I love them dearly but .......

When my children were small we lived in Portugal and used to come over every year at Christmas for a week to visit my father who was in his 60s/70s. With the selfishness of youth I never really realised what a disruption this must have been for him, as he had to turn his little study into a spare bedroom, borrow a cot and high chair in the early stages, make sure there was enough food, although we tried to do most of the shopping, and put up with the noise and mess. Now I am in my 70s with 4 GCS I realise how difficult this must have been for him, but he never complained as he did so love to see us all, but I can imagine how relieved he must have been to get back to normal life when we left!

Coppernob You are a very fortunate person that you have a family and you can hardly say they invade your ''precious'' space every day or every week for that matter.
I will not say more as I may just say something I regret.

I used to love having my grandson to stay the weekend when he was small

Mildred.
Carpets are materialistic objects and can be replaced when ever.
Family are precious if you feel like you do then tell them then go buy your carpet.Enjoy.

Diddy1, they probably come because their parent issued a three-line whip! That's what I used to have to do but fortunately before the days of mobile phones and tablets. Mother complained that they talked to each other and their cousins and not to her but she was very deaf and difficult to converse with. When she greeted them on their arrival she would always make a sarcastic comment about the length of time since their last visit so there was little love lost there. If I live long enough to have teenage grandchildren I hope I will be different. We spent a week with her every year when the children were little and when we left there wasn't a thing out of place. We even washed the bedding and tumble dried it before we left and so did my siblings or we would never have heard the last of it.

I'm so glad everyone else feels the same. Two cars to the airport at 6 am to take DS and DIL, plus two delightful granddaughters and all the luggage. We only see them twice and year and I feel quite sad about that but pleased to have the house back to normal. Almost three weeks is really too long. Where do they get all the energy these days - I'm exhausted? Mountains of washing and things back in the right places at last. I'm just grateful that none of my machines broke down, and no-one was ill. They're already talking about a summer visit. I think we Grannies are a tolerant lot, but don't we love them!

A granny pal of mine once told me there was nothing more exciting than the headlights of the car arriving with her grandkids followed by the sight of the disappearing tail lights as they drove off!

We love to have our GC here, and to stay from time to time, but when they go home we are so happy to slump down with the newspapers and a pot of coffee, and then catch up on the TV we want to see over the next few evenings. They are the light of my life,but they are also exhausting, and I tell their parents that too, so that they can gleefully wave as they drive away leaving them with us and not feel that they are bad parents! I was so grateful to be able to stay at home with my DC when they were small, but also delighted if my M and D offered to have them for the day - it was bliss. We are all the same I'm sure, and of anyone says they couldn't bear to part with their children or GC then they must be saintly, and exceptional!

We didn't live near either DM or DMiL so stayed with each of them for several days at a time.
I made sure the children tidied up after themselves and I did most of the cooking, washing up and laundry too.
Perhaps those of you who feel overwhelmed by the presence of DCs and DGCs could ask for a bit of help from the DCs?

Lovely to see them arrive and lovely to see their rear window as they drive away.

It's lovely to have them but it's equally nice to have your house to yourself once they go home. I love seeing mine, but I also enjoy being by myself, so appreciate both sides of the argument.

No Coppernob you're definitely not a bad Granny or a dreadful Mother!!!! OH and I look after our 2 year old Granddaughter for 3 days every other week and after the first two days are absolutely exhausted. OH has just turned 70 and I'm 65 and it's tough. We love her to bits and she is a good little girl,but it's hard work. I do agree with Mildred in that children often behave better when their parents are not around. This is certainly the case with our little one, she turns into a little monster when Mummy or Daddy pick her up and then we're just counting the minutes until they go. I think the older you are as a Granny the less able you are to cope with the upheaval young children create. She is our 6th Grandchild and I was 47 when my first one was born and looking back it was a 'breeze' compared to looking after this one.

