Good morning. How's everyone doing this weekend?
I'm exhausted. Yes, I know I say that just about every day, but it's true. I hadn't even adjusted to the time change yet when Thursday rolled around for my day with the girls. They were even wilder than usual this week and were trying very hard to get themselves put on Santa's naughty list for this year.
Let's do another catch-up post today, a little backstory on how things have been since my grandbabies were born.
Back in 2022, I started watching Luna, the first grandbaby, when she was four months old. I was working full-time, so I scheduled my days off on Tuesdays and Thursdays to watch her on those days. I had zero days off a week. Luna was only eight months old in December when she showed up wearing a Big Sister T-shirt.
I left work in 2023 due to health issues. I was alternating caring for Luna two or three days a week with the other grandma. Little Olive was born in August that year. I call her Ollie or Ollie Pop. Luna was only sixteen months old when Ollie came along. Watching a toddler and a newborn at the same time was so much work, but it only got harder and harder as time went by.
In 2024, it turned into two toddlers. I spent most of my days with them trying to make sure they somehow stayed alive and unharmed. It was a crazy time. In August of last year, Luna started preschool three days a week. I had one or two days with Ollie and one with both of them. It was a little easier, but not by much.
That continued into this year until August, when Ollie Pop started preschool, too. I'm down to just one day a week since then. For everyone who thought my day on Thursday was a lot, it was a breeze compared to the last few years. At least I have lots of time to recover now before doing it all over again.
This is actually my big break time before the next two babies come along. I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I suppose I'll manage one way or another.
I'm not complaining, really, I'm not. My world revolves around my grandbabies. It's just a lot with these long days. I'm not getting any younger, you know?
I spent most of my day yesterday cleaning and restoring order in my home after a day with my two little tornadoes. I got a call from my son on his way home from work, asking me if I would mind watching them for just a few hours Saturday evening. That would be today. Again. Already. The fun never ends around here!
Enjoy the weekend. :)
Oh my you have your hands full! I watch some of my grands for a few years and loved it. I had them every day of the week. Now they are teens and I miss the days of when they were little. Now I only watch my grand dogs, they are easy peasy! Love, ma
ReplyDeleteFull hands and full heart Ma. It's a busy time, but on the hard days I always try to remember that they will be in school full time before I know it and I won't get to see them often anymore. Have a great weekend!
DeleteThat kind of fulltime childcare is beyond me at this stage. Kudos to you, Martha. I know you are a huge help to your kids.
ReplyDeleteI do what I can, Nance. I love the time I get to spend with them, but they do keep me completely worn out.
DeleteEnjoy it now - they grow so fast. Just a few short years ago I had my nieces and nephew - Allie, Olivia (my own Ollie) and Ethan and loved every minute of it, but now they tower over me and have lives of their own. I especially miss the Christmas baking time together. Have a wonderful weekend and fun with the girls tonight.
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure Tamy. It seems like my own children grew up in the blink of an eye and I see it happening again so fast with my grandchildren. It's crazy how quickly the time goes by. I hope you have a great weekend too! :)
DeleteIt certainly wear us out as grandparents, Martha, but as others have said here, enjoy every precious moment with them. I miss Virginia, Savannah and Alexandra, out three granddaughters every day as they live in NC and we live in GA. When they did live here, I loved taking care of them whenever I possibly could. They do grow up way too fast. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteExactly Martha. I don't know what I would do if my grandbabies weren't close by. I may be exhausted after such long days with them, but then I miss them so much when they aren't here!
DeleteYou have every right to be tired! I told my grandchildren, when they started having babies, that my days of babysitting were over. No more diaper-changing either. I had been changing diapers since I was 7, all my younger siblings, then my sons, then grandchildren starting when I was 38. The first great-grand arrived when I was 57, and I said this granny is done. There are two layers of caregivers between me and the babies nowadays and I am so grateful for that! I love babies, but dont have the energy or the attention focus needed at my age (74 now).
ReplyDeleteAnd you say 2 more are on the way? Twins? Sending big hugs your way!
It is exhausting and I'm up there in age to just now be having grandchildren, but I love them to pieces. I do have two more on the way, but it's not twins. Both of my son's wives are pregnant. One is due on Christmas, the other next June. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a great weekend! :)
DeleteYou have been BUSY, which is good :-) and I can tell that you are enjoying the life!
ReplyDeleteI love being a grandma, Angie. Thanks for stopping by. :)
DeleteYou know, it is okay to say that it's too much for you. It doesn't mean you love them less. It's okay not to have the stamina to keep up with very young children.
ReplyDeleteI know it's okay, but it would put my kids in a terrible bind financially. I'll do it for as long as I can keep up.
DeleteOh, my! That's a lot of babysitting in one week! I don't have any grandchildren, but, I barely have enough energy to look after myself and the cat!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Bless. This is why I'm always so worn out!
DeleteThat’s just a lot! My babysitting has been much more sporadic and my daughter has a full time sitter in the summer (college girl who has lots of energy).As I still drive my middle daughter everywhere, my availability is not conducive to lots of babysitting. And I prefer to go to their house so mine stays clean!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a lot, especially with two of them. I don't mind watching them often, I just wish it wasn't for such long days. My house looks like I'm running a daycare center, lol.
DeleteLooking after the Grands can be great but also tiring.
