Happy National Grandparents Day!
If you’ve got them, for the most part, you love them. Pretty much all the time. They love your kids unconditionally, they give them what they want (despite what rules you may have previously laid down) and they’re there to give you that extra support. We are fortunate enough to live close to 2 Grandmas & we have one Grandpa and one Grandpa that is in Northern California.
The Girls ABSOLUTELY love their grandparents. I’m pretty certain they love anyone who is willing to take them that isn’t me and doesn’t hound them like me. So they’re pretty flexible in that nature. I am SO thankful that we are so close to family, I mean, that’s the whole reason why we moved back down to Southern California in the first place.
I’m just going to lay it out there.. but the things about Grandparents is they really just float in their own universe. Grandparent land. Maybe, just maybe it’s just me, but I really really try to lay down some groundwork before letting the kids loose on the grandparents but every time, I just get trampled on. I’m not sure if it’s the girls’ persuasive negotiation skills or the grandparent’s lack of putting their foot down, but either way– I’m usually in the negative.
I mean, we’re fortunate to live so close to such amazing family, but SOMETIMES, everything I say just goes right out the window. If y’all know me, umm… It’s kinda a big deal. I just don’t know how to deal. The girls know the rules. I guess I’m referencing the girls because they just have this way of taking charge and the only thing Travis wants to take control of is his Tuesday doughnut delivery order. I mean I can get behind a glazed vanilla sprinkled all day every day, but when it comes to other things– I go bonkers.
In all honesty, that’s what they’re there for right? To spoil the kids. They’ve paid their dues in raising us and now with the grandkids, it’s free game? Is that the gist of it? Because I literally cannot wait to become an Aunt– for some of these reasons! Gosh, I know by the time my siblings have kids, I’m going to be the boring old Aunt (hence the 10 + year difference) and well, I can’t even imagine becoming a grandparent. EEEEK!
So I guess what it comes down to is..
Accept the help and the indulgences and say fuck it and let the grandparents live in the moment or to be a major bitch and try and lock it all down. I’ve really tried to find the perfect medium and I can let a lot of things slide like the treats, ice cream, shopping trips, etc. but the rest.. the rule-breaking and going against what I just said just drives me bananas!
How do y’all draw the line? Is it a losing battle? Do y’all just get on the same page and say fuck it?