I am smiling as I read this. This is one of our days for looking after 1yr old GD. Papa has just taken her for a walk in the pouring rain to visit his brother to give me a rest, as I have a terrible chest infection. I am sitting among all the debris with no energy to clear it up. Mashed strawberries, blue berries etc on newly shampooed rug. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Oh, I remember those days so well. Now, at eleven and fifteen, it's the wiiU and Instagram all the time they're here. I'm a bit sad about it tbh. But it is exhausting.

We have our twins to stay for 3 nights roughly every 6 weeks. Big brother visits too but at other times as there is a big age difference. We love having them to stay and tolerated all the mess, poop, vomit etc that often came with them in the early days. Nowadays it tends to be just general mess and chaos. Obviously, we wouldn't have it any other way but that doesn't stop us feeling very, very glad when we hand them back.

No Coppernob you're not a bad GP, my DGS is only 6 & lives about 10 miles from me now. I don't actually see a lot of him, with school, football & swimming. I do go over & visit but don't overstay my welcome - my DD would soon tell me

When my Step-Daughter used to come & visit frequently (we lived nearer her when GC were young) both DH & myself used to breathe a sigh of relief when they went although they were well behaved. On the other hand we used to dread Step-Son & his children coming to visit, only for a few hours but the GC were totally out of control

I feel happier now I can pop over for an hour or so & DD can come to me for short visits. Will probably see more of them from May when DGC2 is expected

Wonderful to see them when they arrive,more wonderful to see them leave!

OP - you are definitely not a bad Grandma, or if you are then I am one, too. I find small children so badly behaved these days.

Hang in there everyone! My eldest granddaughter and husband, who live nearby, are coming this evening to join us for my birthday Chinese Meal. They will willingly put away Christmas decorations into the loft, which I find difficult these days - boxes and ladders are a no- no! They grow up to be useful! Although looking forward to two of the young ones, who live away, singing Happy birthday on FaceTime later!

I'm in a very different position, as my three little DGS all live within easy striking distance and I see a lot of them. I can't imagine being as close to them when they're older and less likely to want to stay at Nanna's house, so I just enjoy them while I can, exhausting and messy and sticky and loud though they are . DGS1 and parents moved in with us on two occasions when they were between houses, and I shocked myself (and everybody else!) by bursting into tears the first time when they left after six months (I was prepared the second time!). So although I know that of course you're not a bad granny, Coppernob, I can't agree with others who've said that we all feel the same.

You are totally normal. Our twelfth grandchild has just been born but is the first one in England. We love them all dearly but when they come over , sometimes it's the parents that drive me crazy not the kids. I'm really enjoying having a grandchild nearby but a bit apprehensive about what will be when she is a bit older and comes over. I'd love my house to be a second home for her and any siblings that arrive PG but my house isn't aschild friendly as it once was, neither am I as young as I was!!

All normal range I hear.

Oh what's relief to know we are not unnatural grandparents from so many sympathetic posts. We are 77, not yet totally decrepit, but 77. We have 3 year old gs full day a week and he is not a scrap of bother and we are laughing with him all the time. But we are thoroughly exhausted by hometime and pleased to have his goodbye hugs. I think a big part of the tiredness is the feeling of responsibility for him and constantly being safety conscious. When we have the other three as well their parents are here too and it's not half as intense.

I can understand the feelings of grandparents who do not get to see their grandchildren Sarahellen, and that is hard. It's also very tiring having little ones in the house after being one ones own usually. My grandchildren are grown up now, I found it easier when I was younger, I would not like to have very young children to care for now I am in my seventies. Some people love having a houseful of people, I have a friend with five children and they all go to her house with their families. It would be a nightmare for me as I'm much more of a loner ? Only child syndrome. We all have different relationships with families and there is no right or wrong here just different.

Coppernob like name by the way you are definetly like most of us on forum I remember when my children left home it took me ages to get used to the house being quiet and mainly tidy all the time so when we have family get togethers it can sometimes feel overwhelming, saying that arnt we lucky that we do see them I really feel for those estranged from theirs through no fault of there own .

Exaustion and grandchildren come together, but how miserable it is when they've gone home. I wish I lived closer to my GC, we'd have such fun, there would have to be rules and time limits though, otherwise it would be too much and no fun at all.