A - Z Challenge 2023 - P is for Parenting V Grandparenting

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This year I'm writing about things connected with Being a Grandparent.  For an introduction to my grandchildren check out my theme reveal here.

I find being a Grandparent is very different to being a parent.

There are lots of advantages for example you get to give them back when you've had enough and usually, because you're not constantly tired due to sleep deprivation, you have more patience with them.  Also because we're retired we have more time.  We're not constantly worrying about all the chores that might need doing.  They can wait until tomorrow.

But you do worry about them more, especially when you're looking after them and are responsible for them.  The last thing you want to be doing when their parents return is to be explaining why there's a bump on their head or a bruise on the leg and so on.  I tend to be hyper vigilant but of course accidents will happen.

Parenting styles are different now too but of course we have to follow the parent's lead on how to deal with things which can be challenging at times.  Especially when they don't always want to hear about how we did things when our children were little.

Fortunately I have good relationships with all my DILs and hopefully I don't step out of line too often.  Clearly they're all happy to leave their children in my care so I must be doing something right!

A - Z Challenge 2023 - O is for Outbursts

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This year I'm writing about things connected with Being a Grandparent.  For an introduction to my grandchildren check out my theme reveal here.

Thankfully, being their Grandparent, I don't get many outbursts or tantrums when I'm looking after my Grandchildren but of course I have witnessed many outbursts between them and their parents.

Getting ready to go home is often a trigger, especially if they're not ready to leave.  Most of the parents are good at giving their children warnings and a countdown to when it will be time to put their shoes and coats etc on.  This often works but not always.  Especially if you get the timings wrong.

Vinny is usually really good for me, especially when I have him on his own but one day fairly recently I got the timings wrong.  I warned him that when the TV episode he was watching finished it would be time to get ready to go home.  Seemed reasonable to me but what I didn't realise was that each "episode" contained 2 stories.  So Vinny thought he was going to watch 2 stories.  After the first story finished and the credits rolled I turned off the TV.

Well it was like his worst nightmare had come true.  He was so upset and angry.  He took himself to the other end of the room and threw himself on the floor heartbroken.  There was no pacifying him and of course I couldn't work out what the problem was until his Mummy enlightened me when I finally got him home.  Took me ages to get his coat on he was struggling so much.  I gave up with his shoes until I'd got him safely buckled into his car seat and was out of range of his feet!  I won't make that mistake again.

Another trigger for outbursts is when the younger ones spoil the older one's games although they react quite differently.  Nathan will get very angry and sometimes lash out, Rory and Noah just tend to get very upset.

Not winning a game can also cause outbursts if we don't get in quick and suggest another game or an alternative distraction.

I think the hardest outbursts though have been when Ella has not wanted to be left with us while her Mummies go out.  She went through a phase when she was not happy about this and would proceed to scream.  And scream and scream and......  More with anger than upset too.  There was no way of pacifying her when she was like that - if you tried to cuddle her she would just push you away.

The best way was just to ignore her and start playing with some of the toys, building a tower or something else that eventually she would come and join in with.  But she could scream for a looooooong time.  Thankfully none of the neighbours have reported me to child services....yet and the last couple of babysitting stints have been easier.

It can be a bit tricky when all of them are together, especially with the older ones, two's company three's a crowd definitely happens here at times and of course at nearly 5 and just 6 their negotiating skills still need a lot of work.  We need to keep a close eye on them and try and intervene before there's trouble.

Grandparenting is never dull and never be fooled by the "butter wouldn't melt" look.

A - Z Challenge 2023 - N is for Noah

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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This year I'm writing about things connected with Being a Grandparent.  For an introduction to my grandchildren check out my theme reveal here.

Noah is Grandchild #2 and is the eldest of my elder son's 2 boys.

He was another slightly early arrival on 17th May 2018.

Noah and his parents live in Nottingham (we're in London) so several hours away by car.  But of course we wanted to see him as soon as possible.

Now he's nearly 5 and already at school.

He loves playing with trains!

He mostly likes his younger brother - except when he's spoiling his train tracks.  

He also definitely has a Nottingham/Derbyshire accent - he's lucky to have his other Grandparents close by and he spends a lot of time with them.  He's also an expert on dinosaurs!

A - Z Challenge 2023 - M is for Miles

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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This year I'm writing about things connected with Being a Grandparent.  For an introduction to my grandchildren check out my theme reveal here.

Miles is grandchild #5, the last of the boys. (So far of course lol)

He arrived, slightly early in September 2020, another lockdown baby.  He's Noah's younger brother and he's really smiley.  

I know we don't usually take pictures of children when they're miserable but Miles isn't often grumpy, at least not when we see him, although his parents might disagree.

I'm sure there have been many times when he's been upset.  He's had Covid and spent a couple of nights in hospital.  Fortunately he recovered quite quickly.  He's also currently got chicken pox so he's probably not too happy at the moment.

Like most younger siblings he can also be a torment to his older brother but it's hard to get cross with him when he can beam like this:

We don't see as much of Miles and his brother Noah as the other grandchildren but they are always pleased to see us and I know that they have a smashing pair of grandparents living close to them who take great care of them when needed.

And thankfully technology makes it even easier to stay in touch these days.