Half Term Horrors

my grandaughters live with me so they've been here all the time. daughter took a week's holiday [she and i both needed time as we'd caught nasty colds - yes individual colds which we then passed to each other after the first one had gone].
so half term didn't go exactly to plan. the girls like a lie in and so ignored the "get up by 9.30 rule".
apart from tuesday when we went to the winchester science centre and planetarium. older grandaughter is doing astromony for her gcse and younger grandaughter has just done a project on the planets and solar system. so the planetarium went down well - the science centre was great too with loads of interesting things to do - most of them hands on so children can partake and learn.
we had lunch in the cafe - early as there seemed to be thousands of children and adults there. the staff were amazing - how they put up with some of the behaviours shown i don't know.
but youngest grandaughter spent friday [and today] with daddy [he and my daughter are separated] and oldest grandaughter spent the day with a friend yesterday going to her youth club in the evening.
mummy and i had a lovely restful day - trying to shake off the last effects of those awful colds.
back to normal on monday - thank goodness. the girls seem to eat us out of house and home!!!

I usually go back to England for half term and holidays to help with the childminding. I LOVE it! I divide my time between the two families so when I have become part of the furniture I move on to the next, which means they are always so pleased to see Granny France. It's walks, painting, games, visits. That's the best part of not being around the corner.

Big no no thought is going swimming in public pools. They are all never out of my pool when they are here in summer, but that's easy. I so hate trying to get damp sox and shoes on to all of us in cramped cubicles in winter. A year ago was the worst when I took them to floatables afternoon in the local pool. It was heaving and you could hardly see the pool for all the children and floats! I was in agony as it was just before I had my hip replacement and keeping tabs on a 6 and 4 year old was very difficult and I thought I wouldn't be able to do it again on my own. But the best bit came when my 6 yr old DGS hugged my thigh and said 'oh grandma I love your legs - they're so soft and squashy life a comfy sofa'. I took it as a compliment!! Now with new hip I'm up for it! Will try it out next week.

We went to the local art gallery, apparently this is only second on the boredom scale to shopping which is the worst possible thing (particularly M&S!). He was still better behaved than the 2 children sitting next to us when he had a look at the computer information (supplied no doubt for children like him) They, aged about 8 and 5, were arguing and fighting over the keyboard, 5 year old was bashing it constantly whilst mum and dad stood and chatted. Bored DGS might have been, badly behaved he wasn't. Had to bite my lip to stop myself saying something.

I decided I do more than enough during term time. Daddy is a teacher so he has had the GC for a week and I went to New York. I've come to the conclusion that as much as I love the children , want to see them and am happy to help out I am expected to do far too much

I only had the littlies one day over half-term, but yes, it was a bit of a disaster. I had downloaded a Groupon voucher to a reasonably-sized local(ish) soft play. When we got there, the place was so packed that there wasn't a single table free, and even finding floor space to dump coats etc on was a challenge. No table meant that having lunch there, which I'd planned to do as a special treat, was out of the question. The noise was absolutely horrendous, and it crossed my mind more than once what a truly hellish place it was. Nightmarish! DH came to join us at one point, but his tolerance levels are pretty limited and he was only there about two minutes before he abandoned us and headed straight out again.

A couple of hours over the park and dear GDs wanted to go to McDonalds - not my favourite place. Atmosphere much the same as Nando's, but at least we didn't pay a fortune for the privilege!

Elegran and Annsixty - have never been around guinea pigs but i can see that they couldn't possibly be frightening. Thanks for the idea - might start by finding some we can visit, along with some rabbits.

Well, I'm not happy this Half Term because I missed GS's third birthday, I have been ill, GD1 has had Tonsillitis, GD2 an Ear infection and a nasty reaction to Antibiotics and SIL a nasty stomach bug so I've kept away from them incase I caught that as well! I have missed that so much and I feel rubbish! Has anyone got a good remedy for what I think is Trapped Wind, I've had terrible pain for the last 24hrs in my chest, under my rib cage, round to my upper back and into my stomach?

Nannienet: that sounds rather like a form of indigestion to me, or at least what doctors have been telling me for the last 25 years must be indigestion!
I'm not convinced myself, but so far they've not been able to offer any other suggestion when I suffer from exactly what you describe.

Had Six months old DGD most of yesterday in preparation for a day in May when we will have her while her parents are at a wedding! Was successful but she didn't take to her DGD and cried when he tried to engage with her.
Her big sister aged 5 wanted to stay for a sleepover after we'd all had a roast so had to promise one during Easter holidays!
Sad that my 12yr old DGS doesn't spend as much time at Nanny's these days. Have only him as 'blood' GC and 7 'steps' but love them all.

