Keeping grandchildren during the summer
By Barb42
@Barb42 (4214)
United States
June 24, 2008 4:12pm CST
Do any of you keep a grandchild during the summer? My daughter is a single Mom with 4 children. They have, for years, come to work with her on Monday morning, spent the week with us, and then I'd take them back to Mom on Friday afternoon. A few years ago, the older two decided they were too old to come and they could stay home. They are now both out of high school, working and going to college. The other two are 12 1/2 and 14 1/2. They still enjoying coming to our house on spring break, Christmas break and the summer if they aren't engaged in sports. Mom has quit her job of 18 years because of having to go 35 miles one way to work and gas prices have skyrocketed. She got another job with a DR there in her hometown. So, they are staying two weeks at a time this summer and then going home for a weekend.
Their father bought them a 4 wheeler for Christmas and my husband met him and brought it to the house this summer. We also have a Honda 3 Wheeler that our children used back in the 80's. We have lots of land on which they can ride. Papa bushhogged out trails for them to follow so they could ride until they got tired. The only thing is we worry with two of them gone at the same time.We visualize wrecks because of the terrain or their teenage ways. They do wear helmets and also take a radio with them so they can get in touch with us if something does happen.
They also love to play pool. We have a pool table in the basement and they bring their own pool cues to play. And, they are good enough to beat Papa.
They also bring along their Playstation and games and they love to play basketball. In fact, the younger grandson has been in basketball camp and he will have to go back on July 8th. They both play soccer but both are laying out this fall season because of the cost of things right now. The 14 1/2 year old plays on the Varsity team at school and the younger one will be going out this spring. They usually bring their soccer balls to practice. Although they brought their cleats, I haven't seen a soccer ball yet.
And besides playing these games, they are also interested in computers. We have several desktop computers and they are in the computer room right now on them. If I sit my laptop down, they will be on it, too. Today, they made them another email account so they could play games online and email Nanny.
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2 responses
@Annie2 (594)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Three summers ago I kept my three grandchildren every day for the summer, but they went home at night except for special sleep-overs. I loved it. They did, too! I took them to free Wednesday morning movies, lots of library programs, and anything I could find. We had fun with picnics in the backyard and laying around watching movies quietly after lunch so the 3-yr-old could nap. They loved it when I would surprise them with their afternoon snacks and when we would do craft projects.
I would love to do it now, but my daughter doesn't work in my town anymore -- in fact she is off this summer for the first time since she's had children -- and she is loving it. She is taking the kids to all their summer activities and wondering how she would have managed if she was working. She is trying to get a job within the school system for this fall so that she will be off the same days as her children and off in the summers. Couldn't be more perfect.
Some of the best memories for me was when I my sister and I would spend a week at a time at my grandparents' house. They had a big house and Grandma taught me a lot about ironing, hanging clothes on the line, bringing them in, snapping peas, making apple sauce and pitting cherries and making cherry pie from their trees, cooking, sewing, writing thank you notes, baking cookies and delivering them to the neighbor ladies up and down the street. She would phone them and tell them I was on my way -- and I'd pull Grandma's old wooden wagon behind me with the paper plates of cookies in the back and the ladies would meet me at their doors. Pineapple cookies! I still make them. -- those were long lazy days of summer that don't seem to exist any more.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Annie, sounds like you had a great time with your grandchildren. When mine were a little younger, I would take them and my other grandson who is lots younger than them (9) to the park about 35 mins away and they would play on the slides, play in the water, swing, and the older ones have taken their skates and rode the sidewalks. They really enjoyed that. The last 2 summers, one of us has taken them to the swimming pool up at the Caverns, but I don't think they will be going this year. They charge you to get into the park, not just for going into the swimming area.And I think that is wrong,just to take the kids swimming and parking a vehicle. This year, we are a little tight on money, so they won't have that pleasure.
When I was growing up, I always spent a month at my mother's sister's home in Atlanta and 2 weeks at Christmas. My Dad's parents only lived out the road, so I was there all the time. I used to help the ladies quilt in my grandmother's basement. She was English and such a sweet lady and I loved to go sit and talk with her and watch her make homemade bread. Happy times!
2 people like this
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
25 Jun 08
That sure if nice to have the grandchildren over.
It must be hard for your daugther to be without her kids for the week. I miss mines dearly if they are gone for more than a day.
yes gas prices are rising. I would love to have my children stay over for the week at my parent's place, too bad they won't take my kids. Long story.
Looks like the kids have a lot of toys and games and activities that they can do. That is great. They won't be bored.
You are a great grandmother. being part of the kids life is important in their growing years. Thank you for being the great grandmother that you are.
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Yes, she misses them, but it gives her a break. They went to their Dad's last weekend. The older one went home (he has already been here 2 weeks before the younger one came) when his sister and brother picked him up last Friday, but he left to go to his Dad's before his Mom got home from work. So she hasn't seem him since 2 weeks ago yesterday and he won't go home until the weekend of the 4th. He's never been away from home this long at one time. They are into sports and she's with them lots. This gives her time to relax and do a few things on her own since the other two are working.And when they aren't working, they are dating. That leaves her by herself lots when the little boys are gone.
Sorry your children can't go to your parents. My kids didn't ever stay at their grandparents, either, but my husband's parents lived next door and my parents were only 25 mins away and saw them all the time. My daughter lives over an hour away, so, unless we keep them some, we don't see them much. We have another grandson by our son and his wife who live only 15 mins away and we don't see him as much as we see our daughter's children.
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