Over protective dinl

Not sure an 8 year old would be interested in looking at back to back houses !!?
I grew up in West Yorkshire so very familiar with back to back houses, feel sure my 8 year old GC would not be remotely interested in them!!?

eddiecat78

Cossy there is a street of back to back houses in Birmingham that have been preserved and managed by the National Trust. With respect I doubt you live in a traditional back-to-back. They were insanitory slum housing and very few exist

Thank you so much for explaining.

No I live in an Edwardian terrace, but our gardens do back onto the gardens of our neighbours both sides and in the street next to ours.

Well I was very lucky as my children always left it to me to do what entertaining I wanted with the grandkids They totally trusted me, I supposed they remembered how I d brought them up and were happy with it
I think for an 8 year old to see where her Nan was brought up and hear some stories would be very interesting. However I don’t know anything about the practicalities, as I d never heard of the ‘back to back’ houses …I did show a couple of my grandkids when they were about this age, the tiny house my Dad and his five siblings (their great grandad) grew up in and the scary tunnel passageway he had to run though to get home. They were very interested.
I think it’s a bit of a insult to be happy for you to do the babysitting Blossom but not trust you to look after her, your way

National Trust - Birmingham Back to Backs share.google/pnoHt3BMiBlhj8WY3

As previously said the Birmingham Back to Backs are a National Trust property.
I've not been but they have good reviews.

I remember back to back houses. Not ideal, but I had friends who lived in them in the 80ies. Theirs were certainly not insanitary slums. It was often said they were like “ little palaces” inside.
I sympathise with the OP. Baking and craft work were not the activities I did with my grandchildren. But still, it is probably best not to go against the DiL. Maybe just don’t tell her next time what your plans are?

Back to back houses still exist and are lived in. They are all in West Yorkshire. Primarily in Leeds and Bradford. Leeds council continued to construct back to backs until 1937.

Fallingstar no apology needed , it sounds like we are all thinking along the same lines 😀

Cossy there is a street of back to back houses in Birmingham that have been preserved and managed by the National Trust. With respect I doubt you live in a traditional back-to-back. They were insanitory slum housing and very few exist

We live in a “back to back” house, the bit that confuses me is how you “visit”

Is it like a historical street set up like a museum.

I completely understand why you’re disappointed, you clearly wanted to do something a little bit different for her birthday.

How about making and baking a birthday cake at your home, with lots of different icing and letting her choose and help with the decoration of it or make cookies or both??

Have a lovely day with her x

Do what your DIL wants, it will be easier for you anyway.
You could allow your DGC some art supplies or do baking?
I hardly see looking around a Birmingham back to back as a treat in any case and neither will a child.

Two streets really. The back of each house adjoins the back of its counterpart in the next street as well as each side.

What’s a back to back house ? A street of terraced houses ?

Don't tempt me! 😂

Oh gosh - you should see the list of restrictions we had. We just made the best of it and did what we could. Young children find anything exciting - we used to get the bus to a Harvester for lunch. We did lots of crafts and painting and cooking.

No advice about family but

have you got a booking fir the Back to Backs. Its still holiday tme and you probably wont get in without one.

The trains are also not very reliable at the moment with a reduced service on lots of the main lines into Birmingham.

The weather forecast is pretty bad too.

Honestly its a trip I’d save for another time any way.

Maybe her mum’s thinking a bit like me 😬

Sorry sparkle1234 crossed posts!

I imagine with your gd having autism your DiL could be overly cautious, and although you have experience of autism she may still feel worried about your plans. Would stick to the craft activities and the telly or reading. I know is frustrating but you still get to spend time with your gd.
I hope it all goes well.

Oh dear ! It does sound as though she is anxious and that probably doesn't have anything to do with your abilities. I can understand that you must be disappointed but perhaps she has seen behaviour in her daughter that you may not have witnessed . On this occasion I would let it go and maybe you could both take her together on the train another time . She's worried for both of you I think . A train ride may be just too much for her daughter to cope with and I hate to say it because you sound like such a loving Grandma but she does know her daughter better than you .Enjoy doing something else with her and don't rock the boat .

Make plans but don’t tell her? Or is that dishonest?