Having spent the week before last with us while DD had a holiday, DGSs were with us again last week for the half term break. We tried to keep them busy and away from computer screens as much as possible. Not an easy task.

Yesterday morning, I took them to a science and learning centre to try out sports activities. DD2 got his finger stuck in the wire netting around the huge climbing frame, so I had to call the duty manager, who stopped all the thousands of children on the frame while he climbed in to extricate said GS. The boys then galloped off to an interactive learning zone, while I followed at a sedate pace. I had a quick look at a geology section and then looked round for them.

Nowhere!

Panicking, I scanned every similar sized child with blue/grey t shirts. Several hundred of them. No sign. Elderly man beside me asked if I needed help. When I explained the situation, he laughed hollowly and said he had been trying to lose his DGCs all morning

Finally I was stopped by a young member of staff who asked if I had lost 2 boys, and that they were at reception. On claiming the miscreants, I got a lecture from another young staff member about keeping an eye on the children in my charge!

I will omit the details that resulted from our being late for their pick up by ex SIL!

Had to have a lie down when the boys left! Thank goodness school is back on Monday.

I posted yesterday havin a little moan. My lovely granddaughters mummy may never get better, oh god please pray for her and her beautiful children. I've just been called to the hospital and found out their mummy has cancer in her breast, spread to her bones and spine but doesn't look as if it's in any of her vital organs . Is that good? The thing is this is the second time she had to fight it, the first time 16 years ago with leukaemia after her first baby, she almost didn't make it. She had such aggressive treatment she was told there may never be any more children. Then suddenly had These three miricles one after the other. What do I say when I go to the hospital? I just waffled on about the children today. Her poor mother looked terrible. Please please pray for this lovely family

Oh, morethan, there are no words...I'm so, so sorry.

I will certainly pray for you all.What else can I say?Thinking about you with love.

My prayers are certainly with you. I had breast cancer aged 62. We are the ones who shouldn't survive, although I am glad I did but the ones with young families should live to see their children grow up and be there for them. No words can express just how I feel for you all.

Oh, Morethan, what can we say. I'm sitting here in tears for you and your family. I can't imagine your anguish. We will pray for you. God bless

We took GS2 aged 5 into town. He charged into the Department Store, 'Follow me, I've been here before', straight to the toys and games. Fair enough. Once we'd bought something for him and his sister (who was unable to join us due to illness that day), he decided he'd like a bacon sandwich, dived into Costa in another 'Follow me' moment. He grabbed the last packaged bacon sarnie and sat with the OH whilst I bought supplies. So far, so good.

Then whilst they were waiting for me to buy coffees and the sandwich, he decided to engage in chit chat with his Grandad on the topic of penises.... DH was apparently somewhat flummoxed and changed the subject pdq.

On the bus back home, he was interested in our ages, and said we were 'old' much to the amusement of the bus passengers.

We had a great time, but I don't know how those of you who do it all the time manage to keep up. We were worn out!

I've just read your post, Morethan. So sorry and can only pray that things turn out better than they seem right now

Morethan you and your family will be in my prayers.

Sorry to have interrupted the thread with somthing so very awful. I'm looking after the seven year old granddaughter. So from the first moment of finding out I've had no one to speak to. Lots of supportive family but not allowed to say anything. One, just in case she overhears and two, until we know the prognosis. It's such a shock I knew she'd been in a very bad way but just thought she'd slipped a disk and it was pressing on a nerve. My son telephoned and says she holding it together until she talks about her babies. Their whole world has just fallen apart. She's got such a stoic character I hope she can beat it again. But she knows what's in front of her and she must be so very frightened. I look at my three grandchildren all just babies really and pray please for them oh please for them.

Morethan , this is what GN is for. Do let it all out on here. We cry with you and send hugs [hugs]

I'm so sorry to hear your news morethan2 how awful for your DiL and for you and your whole family.

Do take care of yourself at this time too, stress can weakness your whole system. I'll be thinking of you and having a small word with the man upstairs for you xx

So sorry to hear this Morethan You must all be devastated. My heart goes out to the family, especially the children. ((Hugs)) It must be difficult to stay strong for them.

This is indeed what GN is for. Sending you prayers and hugs and what comfort I can.
Puts it all into perspective, doesn't it.

Thoughts and prayers with you x