Entertaining Grandchildren

[Marsha Cassada]

We are having two of our grandchildren for a couple of days. I'm not very good with children, so I've been stressing a little over the visit. I bought a book with lots of crafts in it and have accumulated the supplies.

We are going to make snow globes as gifts for younger siblings. Also peppermint snowmen and a peanut ornament for wild birds.

If the weather is good we will drive the horses.

Also I asked dad to send the bikes; we will bike around town, visit the museums and parks, and have a burger. They love to do this, and I think it gives them a great sense of "hometown" to cherish.

Maybe grandpa will play a game or two of chess with the 12 year old boy and I can help the 8 year old girl with doll clothes.

Peer pressure never ends, does it? Now I feel in competition with "super grandmas". Wish me luck!

 

[billiethekid40]

No need to cave to "peer pressure"! Your grandkids will cheirish the time spent with you and the special little things you said or did while they were there. As long as you truly want them to have a good time with you they will know that and remember how much you love them. My grandparents used to take me for a few weeks here and there, or a weekend now and then. What I remember is just enjoying our time together and seeing how they lived at home. They usually went about their daily routine and maybe planned one or two small special things for me, like cooking my favorite meal (I helped with dishes) or going shopping for something small (if my grandmother had shopping of her own to do). One thing I do remember (hard to forget cause its still the case LOL) is where to find the good treats at nans house! I read books, had my coloring books and a few toys with me and my grandparents and I just enjoyed spending quiet time together. Ask their parents to send some of their favorite activities with them for the hours while you're making supper or they're unwinding before bed.

And you're totally right about the museums and parks... a sense of hometown and a sense of pride in their family generally comes from the parents and grandparents and in my opinion can make children more willing to help others in the community or their family when they grow up.

 

[ohmt]

Have fun Marsha! My grandparents have always been like second parents to me and all of their grandchildren beg to visit them. Just be comfortable and have fun

Children are very good at picking up when someone is uncomfortable. Also, I guarantee your grandchildren won't compare you to others no matter what you do. So don't worry about that.

My grandparents have a 40 acre farm so they always told us to go out and play when they needed breaks and to never come crying because we were bored, so weto spent a lotvery of time outside. I loved to help my grandma sew, do paint by numbers, play with horse dolls, read, and watch the collection of disney movies my grandma had. Other than that, I was outside either playing with horses, or climbing a tree.

So don't worry! Your grandchildren will love spending time with you and i'm sure they'll be easy to entertain

 

[Reble]

At night a nice big bowl of popcorn, and old time family Christmas Movie for all to snuggle and enjoy..

Good Luck

 

[Eagle]

Marsha, just be you! Grandma's are wonderful at talking and telling stories so just chat away as you would to a friend. What I loved about spending time with my Grandma was how relaxed she was, she always had time to answer my questions, we would chat whilst she made dinner or cookies and she always asked me if they were ok, i felt important. Lol when you get tired send them on a mission. ( go find the cat or something)

Have fun, they will cherish there time spent with you when they are older.

 

[Magic]

Relax, breathe, and try not to worry. Our grandchildren are still very young, the oldest is 6, and we've spent pleny of time with them since they were born so it's easy for us with them,(and they LOVE to come visit, as much as possible) but when our 12 year old nephew came to visit last summer for a few weeks, I did wonder what to do to with him. He and his family live in a different state so we hadn't spent much time together before. His parents told me what he was hoping to do, like going to a nearby amusement park, and I just talked to him when he got here about what else he may be interested in. He enjoyed learning all about the horses and was a great help with them, and I found some other activities that he enjoyed. He taught me some things too, like how to cook and eat artichokes!

If you can find out what foods they like ahead of time, that would be helpful. And then just talk to them, see what their expectations are, and go from there. And have fun!!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Returned the grandchildren today to mom and dad. We had a good time, I think. We made snowglobes, peppermint snowmen, peanut wreaths for wild birds, and played games. Even though the weather was terrible, we rode our bikes around the park and visited the museums. They climbed our mountain yesterday; I was nervous, but they got back down safely. The little girl cried a little because her big brother took her down a scary place. Finished off with hide & seek this morning while waiting for the dryer to finish.

The only thing we didn't get to do was drive the cart. Weather was too miserable for that.

I hope grandpa and I gave them some good memories. Whew!!