They've gone now

I'm the same.

no not daft.

I felt like that yesterday, jingl. A busy and exhausting few days but such a lot of fun!

Tackling all the laundry helped take my mind off the silence.

and me

They shoot me with their Nerf guns, they are very noisy, they fight and squeal, and worst of all, they won't let me kiss them. But I love 'em so much.

You're not alone, jbf, the old house is empty again after five days of happy, frantic activity, noise, family, dogs and pleasures. Now its so quiet and we're back to just the two of us, our little dog and happy memories. Tinged with sadness that we won't see them again till spring, and how fast the GCs are growing up. Bitter sweet, all of it, but I suppose we are lucky to have enjoyed it and to have GN with whom to share it. Feel a bit down today, but it will pass.

Mine have gone, too. I've wiped the sticky finger marks off the chairs and the doors, I've washed the zoo of furry animals and I've stripped the beds. Feel a bit sad but will see them again in 6 weeks or so. Best memory? Cuddling 5 year old GS with left arm whilst holding 3 year old GD on knee, both in pyjamas and sleepy......aahhh. Will stop now before become maudlin!

Mine arrived yesterday - the place is a tip!

Off to see Paddington this afternoon.

What a sad, sad thread....

sorry but honestly .... and then you'll complain when they don't come !

Mine went away for Christmas. I missed them so much. I feel like a pressed bruise (if you know what I mean). It's the first time they've done it and I really hope they never do it again. Must not be clingy and needy, must not be....etc

Mine (4 gc's and 4 parents) have been here for 10 days - another 5 to go and then it will be sooo quiet. Damage so far - purple felt tip on wall in hall, chip on work top by sink which would involve replacing 12' length, leak from bathroom through hall ceiling, damp marks on coffee table, finger marks on every window up to 3', pee on stair carpet. I'm not sure whether to be benign about the whole thing - does it really matter - or go into a rant. They were all brought up to take care of and respect things, but have obviously evolved as members of the 'don't-worry, chuck-it and replace-it brigade'. and why don't they ever turn a door handle? Bang, bang, bang all day long - I am beginning to sound like my Dad. Maybe I have been living on my own for too long...... Off for a lie down

Just taken my DD, SiL and DGD to the train station - can't bear going onto the platform to see them off. The house is of course a complete tip. It feels very empty to be all on my own again, but this is the pain of love. My DD thanked me for a 'wonderful' Christmas and my SiL for all the 'wonderful dinners!' and I thanked them for sharing my DGD's first Christmas with me. In the past, my DD helped me get through some dreadful Christmases with my ex, and I was just so thankful that we all had such a happy time together. Roll on the next visit!

Ooh Marmight I think I'd be a bit miffed too, however much I loved them
jingl I feel every single time I say goodbye to them. Not daft at all

I was very flat yesterday having left DD2s on Boxing day and probably wont see them now until Easter. Funny jings GS wont let me kiss him either - he says kisses spread germs - so I kiss him on his head whether he likes it or not. he is up for several cuddles though. Ah well best get on with our on lives until the next time we all meet.

One of my teenage grandsons wouldn't let me kiss him when he was small but he would lean against me so I could kiss the top of his head. I would shout, 'Give us a lean' and he'd come running

I think this is a good thread because it's nice to share that empty feeling. DH said he left the living room door open after lunch so he could nod off to the gentle thrum of the washing machine....daft b****r.

Those of you with small DGCs, just wait until they are teenagers. Masses of (almost) grown up fun and half the work! The eldest was home from his first term at uni and my, how he's changed. A laugh a minute and oozing confidence.

We got ten minutes FaceTime on Christmas Day - they are 8000 miles away. Still, at least the house is very tidy!

It could be worse, rockgran. Remember the days when we only had snail mail?

My grandsons came here on Tuesday afternoon. The rest of Christmas they spend with the members of the family that don't help look after them for the rest of the year .

My grandaughter is 14. Her mum says she is a stroppy teenager but the minute she sees us she flings her arms around us, and makes extra fuss of her grandad now she knows he is poorly. That'll do for me.

One half of the family came back with me so I've still got a tip of a house.we all stayed in a big house in the Lakes but came here on Saturday. They leave on New Year's Day . DH is 70 the following day and it will be a bit[sad emoticon]as we decided to be on our own and not have a party having been so extravagant over Christmas. What I do find is that I'm no help with the children. As all the parents work and all the children are in after school care and holiday courses they are desperate to spend time with their parents not the old codgers and much as the parents want us to take over the children need their parents attention. Both children dived into bed with me this morning with their Christmas books and snuggled up to read

You are right NotTooOld, and I am not complaining (just sighing a bit). The internet is a Godsend for long distance grandmas. I would really miss Facebook now!

It is quiet when they go - even though they were not staying at my place, but at my DD's. We had two of them yesterday (3 and 12) while the rest of the family climbed a mountain in the lovey sunshine. It really stretched me to my limit at the moment, but we love to have them. Two boys, so vene with the age gap it was quite lively.

I am lucky that 4 of my GC are local so it only the 3 northern ones that have gone - and we hope they will be back soon for a birthday party at the end of January. I do hate it when they have gone - it leaves a hole.

I'm always glad when they have gone home, much as I love them.They are all local so we see them a lot anyway.Although I enjoyed bringing up our own children I don't feel the need to replicate it all over again via the grandchildren.It's nice in small doses.Shows how we are all different.

that should read 'nice in small doses'.