. It's exhausting but we have to enjoy it as she'll be off to school in a few years too.
We're so lucky to see so much of them growing up and it's lovely to watch them progress through the normal life stages too.

Ellouisesnanna Sun 27-Oct-19 16:32:46

I'm so heartbroken right now, my daughter has stopped me seeing my almost 3 year old granddaughter for NO reason, I used to have her stay with me a night a week and 2 days either side, I did everything for her, my daughter is a single mum and i literally brought her everything she needed so they wouldn't miss out, i always made sure they didn't go with out and had an amazing relationship with her, she hated going home to her mum and usually cried, but I'd always reassure her mummy was best and nanny was always here for her, my daughter always seemed happy that my relationship was so good with my gd and I always consulted her before buying her presents etc but one day out of the blue she stopped me and I've not been able to contact her , nothings happened to cause this and other than my daughter having her own mental health issues this has severely affected me. I dont know what to do, I miss my gd so much its breaking my heart does anyone else have this similar situation and how have you coped?

phoenix Sun 27-Oct-19 17:36:26

Ellouisesnana sorry that has happened to you.

To others, surely this is just part of grandchildren growing up? Of course you will see less of them! Perhaps it's just me..........

Bet you weren't the same about your children!

Sara65 Sun 27-Oct-19 17:56:36

My oldest granddaughter is 19, I’m not sure I’ve seen her since last Christmas. I completely accept and expect this, we love her, and she knows we’re always here for her, just the way things are.