Community Chat

[Mz iMac]

My grandson will be 17 in a few months.  He's 6'7 & 200+ lbs.  Earlier this year I had to break the news to him that he could no longer spend the summer w/me.  He was too old to be hanging out w/Nana 24/7 for 2 1/2 months. 

I live in a senior community.  No one his age to "hang out" with.  He does have cousins his age in the area but I do not know them.  He does, but I don't.  The other grandparents & I share alternate summers.  We all live out of state.

I did tell him that any trips I go on during the summer, he could be my escort if he wants.  This July I am surprising him w/a month long trip to the Olympics.  His parents have arranged for us to have all access passes.  My daughter knows people on the US Olympic committee.

After this trip will tell him he will get to pick out where he wants to travel during his time w/me in the summer if he is not working.

When my grandson was younger we would go to the beaches, indoor water parks, museums, zoo, movies.  Visited relatives in Va. & California.  Always took the train w/the sleepers.

He was not allowed on the computer till after dinner.  Cell phone was "hidden" until it was time to go back home.  I also had all type of Wii & Xbox stuff hooked up.  We would be up all night playing electronic games.

I taught him how to cook.  So he would fix his own meals.  Truth be told, he ate me out of my house & home.  Told my mother, I needed to apply for food stamps when he came for the summer.   I am going to miss those 3 hour grocery shopping sprees w/us pushing 2 carts each!

[ECBG]

---

@fortune wrote:

Since I don't have any grandchildren, I have a granddog!  I go get him one day a week (he gets lonely when Dad is at work).  When he gets to my house, I always have treats hidden for him to find.  Then I take him for a walk.  He really loves that.  Then, we go downstairs and play with his toys.  He has a huge basket full of special toys.  He knows the names of at least 10 and can bring them to me. 

Then, he does tricks for treats--he sits up, shakes hands, gives me a kiss, dances, lays down, and "stays." 

After some back yard fetch with his ball, its time for cuddling and a nap.  We spend about 5 hours together every week.  I love our visits and they get me out of the house and exercising!

Jasper knows around 65 words!  He's very smart and very cute!

---

@fortuneYour granddog is adorable!  You must be the best puppy granny in the neighborhood!

 Loved your story!!!

[Shorty2U]

I became a grandmother at a young age (41) My granddaughters just turned 18, 16, and 12 this year. The oldest graduates next month.

Ive watched them in the Summer (part time) since they were born (and for lots of sleep overs). My daughter works around her husbands schedule (and during their school schedule) in the other seasons. They were never left with strangers. (When I got remarried 9 yrs ago my daughter continued to drive them here an hour (or more) each way.

So, I have (and continue to do some of the following), play board games/video games with them, taught them various things, read to them, taken walks, gone to playgrounds and parks many times. Had them in swimming pools, even our hot tub. I have made them meals, baked cookies with them, taken them to movies, the museum, taken them on shopping excursion's, out to eat, out for ice cream, played Rock band, and sang with them, and watched many a Disney movie (and other movies). They even painted our entire downstairs 3 yrs ago (Yes they did a wonderful job, the oldest is an artist). We had many sleepovers, they even used to help me clean all Summer (due to my bad back). I could go on and on.

I must say I don't see my oldest granddaughter as much now because she works and will be graduating (and traveling before going to college). So her sisters have been coming here more lately, and I am missing her. Her and I share the love of music and the Beatles.

My grandchildren always have been and always will be the joys of my life (in addition to my own children). I love them with all my heart and soul. And I will be seeing them and my children Sunday for Mothers Day! :-)

[gmkb]

I have college age grandchildren and one graduating from high school this June living in the North.  The elementary school grandchildren live nearby in Florida.  When the older ones were younger, we spent a lot of time with them.  Now we spend a great deal of time with the younger boys.  The children have provided a lot of joy in our lives.

[marmot24]

We have 1 grandson, age 25. When he comes over I usually have a list of "electronic questions " for him to solve. He's very good with computers, etc. and I don't know a dvr from a dvd.  We are so blessed to have him in our life ( and he's a dog lover)!

[violann]

---

@september wrote:

Fun thread!  I have two...they're twins and they turned 6 weeks old a few days ago.  But their due date isn't until May 22nd!

They made their entrance into this world very early and spent a lot of time in the NICU, growing....but they're home now and doing well.

---

Both home, September? If so, how WONDERFUL for you all!!! Hope all continues to go well!

[CANDLEQUEEN]

I have a 9year old grandson, and a 3 year old granddaughter. Our grandson lives about an hour away, and our granddaughter lives about 2 hours away, so usually with our grandson, we go to a place similar to Chuck E Cheese's, but for older kids,it has go carts and rock climbing and trampolines,etc.He also likes to play basketball and swim,so we will sometimes take him to the Y for those,sometimes we just go bike riding and get a movie... For our granddaughter she loves to go to the Pet Store and see all of the animals, sometimes we go to Chuck E Cheese with her cousins around the same age,she loves the park and the zoo as well,in the winter we usually get a movie and play barbies and do puzzles and color...I just enjoy my time with them no matter what we do...

[sgraham30]

I have one granddaughter, she'll be 3 July 6th. My birthday is July 7th, her father's is July 8th. My son is in the Navy, he & his family are stationed in VA so I see them very rarely,  I can count the number of time that I've seen Madysen on one hand. I'm hoping to go spend a few days with them this summer.

[karol59]

I have 7, 4 boys, two girls from 15 months to 23 years and one great grand daughter in june

[chihuahuamom]

I forgot to answer the question about what I do with my granddaughter.  When she was preschool, we would go to the library to hear story time every Sat. Morning.  Fortunately, she lives in the area.  Then we would always go to Wendy's.  Now, as she is 10 going on 16, we have lunch (usually still Wendys) and then shop and have our "girl's day".  She usually "suckers" me into buying her something, even if it is small.  She loves makeup and hair and loves playing around with my long hair with different styles (she has long hair too-to her waist and it's black as coal). Since she is in dance competitions often, she knows all about that stuff!  We still go to the library too.  I want to pass on that love of reading that I have, and I think it has taken!  She is precious beyond words.