ReplyDeleteAs well as looking after them you must look after yourself too.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
It is definitely both!
DeleteKids have too much energy. lol
ReplyDeleteThey do! I wish I could borrow some.
DeleteI love this. The big sis t-shirt on an 8 month old, so sweet. I love the Ollie Pop nickname. I bet they keep you on your toes. Not surprised that they are your world. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ernie. I'm sure my jaw dropped to the floor like a cartoon character when I saw her in that little shirt so soon!
DeleteYes, those little tornadoes would sure keep you busy!!!
ReplyDeleteThey sure do!
DeleteIt IS exhausting as I know well. Mine are boys and they are so very physical. I'm constantly afraid they'll hurt themselves or each other. I tend to do sick days and to help out when the kindergartner is off from school but his parents have to work. I also entertain them when their parents are there. I think I'm older than you and doing any kind of day care for them would kill me! I admire you so much for doing so.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. It's definitely exhausting! My girls are very physical too, much more so than my daughter ever was, these girls act way more like little boys, lol. I have all tile floors in my house, too, so it's been very scary having toddlers running through the house at full speed these last few years!
DeleteEnjoy them when they are little, they grow up so fast!
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, I know Connie. I always try to remember that on the days I'm so tired I can hardly move. I'll only get these few short years before they're off to school full time.
DeleteSounds like you have been doubly blessed and now will be more than doubly blessed, but I can well imagine how tiring that can be. It helps us to appreciate why babies are born to young mothers rather than to older women! I look back at the years I had my three sons at home and I don't know how I managed it all...I sure don't think I could do it today. I know you enjoy your grandbabies even if it is exhausting...you are blessed to have them nearby. And yes, they do grow up way too fast. I'm glad you're back here blogging again while you can! Take care and rest when you can!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. It is definitely tiring and I definitely spend a lot of time on the couch when they aren't here, lol. I often wondered how I did it all raising my own, and now I'm seeing the second time around, you just push through and do what you have to do. I am very lucky that they live close enough to be able to see them all the time and to take a little bit of the financial burden off my kids by not having to pay for full time care. It's insane how much they are paying for three days a week for preschool as it is!
DeleteIf you are taking a break before the next two babies, it sounds like you'll be watching them also? I don't have grandchildren, so probably don't "get it," but could you retire from the childcare? :) I guess I'm of the thought, I raised mine, time to take a well deserved rest!
ReplyDeleteYes, I will be watching the next two babies as well. I love spending as much time with them as I can. I just wish it wasn't such long days, that's the hard part. At least right now It's usually only one day a week.
DeleteYour life is very full! -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIt sure is Christine!
DeleteI get it. I love my little Annie, and the days are long but the years are short. It's hard to remember that when you're in the middle of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. I keep that in mind all the time!
DeleteAre you going to be taking care of 2 newborns, a toddler and a preschooler all at once. Wow! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteYes and no. The new babies will be six months apart. By the time the last one is born the oldest will be in preschool full time and I will still only have Ollie the one day a week We're trying to arrange the schedule so I will have the babies on alternating days. There is no way I could manage four at the same time at those ages, but I will probably be looking at having at least one at a time five to six days a week. It's going to be beyond exhausting!
DeleteHi Martha, take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Children have so much energy. You are doing great. ❤️ OH, I love your profile picture. 😍
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Linda! I love your advice to take it one step and one day at a time. Any other way is just too overwhelming!
DeleteHi Martha, it is so good to see you posting again. I saw your comment on Ginny’s blog and here. I am. I have enjoyed reading what you have been doing. Your family must see you as a true blessing. Happy Sunday to you :)
ReplyDeleteHi Denise! It's so good to see you here!! How have you been? I can't wait to come over and catch up with you a bit. I'll see you this afternoon. Thanks so much for stopping by today :)
DeleteYou are such a nice grandma and mom to do that. It is a lot. And even though you obviously love it it's allowed to be tough.
ReplyDeleteThank you. You hit the nail on the head. I love it so much but it is definitely tough!
DeleteOur daughter has a 6 1/2 year old and a 19 month old. Our daughter's mother-in-law has kept them since birth. Of course, the older one is in school now and she attends school where our daughter teaches. I've always worried that it was too much for the mother-in-law. You are a great mother-in-law, mother, grandmother to keep them so much!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lisa. At least there is a nice age gap with your two grands, mine seem to be coming all at once!
DeleteHey good to see you back! I'll try to play catch up on your posts when I can! I admire you for babysitting your sweet grandbabies so much! I watched my two grands occasionally for my daughter and they are a lot of work! Not so much now since they are 7 and 9 and have their own little lives!
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping over Jeanette. It's so good to see you again. The little ones are definitely a lot of work. I may only be blogging on a regular basis through November, but I'm hoping after that to at least pop in once in a while. Life is only getting busier with two more grandbabies on the way. Have a great Sunday!
DeleteWhat a kindness you are doing for your kids and grandkids! Such precious time together. And yet it DOES sound exhausting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzanne. It is exhausting but I wouldn't trade a minute of this precious time I get to spend with them for anything.
DeleteOof. You do have your hands full. I am sure it's rewarding and draining at the same time. It's such a nice thing for you to do for your kids to help out with the grandkids. I am sure they appreciate it... and you'll have such a special bond with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks San, it is definitely both, but I wouldn't miss this time for anything in the world!
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