The joys of being a grandparent.

I'm glad you mention Absent about 'pushing the boundaries' as my eldest GS nearly 4 does this on a regular basis. I try not to laugh as he has so many ingenious ways to spin out his bedtime routine.

I found motherhood a hard slog so it is wonderful to have a second chance to do things better.

This morning's joy:

Me sitting at my dressing table, wrapped in a towel, trying to blowdry my hair, DGD3 sitting on my knee emptying my make up drawers, dgd4 standing crying because she wasn't the one emptying my make up drawers, DGS2 and DGD2 fighting about who should have the box my new serum came in.

DDs 2 & 3 eating breakfast in the kitchen

I wish someone had filmed your early morning activities Kitty.

Whenever we stay at our GC's home we are so involved that I have to put my makeup on in double quick time and only give my teeth a quick brush. I always feel I need a bit of a scaling of my teeth (done by myself) on our return home.

Looking after my youngest DGD (15 months) and her playing with her cousin (18 months) They had become very quiet, I looked around the corner to find DGD 2 feeding the cat's bottom with a baby fork while her little cousin was trying to bottle feed it with her dolly's bottle.

Sorry to go a bit off thread but I would love to know how Nankate scales her own teeth. I am quite stoical about the dentist but I can't stand the scaling. Maybe I could do it myself.

Youngest GS (3) eating his turkey dinosaurs (really crap food!) and suddenly shouting across the table "I love you Mama" - that's me!

That was definitely a boost to my morale!

*flower *- what a patient cat. Our one is calm up to a point but runs away. He's never raised a paw to the GC although sorely tried at times

We were an all-female family until one little boy joined the nine girls and I've been amazed by his innate differences. He's the only one to be fascinated by drain-pipes, diggers, Lego and fixing things. When he first saw my rotary whisk he got all excited by gear wheels.
There's no need to encourage girls into science and engineering, there are plenty of boys with a built-in interest in these subjects (which make me yawn, but I pretend to enjoy playing with cranes)

18 month old DGS on FaceTime kisses their laptop screen and says 'Uv ooo Nonna' and I completely melt
He could get away with anything......