Really, really tired now.

Yes, I am the same. DD1 and her family left a week ago but as she had a back injury it fell to me to be chief cook, bottle washer, carer, 'nanny' to 3 and 4 year old both of whom are hard work and she also had a family of 4 friends to stay who I had to feed and house which added to the work. It has taken me a week to clear up as, every time I sit down, I go to sleep which is most unlike me. The only upside is that I am sleeping well at night and have dispensed with the sleeping tablets! Before they came I was up and down the M74/6/5 and 4 like a yoyo since early June - all this extra activity certainly takes its toll and I am realising I am not quite as strong and able as I thought I was - never thought it would come to this
Enjoy your 'me' time GA.

Enjoy your 'me' time both of you. The tiredness sneaks up on one doesn't it. We keep going and when the stress is all over, we flop. I'm sure all your efforts are appreciated though.

With DD1 and the children here, we are lucky if we manage to stay awake after about 9.15

I have been doing a huge amount of child care and there is more to come next week - 3 of them for one of the nights. We love them dearly, love having them and are privileged to be asked, but it does take it out of you, especially as I have to do it all really as OH has PD. But it is such a joy for him to have time with the children while he is able to appreciate it.

marmight re the sleeping - as soon as we go on holiday and have a lot of relaxation and rest - both husband and I start struggling to sleep: we can't fall asleep and/or wake up really early no matter what time we go to bed. So we have come to the conclusion that the recipe for a good night's sleep must include some physical activity during the day (because usually we sleep like logs) - so we go for long walks!

And ga I meant to add, I know what you mean, I've also had a "season" what with my daughter's wedding, and I was really happy to see the last family member depart (although did enjoy having them here). That first morning of the "oh, the joy of the house to myself" - I slept till 10 a.m. Unheard of.

GA and Marmite, feeling much the same after just 8 days (more to come this w/end).
I tend to neglect basic housework, garden and allotment when guests are here, concentrating on cooking and chauffering, so there is always a backlog!
I really wish I had a dish-washer too!
Plus side is 3 'good' night's sleep tho'.
GC now teenagers therefore nocturnal.... no chance of early nights while they are here..... make the most of yours while you can Kitty

Quite the opposite in my case - DD finished her PGCE in June so childcare has not been needed to any great extent since then. DS has been home from uni for the summer but in all honesty he is rarely seen outside his room or the hours of darkness (though there is plenty of evidence in the kitchen that he has been active). So life at the moment is just going to work, doing housework, and cleaning up after two able bodied men

I am so looking forward to September when childcare duties start again in earnest, and when I am changing my job to more child friendly hours. The joy of having DGS here again every day will make up for the tiredness. Though I must admit I will miss DS when he goes, I just love having one of my chicks back under my roof

One of the MAIN REASONS I make sure we go on holiday after the school break , don"t cha know!!
& again

Just back from three nights staying at DD's house looking after four GC ages 7, 5, 4, and 22months. The two in the middle are boys with aspergers, both with different difficulties. First night they couldn't cope with the change and bedtime ended up at 11.30. The house was in an uproar, it's a good job the neighbour was away for the weekend. I had help from their other grandma, but we were exhausted by Sunday evening when their parents came back from the wedding. Boys just recently diagnosed so we are having to learn all about aspergers and autism as quickly as we can in order to make their lives a bit easier. It's a lot of hard work, and hours of reading. I think I need a big

I wish I could - but DBH is a teacher, so no chance!

Yes, I do feel like that. I have DBH at home for a couple of months. DS is a student so he is at home for two or three months out of a potential four - plus he needs to move every summer. So we have a removal to work around as well. Then DD&Co descend on us for HER holiday. It's my own fault, I started it because she really doesn't ever get a break. Two young children, two part-time jobs, one in a pub in the evenings, and she is studying Law and has another two years to go. She can't get her books out until the children are in bed. SiL is a lazy lump and does sod all apart from play on the computer. So they all come up to me. DBH helps a bit, but as he has nothing in common with SiL, he does tend to stay out of the way.

They have just gone home, and I am left with all the bedding to wash and put away, a house to clean that I haven't managed to keep up with, two fridges full of weird leftovers, a large assortment of objects that have been left behind including Ariel's skirt (which is going to cause ructions) and a headache.

We had a bit of a row because of course once DD had caught up with her sleep, she wanted us all to stay up late to play board games. I really wish I had never ever started teaching her card games and playing board games with her when she was younger at times like that!

So yes, I am knackered and can't really see how I can improve things. The children are very good, but they will wake up at 6.30am and because it is all so exciting here, rarely go to bed before 9pm.

It would be very possible for me to spend the whole day in the kitchen preparing meals. We go out for an evening meal once while they are here, and have lunch out if we are out for the day, but they are broke so can't help out with money.

