Grand-parenting an Olympian effort
Our daughter and grandchildren have been staying with us for two weeks while our son-in-law is away with work. We have had a marvellous time with our youngest family members – a time that has left us happy and exhausted in equal measure.
It all began with Laressa, Maisie and Samuel arriving from Auckland.
Their furniture also arrived as they are on the move and our double
garage is now full of household effects while the vehicles are parked
outside. The garage is a reflection on how times have changed – when
Lynnette and I were our daughter’s age we had just a small trailer load
of possessions.
Back to the grandchildren and the way they changed our routine – especially at mealtimes. When there’s a two year old and a 9 month old baby each with their own ideas about what to eat and how to go about things it’s just as well Laressa was there to help out or we’d all have gone a little hungry!
We also soon discovered the disadvantage of having a two storey house. The staircase became a hazardous place and not just for the little ones. With safety gates installed at the top and bottom of the stairs it wasn’t long before I felt like an amateur gymnast stepping over these hurdles. Add the weight of a rather solid baby in my arms and those stairs delivered some great cardio exercise.
Nighttimes were peppered with disturbances – usually the pitter-patter of tiny feet as an anxious little girl needed the reassurance of knowing she was loved and was quite safe to return to her own bed.
By now you’ve probably come to the conclusion that we were both beginning to wilt. A 6.30am start tends to be a ‘sleep in’ at our house so when kids wake at 5 on your ‘morning off’ things can become tiring. We put a positive spin on things for our daughter’s sake but privately, Lynnette and I had forgotten how exhausting it is looking after young children.
The tiredness and topsy-turvy routines paled to insignificance when we were simply enjoying the children’s company. One Sunday we took them to the aquatic centre where they frolicked in the water and there were lots of smiles.
Then Dad arrived home to squeals of delight – the family was back together and little Maisie was over the moon.
This morning I woke to the sound of adult feet as Dad was going to the children’s room. Grandma and Grandpa stayed in bed and reflected on the double comfort of a lie in happy in the knowledge there were family members in the house going about their business.
Samuel, the wee man who provided some weight training for his grandparents, is off to Plunket this week and he is in fine form. His Dad represented Australia in rowing a few years back and is a big man. Samuel is also built like a little ox and it wouldn’t surprise us at all if he became an Olympian in a sport that required weight and strength. It’s great to look at your grandchildren and hold hope for the future.
Back to the grandchildren and the way they changed our routine – especially at mealtimes. When there’s a two year old and a 9 month old baby each with their own ideas about what to eat and how to go about things it’s just as well Laressa was there to help out or we’d all have gone a little hungry!
We also soon discovered the disadvantage of having a two storey house. The staircase became a hazardous place and not just for the little ones. With safety gates installed at the top and bottom of the stairs it wasn’t long before I felt like an amateur gymnast stepping over these hurdles. Add the weight of a rather solid baby in my arms and those stairs delivered some great cardio exercise.
Nighttimes were peppered with disturbances – usually the pitter-patter of tiny feet as an anxious little girl needed the reassurance of knowing she was loved and was quite safe to return to her own bed.
By now you’ve probably come to the conclusion that we were both beginning to wilt. A 6.30am start tends to be a ‘sleep in’ at our house so when kids wake at 5 on your ‘morning off’ things can become tiring. We put a positive spin on things for our daughter’s sake but privately, Lynnette and I had forgotten how exhausting it is looking after young children.
The tiredness and topsy-turvy routines paled to insignificance when we were simply enjoying the children’s company. One Sunday we took them to the aquatic centre where they frolicked in the water and there were lots of smiles.
Then Dad arrived home to squeals of delight – the family was back together and little Maisie was over the moon.
This morning I woke to the sound of adult feet as Dad was going to the children’s room. Grandma and Grandpa stayed in bed and reflected on the double comfort of a lie in happy in the knowledge there were family members in the house going about their business.
Samuel, the wee man who provided some weight training for his grandparents, is off to Plunket this week and he is in fine form. His Dad represented Australia in rowing a few years back and is a big man. Samuel is also built like a little ox and it wouldn’t surprise us at all if he became an Olympian in a sport that required weight and strength. It’s great to look at your grandchildren and hold hope for the future.
