The Joy of Grandparenting

EVERY WEDNESDAY I WAKE UP EXHAUSTED

Our daughter, Karrissa works as a hair stylist each Tuesday so

Bruce and I watch her 4 kids while she is at work

It never fails ever Tuesday night I find myself wondering

why my back aches,

why I'm so tired,

why I got so grumpy with the children by the end of the day

I keep thinking,

"It can't be that hard,

they are really good kids,

I should be able to handle them one day a week,

I was a mom, I did this before. I raised two kids.

I studied Child Development

I should be able to keep 4 kids happy all day.

I carefully plan our day, we go to the gym for a few hours in the morning, come home, have

lunch, the little boys take a nap,

Wyatt goes to school and Monroe and I have some alone

time with me to make playdough, or do an art project, or read books.

When Wyatt comes home we'll go for a walk, or go to the park, and then by that time Brad will

come pick them up.

It sounds good

But it never seems to go the way I plan it!

no matter how prepared I am things seem hectic,

even chaotic at times.

It shouldn't be that hard,

I am not doing this alone

I have my husband here to help

and most days I have my mom here as well

so there's always an extra set of hands to......................

get baby Cash out of the bathroom toilet,

clean up a spilled glass of milk,

get Cash out of the closet before he pulls out the vaccum or Bruce's tool box

to help Maverick to the toilet before he pees all over the floor,

Even getting the kids in the car to go to the gym is a production,

finding shoes,

carrying Cash out to the car while I keep an eye on Maverick so he doesn't go into the street

Making sure everyone goes to the bathroom before we get in the car

strapping the little ones in car seats,

making sure everyone has a clean face,

sometimes this is when I notice Cash has gotten into something and his shirt is dirty or his

diaper is dirty, then I have to make sure I brought the key to lock my front door, my gym card

the diaper bag, a snack

for the kids when we get done at the gym

When we get home we only have a few minutes before Wyatt needs to go to school so

I try to find an activity to keep the big kids happy outside for awhile

This is usually when the big kids tell me the younger kids "keep messing things up"

or when someone comes to get me to get the ball out of the tree or the neighbors yard or

to break up a squabble,

then it's time to

get Wyatt's lunch ready for school

I am so grateful for the extra hands to help with all this

Someone has to drive Wyatt to school and pick him up in a few hours,

If I do this myself Cash will fall asleep and the 15 minute car nap will replace his two hour

afternoon nap.

I am grateful that Bruce and my mom are there when we take our afternoon walk because I

need the help with

finding 4 sets of shoes ( I know they should be right by the door but Cash likes to move things)

and putting them on when it's time for a walk

I need someone to

watch the other 3 kids while I'm strapping the baby into the car the stroller

or to hold Maverick's hand so he doesn't go out in the street when we go out the front door

I need someone to

help hold hands when we cross the street

to push kids on the swings, and keep Cash from eating the sand at the Park


and when we get back home I need someone to help make surethe kids have snuggle time

and someone available to listen when they have a really

interesting thing to share with us

NOW I KNOW WHY I'M SO EXHAUSTED

I haven't had to think about so much stuff at one time for a long time.

That's one of the cool things about getting old.

When it's time to go somewhere you just have to remember where you left your glasses and

grab your purse and go.

Thank goodness I have my mom and Bruce to help

I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD EVER DO THIS ALONE

but I have to say....

I wouldn't have it any other way

I couldn't wait to come home from Ukraine to be here with my family again.

I love how when Karrissa drives up all four of the kids run out of the car to hug me as they call

"Hi NANA" and run into my arms and hug me like they haven't seen me for weeks, even if

It's Wednesday and they were just here all day the day before

and maybe I was a little grumpy by the end of the day

I love being Nana

and.....................

as long as my mom and Bruce are nearby to lend a hand I think we'll all be just fine