I'm an Exhausted Nana

[haveyouopenedyourbowelstoday]

I'll start by saying I know how lucky I am to be a mum and Nana. I have my 18 month old grandchild once a week for the full day.
He's a lovely little lad but OMG I'm exhausted. He's relentlessly busy, full of energy and the tantrums are just starting.
How do all you grandparents cope???? How did I manage to survive bringing 2 up myself??

Do you take him out anywhere, to playgroup etc?

Your grandchild is very lucky to have you. Sounds like he keeps you fit and busy.

I'm going to be in the same position soon and I'm negotiating half days instead!

We go to soft play or play group in the morning, home for a nap and lunch.
It's the mid/late afternoons I find the hardest especially as it's rained every day since last summer!!

You managed cos you were younger!

I used to have my grandson every Wednesday afternoon (I had to juggle my working hours to do that) ten years ago and I know just what you mean. I picked him up from nursery, gave him lunch, tidied up the kitchen (usually had to do washing up from the night before) went to the park etc. He was always on the go.

I see many posts from mums on this site who seem to expect their mothers to help with child care, I was happy to help but my goodness it was hard work! It shouldn't be an expectation.

You just do.
I look after my nearly 3 yr old DGS 2 days (16 hour days some days !) and several evenings a week and yes it's knackering...epsecially when they give up the day time nap!!!

I have been known to take a longer drive home from softplay just so that he'll nap Plus now he can talk, boy can he argue !
I think it's been tough with so much bad weather but hopefully we will be able to get out and about soon.

But yes... there is a reason we don't have babies in our 50s!!!

I hope you're doing this because you really want to.
My mum said no. And therefore wasn't exhausted. Or tied. And that's how it should be.

@haveyouopenedyourbowelstoday A good set of waterproofs and get out in the rain in the afternoons 😊 Puddle jumping is a great activity!

Can I also just add - he’s very lucky to have you 😊 My Nana was the best lady I’ve ever known and was my best friend ❤️

I look after DGS (11 months) 1 day a week and I'm fully enjoying having a morning and afternoon nap with him! I'm going to be sad when he grows out of them. Took him to the park this week and couldn't work out why my thighs were burning by the evening and then realised it was because I'd been crouched down in front of the swing! That wasn't a problem in my 20's. It's knackering but I bloody love it and the day I spend with him is the best day of the week.

You managed with your own cos you were much younger…..I’m 59….became a Granny at 50…..mine 3 GD completely exhausted me as toddlers….much better now they are all older ….for one thing they sleep all night when they sleepover…..all toilet trained….no more prams…..entertain themselves much more…..it gets much easier…..don’t know how people look after their GC in their 60s though

What do you mean that’s how it should be? 🤔…..my GC all exhausted me….they still do to an extent…..but I absolutely love them to pieces and wouldn’t not have them for sleepovers and take them on holidays….they bring me the greatest joy…..once they’ve gone home I can soon re energise…. Will you be saying no to your DC then?

I really wish my parents did this with my children.

Would you mind me asking how old you are? I think it's unlikely that I will ever have gc and if I do I will most likely be quite old, and probably past the age when I can look after them.

Before I had children I was secretly disappointed that my parents still work full time and couldn't offer any childcare.

The amount of clearly knackered grandparents I see at soft plays/playgroups/parks has completely changed my mind. Even if my mum left work tomorrow, I wouldn't ask her to do more than occasionally babysit.

It's lovely that you are helping your son or daughter, but I'm sorry you're finding it hard.

My toddler responds well to an open ended activity in the afternoon. Sensory bins and loose parts play are great, but they can cause mess. Alternatively, a bit of screen time once a week won't hurt him 🤷‍♀️.

I look after my dgs (2) one day a week, I work the other 4 days. The day is full on, he's full of beans and yes it's exhausting but, I absolutely love it.

I chose to do it, wasn't asked. I wished my mum would've done that for my dc, she never came to any school concerts etc either. I want to be able to do all those things for my dgc, and I'll ensure I do.

I'll never get this time back, it is precious!

I am a 60 year old full time foster carer to a preschooler with complex needs, I eat chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate to build my energy levels!, we get out of the house every day, come rain or shine. 18 months is a tricky age I think, it does become easier as they get older and they engage more with crafts etc. or can play a bit more independently.

This ! I had my children when I was 30 . I have my grandchild overnight and love her to bits but it’s so tiring,am now 30 years older!

Thank you all!
I'm 54 and a nurse so my life is pretty busy. I chose to have him a day a week as I wasn't close to my grandparents and my mum was a 'Disney' Nana. I really wanted to be close to mine and I'm lucky my boy absolutely adores me.
We normally do get out in the afternoons and I definitely think moving forward a puddle jump or a walk to the playground is a must.
The 30 years between having his mum and now looking after him have obviously affected my energy levels!!

I have 7 grandchildren ranging in age from 20 months to 13. All live locally, I have youngest grandchild for 24 hours per week & collect his siblings from school 4 days a week ( I don't drive). I feed everyone twice a week ( school holidays is just a constant food-making hell). I also work part-time. I'm 56 and sooo knackered, but I know how quickly they grow and my main motivation is to help to give them a happy time and wonderful memories

If you have grandchildren in your 50s, it’s likely that you’re still working. I was working full time when my gc were born, so couldn’t do day care, but I did babysit often. When I went part time, I collected them from school, went to the park, bought ice cream, let them choose what they wanted for tea and abided by the rules their parents had. They had sleepovers and weekends and holidays too.

I wouldn’t have been able to do that had I been ten years older when they were born. It is exhausting, but it’s also lovely.

Kitkat1523 on a regular scheduled basis, yes.

@IWanderedLonely I'm exhausted reading your post🤣it sounds just the best fun ever🥰

You're amazing if you're still working too!
We have grandparents alternating a day a week so they're on duty once a fortnight, and come as a pair. I know its still tiring but we are so appreciative and their bond is amazing.

Your grandson will soon have the patience for a sit down with TV which might help when naps get dropped. I love it when I get in and see my toddler and her grandparents all have a cup of tea and laughing at Bluey!

Better weather will be here soon too which helps

It should be the case that a grandparent offering childcare is doing it of their own free will, not because of expectations that they will.