So I just wait until September and DBH goes back to work, and DS (who is the least bother of any of them and the most helpful) goes back to Uni, and THAT is when I have my holiday. At home. Eating when I want to, doing what I want to, when I want.

Phew!

Yes I have had to learn to pace myself over the years or else I get really run down.

The trouble with our generation is that we often have it both ends - young grandchildren and elderly parents. This week I am having a break from the grandchildren but still have Mum to look out for - I have been with her since noon and got home about 6pm.

I now make sure that I have easy meals and early nights, or I get so tired that I can't sleep and find myself roaming around at ungodly hours of the night. I also get really nasty mouth ulcers and a flu-like ache of my body. The more rested I am the better I sleep. So I try to look after myself much more than I used to.

Taken two over very active 4-year olds away for three days. Today is Day One.
As I write I've just put them to bed, in the same double bed, in the guest house we're staying at. I can hear them giggling.
Interrupted this post with the 'I need a wee wee' from one and 'I'm thirtsty' from t'other
The last of my guests departed Sunday.
The previous week we went on holiday with DD and GSs.
This weekend we're in charge of their new puppy.
So I know exactly how most of you feel.

Two more days and nights with my gorgeous and very exhausting grandchildren and then it is a pub meal and wine (possibly in copious amounts).

Forgot to mention the 'sandwich' bit - we only just came back from a week sorting out my mother and stepfather, two days back to sort out washing and get in the shopping before DD&Co descended on us.

I love to see them, but wish I could see DD on her own sometimes. She had to sell her car, they couldn't afford to run two, I always thought she would be able to pop up here without SiL occasionally, but it wasn't to be. He is a control freak where food is concerned, so it makes it doubly hard for me, as she gets it in the neck if I cook something he won't eat. So a 'bit' stressful. As she is studying Law, I often hope she pays particular attention to the divorce section. And then smile sweetly at him. Like this.

GA how I empathise with you.

We are on day 5 of an 8 day stay by my DinL and 2 grandsons 3+ and 1+ and I am on my knees.

Don't get me wrong I love them all dearly but it is constant from about 7am to 8pm. The noise level is unbelievable. We move from one activity to another and the final straw is when my darling eldest grandson spins out the moment of going to bed by asking in depth questions about the 3 books I read him each evening.

When I got stroppy with him over his tardiness in getting his teeth cleaned I told him it was fine by me to not clean them as I was too tired to care. As I left the room he said 'Don't worry Nan, grandad will do it for me'

I can't wait for Friday to arrive when they leave but as the car departs I will feel the tears running down my face.

Liz46 I am with you on the wine and quick meals.

I can easily cope with youngest DGS on his own for the four days a week I gave him but whilst oldest has been on school hols it's worn me out as they squabble a lot of the time.
DD is going away for 5 days on Thursday so it will be 24hrs a day and they both wake anytime from 6am. Our only holiday will be October, DD and boys are coming too, so no rest there then

I have started to find having a tin of red bull, helps me to stay awake on a long day.
Mick

janerowena... I think we wear similar T shirts!
We too play boardgames until midnight sometimes ( the GC are older). Fine if you don't get out of bed til 11 a.m., fine if you don't have to watch DIL work her way thro a second bottle of wine and forget the rules of the game and fine if you like playing games anyway (which I don't!)
Oh dear..... don't I sound a misery

I feel the same - since July we have had loads of (very welcome) visitors, and loved going out with them, down to the beaches and further afield, and having meals out, or catering at home.

Then the whole family 12 altogether) was here last week - DD lives here, and the other lot rented holiday accommodation nearby, but almost on the beach. But, bless them, they were in and out every day, and we had the four youngest for a few days before their parents came down, and, and, and....I have a very old friend here now, then that's it for a while.

I know what you mean, Ga about running on empty. The hip is really playing up too, which hasn't helped.

Of course, I wouldn't change any of it!

I've just discovered a plus side....... lost 2lbs in weight weighed after b/fast too!
Ariadne sorry about the hip, hope it improves ASAP.xx

I could write most of these posts. Running on empty is exactly right and my meagre social life is on hold. I feel our generation is keeping the world at work . I'm in bed as soon as the kitchen is ready for the morning when they are here. By the time school starts I will have done six of the eight weeks of the summer holidays in childcare .the flowers and wine are lovely but a bonus would be if the parents polished their table manners and said at grandmas you eat whatever is in front of you SLOWLY and didn't wipe sticky hands on pjs or jeans.am I the only grandma who provides table napkins ? I feel ugh when I see people wiping their hands on their clothes and you see it everywhere especially people wearing jeans.

That's a pet hate of mine too. I do provide napkins too!

I Also provide Napkins/serviettes/kitchen roll, mine use them too .