I have my grandson tonight.

[StillMedusa]

For the first time, overnight. He's 7 months old and obviously the most perfect baby that ever existed
Mum is back to work next month (I work part time so will be helping fill in the childcare gaps) so it seems a good opportunity to give his parents a night off and for him to be with me for a long period.
But he isn't going to be impressed when he wakes in the night to discover it's expressed milk in a bottle and not boob ! (He takes a bottle but not with enthusiasm and he hasn't slept through yet)
Wish me luck... there is a reason 54yr olds don't have babies
I see him most days, he is absolutely happy with me, but I have a feeling it might be a LONG night.....

*but I get the cuddles, and to bath him in the morning and all the lovely lovely baby stuff ...

Aww this is lovely. I hope your night was good and you all got some decent sleep.

My mum said she loves being a nan, all the fun of children and none of the hard work because she can just give them back

Aww, this is lovely ❤️

I haven't left my 1 year old with his grandparents yet. They're wonderful and would be brilliant but he doesn't sleep through so I feel bad about it. It's nice to read this and see that you think it's worth it for the good stuff!

I have totally blocked out what to do with babies 😀
I could manage a 5 year old overnight I think.

Hope you managed to get some sleep!

Enjoy a lovely morning with your grandson.

How refreshing to see a bit of love and positivity - a much needed contrast to all the "she's had her turn" "why does she need him to herself?" bollocks that pops up with depressing regularity.

I had my grandson at least one whole day a week since he was 3 months old, sometimes 2. He's 8 now and I still see him every Friday when I do the school run and look after his baby sister all day.
We have our special rituals- special fruit for lunch, they always eat "granddad's yoghurt" (in reality any yoghurt I have in the fridge, tell them it's granddad's favorite and that's the one they want!). He sleeps over in the holidays and we've been bat- hunting over the summer, his best time ever. We go to bed together and listen to his cd's, he eats biscuits as he doesn't have them at home and we sing along to all the cbeebies theme tunes. I love it.
We often have the other grandchildren at the same timein the holidays who are a similar age and they play together so well, 3 x 7 and 8 year olds ! They love the simple things, feeding the ducks, going blackberry picking, making up games, building forts in the kitchen, going on the bus. I'm so lucky.

Mine always miraculously slept through for my parents, but not me.

This is such a lovely post. ❤

Ha my friend’s mum had her last surprise baby at 52!! Imagine!!

Enjoy tonight OP!

Aww op you sound like my mom when she has my toddler son overnight. I hope it went well for you both and enjoy the cuddles

I'm now dying of tiredness on the sofa (thank god I'm not at work today!)
He woke at 1.30, took the bottle but then realised it was Granny and wanted to PLAY! Finally snuggled him back off an hour later (not a chance he was going back in his cot so we shared the spare bed!)
And got up for the day at 5am.

But he was so happy, not a bit bothered that he wasn't home and that DD2 wasn't there! I walked the dog with him, gave him more milk and some baby breakfast and a quick hose down in the kitchen sink to remove said breakfast, and was still chasing him down with his clothes (he's been crawling for a month and is already FAST) at about 10.30 when DD2 arrived :) She and her dh had their first unbroken night and even managed a couple of gins. He was still happily rampaging round the living room pretending he wasn't tired until they left.

I think we both felt reassured that he coped fine, I coped fine, and we can do that whenever needed. I loved it. Must remember to plait my hair next time though... I have very long hair and woke uo to find him using it as a tug rope

I wonder what I will be like as a granny.

I think I'll be so thrilled if I have a baby DGS or DGD overnight. But I will not sleep a wink! 🤣

My children travelled all over as soon as they were able, bringing home partners from all over the world. In the back of my mind I would be saying ‘don’t have babies in Australia, Canada, South Africa etc. And my wishes came true, they have had their children here and I have relationships with all of them, and just love having them whenever they can be spared. I am so grateful.

OP you sound just like my Mum and MIL.

what a lucky grandson he is to have a nanna like you. Enjoy

@StillMedusa

It’s really nice to come across another grandma who hoses down their grandchild in the kitchen sink. 😁

@WeeTattieBogle

Me too!

Mind you, I draw the line at making them lie down on the draining board to get their hair washed with a jug

Aww amazing! Clearly he will be begging for sleepovers at granny’s forever judging by how much fun he had!

DH is always perplexed at how mil is with the kids. When he was a kid it was bath and bed and no messing but now with the grandkids it’s ‘I just got in nanna’s bed because I wanted to talk to her.’ Same with dinner, when he was young ‘you get what you get and you don’t get upset.’ Now, with the grandkids, she’s making cheese toasties and pasta with three sauces something about being a grandma makes you super fun and patient. I think it’s likely the fact that you can count down to getting rid of them again!

[quote WeeTattieBogle]@StillMedusa

It’s really nice to come across another grandma who hoses down their grandchild in the kitchen sink. 😁[/quote]
Me too! I balance them on my leg and run their hands under the tap, then the wet hand monster (me) rubs their face with a wet hand.

Aww bless you. My DM started taking DD for overnights at around that age (and also dealt with the rage over milk coming in a bottle not a boob!) as she was (still is) a dreadful sleeper and her dad and I were broken.

Not only did mum save our sanity and relationship, but she and DD still have the loveliest bond, nearly ten years later.

Good luck!

I loved night feeds with my grandchildren. It seemed like our special time and I just thoight that I could catch up with my sleep the rest of the week.

Just to add some more grandparent appreciation. DS (17) is spending the evening with his grandfather (73). No special reason, they've just missed each other. They'll be giggling over silly youtube stuff for the next few hours...

Ah that’s lovely, I’d have given my eye teeth for a night off but my parents and in laws were not interested. I’ve got 4 local little grandchildren and have a lovely daily sort of relationship with them. Got a sleepover coming up with the 2 youngest, 1 and 3 so mummy and daddy can go to a wedding and stay out til the next day! The other 5 little ones are overseas and it will soon be three years since I last saw them in real life as opposed to FaceTime.

Ahh how wonderful 🥰.

@Knittingnanny

You must miss them very much. My grandchildren are all in different countries too. The pandemic has been a bummer. Hope you get to see them soon.

How lovely! X

That's lovely, OP Do make sure you tie back long hair when cosleeping as it's a risk otherwise. You can find the safe cosleeping guidelines from the Lullaby Trust online if you need.