I'm not raising them, however, they have been living with us since around thanksgiving.  Them and their parents.  (It is my only sons family) 

Has been a complete blessing.  They will be moving soon.  I'm figuring them moving out will be extremely hard on me because those 2 baby girls are my world.  I will however, be happy to have a little more room again and more time to clean.  And oh my I cannot wait to get into a set exercise plan again.  Fitness has kind of taken a back seat that almost never gets used lately. 

So I'm very excited to have time and space to workout again soon. 

Now I just have to get a plan figured out for baby sitting so I can see my wee ones as often as possible.

Having them for an extended visit has always been a joy for me too. A few years back my son and his family (at that time 2 girls) stayed with us for a month in preparation for relocating. I loved it and while a large part of me hated to see thme go I was more than ready to get back to my regular routine!

What about grandparents who are permanently or long-term raising their grandchildren? I think part of the joys of grandparenting are that it isn't a complete life-changing event as it is when you have an addition to the family.

There is a relief for them to go and get on with their own lives and then you turn around.... they are gone! 

There will be a few days of adjustsment for you but that is temporary, and will pass. 

A day-dream I have is to own a huge estate with a huge mansion on it where the family could all have thier own wings... but we would all be together and the Grandkids could come running into my wing, full of laughter and kisses, smelling of cookies and yelling "Nana!"

Ok<sniff, sniff> Talk to you all later!

I just found a zone for Workampers. That's what we wanted to do so now I will just have to live through the zone. Instead, it's 100 degrees here today and we have a baseball game. Raising grandchildren is no different than raising a child except that my knees didn't hurt 40 years ago. I do miss being a grandparent and am envious of those who are. I have to be the parent and don't have the luxury. I would love to spoil him but that just doesn't work. He told me this morning that he is more than cute, he is attractive. He's 8. As his grandparent, I think that's adorable. As his parent, I need to shrink his attractive little head. I am only in the grandparent mode when he is not around and I can brag about my grandchild. Otherwise, I am all parent.

Sheila, I said the exact same thing (only I said lots of acres, instead of a mansion  lol) I would love to have my children and grandchildren close without being in the same house!

Ann, that's what I was looking for! Physically, we just aren't what we used to be and you really have to resist 'grandparent mode' don't you? When you're the one raising them, you just can' t spoil them and send them home! You seem to have a wonderful grasp of the separation, but I know it must be hard sometimes. Kudos to you!

I am looking for a home that is big enough so they can continue to live with us but also with a bit of land so they can move and still be close (on the same property.) 

Still living with us.  Me still loving it.  Hubby needs a little space sometimes.  I figure bigger house or 2 houses on the same property and we all get what we need. 

Major togetherness as well as a little time alone.  ")

Carolina,

My mother is wanting to do the same thing on a 400 acre piece of property in Wyoming. Now that my daughter is pregnant with her first great grandchild, she has renewed her interest in the "commune", as we dubbed it a decade ago when she had the idea.

Ann Marie

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