I don’t mean to be glib but I am pretty darn excited as I am free after babysitting for the past 4+ years for my grandkids! I love them to pieces but it never left any time for ME. I was able to do some knitting and crocheting in the evenings but I never had time to get into pastels, or paint. When I worked on some things for my Parish Religous ed. classes, the baby wanted to get into everything. A couple of times I found him on a chair with a paint brush in hand dipping it into the water container! It was so cute but I feared for his safety first as he didn’t know how to GET OFF chairs yet. Anyway, I hope to find more time for that, and yard work and cleaning, blah-blah-blah.
My oldest grandson is 8 and is in school full-time. He is such a great kid, very smart and quite the chatter-box. He ‘came to us’ at age 3 1/2 and didn’t even want me to touch him, just his new mom…my daughter. We’ve come along way as he now runs to me and hugs me and tells me he misses me.
My baby grandson came to us at 4 mos. and is now 2 1/2 and I’ve been babysitting for him full-time while my daughter finished up on her degree and is now a 3rd grade teacher. He calls me gamma now, but he used to call me ‘munny’, which no one could figure out why. My son said it was a good omen (spelled money)! HaHa. He is now going to full-time daycare and I do miss him very much. I get to see them for a short time after school some days. He loves gamma’s house and after running into my arms and giving me a big kiss and hug he asks for ‘fooot’, (fruit) because gamma’s always got something special. And the next words are “BARNEY”!
I am going to put a couple of pics up of those 2 sweeties.
Lastly, my son moved out to L.A., to continue his acting. He just left 2 days ago and I miss him already…we are such good buddies. I kept walking around the house saying to myself “this sucks”, tears streaming at will. It’s tough watching them go off on their own. He lived in H-town for 2 years while at University of Houston but we could just jump in the car and visit and now it’s a plane trip. Life.
Evan & Dominic after a popsicle
Evan ‘foiting with brudder’, Dominic
Evan & Dominic on Grammy’s Park Bench
Evan on Grammy’s Patio
OMG what cute kiddos!! I can hear all the love you have for them too, and how beautiful you got to spend so much time daily with them. That long hair on the little one Evan is just absolutely awesome. And I love the “foiting” pic!! haha — such boys!! Hang in there while missing your son – and how wonderful that you’ll have time for YOU now. I look forward to seeing your artwork.
Julie – I totally understand – I have been watching little Ava (a baby of a friend of my boys) since she was 3 mo. she is not almost 9 mos, but getting quite active! I swear she wants to walk already. My daughter is due in 4 weeks (a boy) and when she goes back to work I will be watching him also. Hope I am not taking on too much. I find that by the time Ava goes home, I am totally exhausted. Now I know why we have kids when we are young
My youngest son (24 yr) moved a few months ago, and although I still have one more son at home, I cried the first few days; but surprisingly he calls everyday (he only lives a few miles away). But the house is so quite! I also tell myself that I can work on my jewelry while Ava is sleeping, but then I think I need a cup of tea and to relax, so like you everything gets done in the evening! Loved your blog, it is always nice to hear about other people’s lives and families.
I am not a grandma but a full time stay at home. I completely understand how all your time is taken up. As I write I should be inside making dinner but instead I am sitting outside while my son Jr. Is in the car playing with his cars and also hunting for chocolate kisses that my daughter dropped on the side of the street.