Older children/teens and visiting Grandparents

[ShirleySmears]

I am fortunate that my DC have always had a great relationship with my parents.

When they were tiny, GPs looked after them one day per week while I worked. When they went to school, I changed my hours to school hours so didn't need the child minding anymore but my parents continued to have them one evening per week and give them tea because that's what everyone wanted - parents were sorry to lose their time with them.

That was years ago and it's still happening. DC go c. 5pm once a week and come back at bedtime. They are warned that they need to make some effort to hold a conversation with GPs before they get the gadgets out and they make appreciative noises about the food etc.

They're young teens now and less keen to go every week. Would you make them or let it fissle out/become less frequent ? GPs still enjoy having them and DH and I enjoy having dinner together once a week too! DCs don't hate it, they're just less enthusiastic IYSWIM.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Make them. I loved my Nan until she died and I was about 15 then....the memories will stay with your DC all their lives.

[ItsNotAsPerfectAsItSeems]

Maybe cut it back to once a fortnight . That way the dcs will hopefully see it as something nice rather than a weekly chore. They are very lucky as my children are younger than yours and have no living grandparents. The last died when my eldest was 4. He's now 12 and he talks a lot about what he's missed out on.