SuperGramma

These grandkids are wearing me out. They’re cute and cuddly, they say and do the funniest things, but they’re like the battery that keeps going and going. And my energy is gone and gone. Women don’t usually have children past middle age for a reason – we can’t physically keep up with the little darlings.

I really admire those grandparents who are raising their grandchildren full time. I don’t know how they do it. In my small town there are a large number of these full time grands, some are up to 70 years old. Can you imagine? I only hope there are government programs that help them both financially (which I doubt) and physically. They are the real supergrammas, willing to give up their retirement years to be a hero to their grandkids.  One website that deals with full time grandparenting is called New Grandparent Rights and as a new site, they welcome your comments on the issue.

Now I’ve got to get some rest and prepare for tomorrow. Grandson and I have been out collecting rocks and he’s anxious to start painting them. I do love the interaction, just wish I could trade this old body in for a new model that could keep up with the activity. Any suggestions to help my energy level?

Technorati Tags: full time grandparenting, active grandchildren, child care

These days, while watching my two grandchildren during the day, I am learning a lot of lessons from them.

I’m learning persistence from four-year-old grandson. Each day he tries to throw his hat on our coat rack. Since he is aiming for the highest hook, that’s not an easy task. Sometimes it takes him fifteen minutes or more before he can do it. But he refuses to give up. Landing on the middle hook isn’t good enough either. He tries until he accomplishes what he’s after. I would do well to model that behaviour.

Grandbaby is teaching me the value of practice. She will climb up and down her highchair until she has mastered the climb. Once that’s mastered, she’ll add other skills, such as standing up when she reaches the top. The word ‘fear’ isn’t in her vocabulary, nor is ‘impossible’. Regardless of the task, she practices until it becomes easy for her.

Now excuse me while I go and practice my cooking. I am being persistent because at my age you would think I didn’t need any more practice. Unfortunately, I do.

I was going through some old files of mine and came across a little poem I wrote in 1995 – And yes, I have three boys who are two years apart. The format is actually four lines per stanza, but for the sake of space, I’ve made it into two. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to pass it on as long as the copyright information is with it.

Long ago and far away, In a land I’ve never been,
There lived a great, big, family. The worst I’ve ever seen.

They never could be quiet, They never could be sweet.
Their house was always messy. It wasn’t ever neat.

The boys were always fighting. They’d wrestle and they’d punch.
Their mom was always yelling. I’d hate to go for lunch.

At breakfast it was chaos. At lunch and bedtime too.
Their mother was beside herself. She didn’t know what to do.

No matter how mom threatened, No matter how mom cried.
They would not stop their foolishness, No matter what mom tried.

They seemed to like to argue, They seemed to like to fight;
No matter how she pleaded And said it was not right!

Those boys were in one family. Their mom and dad the same.
To see them always fighting Was really quite a shame.

“To bed” their mom would tell them. “I’ve had enough today.
Or read or play piano, Or go outside and stay!”

“That’s boring” they would answer. “There’s nothing here to do.
What will we have for supper? It better not be stew!”

“But stew is very yummy” Their mom said with a grin.
“There’s lots of good old gravy To dip your bread right in.”

“I can’t cook all the things you like With all this noise around,
But I could make a restaurant meal If you wouldn’t make a sound.”

Those boys were really hungry. They didn’t want the stew.
By the way their mother acted, There was just one thing to do.

Tom went over to his brother, And he whispered in his ear,
“Hey Bob, I know what we can do, So lets get out of here.”

Now the house is very quiet; The brothers get along.
You want to know their secret? They turned the TV on!

© Carol Bremner

Now that I’m back to watching little people at my house, I have to think about things like childproofing. Here I thought my home was pretty safe. Silly me. Grandbaby girl can spot a crumb on the floor at a hundred yards away. She delights in trying to open all the cupboards and has radar built in that tells her if Gramma forgot to put the gate across the stairs.

Department stores sell all kinds of gadgets to keep children out of places they don’t belong, but soon the house is so locked up you can barely function. Plus there is always some new drive-gramma-crazy adventure brewing in those little minds. One of my other grandsons, age 2, decided to be a mountain climber in his kitchen. The mountain was a big white stove and its door was a convenient ladder. Once on top, he claimed victory by turning a knob. Fortunately it was the oven knob and not a burner. His mom was right behind him and the climb was short lived. I’m glad I wasn’t there to see the action.

I remember one lady I knew had to padlock her frig. And when my youngest daughter was growing up, everything went into her mouth – lego, soap, sometimes even food. So here I am again trying to stay one step ahead of an accident. The latest attraction is my plants. I only have  two, but they may soon spend their days in a locked room rather than their spots by the window. I wonder if that’s the reason artificial plants were invented?

Technorati Tags: childproofing, home hazards

A perky young friend of mine has decided that instead of starting the new year with resolutions that often won’t be fulfilled, we should instead celebrate all the things we’ve accomplished in the past year.  So thanks to Lisa, I’m trying to rack my brain and remember what I can. Lucky for her my long term memory isn’t bad. Short term memory is another story entirely.

I started out 2009 with my days to myself. In 2008, I was watching my grandson every weekday while youngest daughter worked. 2009 was a year of maternity leave for her and freedom for me. You heard me right, she had one full year of paid maternity leave. I remember when I got six weeks and then it was back to work.

Anyway, here I was with a full year of time to myself. Not only that, but my Canada pension started since I was also now 60. Not only freedom, but a bit of money in my pocket too. How my life changed in 2009. No longer did I spend mornings at drop-in nursery school groups or afternoons playing colour and shape Bingo. No more Sponge Bob Squarepants matching games or cuddles while we read books. Nothing but me and my day stretching out before me.

I decided that 2009 would be the year I went full steam to become an Internet marketer. No more part-time on the computer until midnight. Now it was full time, all day, every day – my computer and I were inseparable. I ate my meals at my desk, typed until my fingers hurt, watched video tutorials until I could see them in my sleep. And once in awhile I stopped and said hello to my husband.

I did do some things differently in 2009 though. As I learned a new technique, I implemented it. I focused on becoming an information product creator and blogger instead of generally chasing the newest way to make money online. I joined a mastermind group of like-minded people who met for weekly online brainstorming sessions. We also posted regularly on a private forum and helped and encouraged one another. And I began to see results.

Drum Roll Please…….. Read the rest of this entry »