Both of the girls are big time into Paw Patrol, among other things. While I get random items for them to play with at our home, they usually get something to take back home with them. I try to find something I know they will love; something they have wanted, or something I think is fitting to them. The baby hasn’t gotten anything yet on a visit!
When we downsized 6 year ago, we got rid of almost everything of our kids. It was a quick home sale and we were moving into an apartment temporarily, while awaiting what we thought was an out of state move. As we didn’t know where we were going, with the kids blessings, we got rid of most everything. Boy and I now sorry!
When we were little we lived about an hour from my grandparents and went every weekend. There weren’t new toys for us but our toys at their house, many of which were my uncle’s toys (he was only 15 years older than my sister so there were still toys there). There were a few games, some civil war soldiers (with real lead paint, so poisonous), Lincoln logs, an erector set (I wasn’t allowed to touch) some baking sets for us to bake with my grandmother. There were books (Uncle Wiggly), and a few dolls for me. I can’t remember ever getting toys just because we were there (we were always there) but the toys that were there were always very special.
We did get to get a box of animal crackers at the grocery store.
I kept putting off deciding what to do with a lot of the toys and books from my kids. I’m glad I did as I now have grandkids playing with them.
Most of mine aren’t old enough to know if I bring them something or not. I watch the 18 month old once a week at their house and I see how much they have. The house is tiny and they have #2 on the way. For birthday and Hanukkah I ask her what they want from us. I don’t want them to have more stuff to figure out where to put it. I do buy him books as it’s something he loves and we read together. #2 is also a boy so they won’t really need anything. The other local couple are minimalist so while that child is just 4 months I think I’ll have to be mindful.
For my far away granddaughter I usually bring things when I come visit. I see that continuing. They have plenty of space and that daughter is easy going and happy that we bring them things.
@tx5athome I love the mailbox idea. We just got a new mailbox and I couldn’t part with our old one. The old one was a gift from friends when we moved to our property. It’s distinctive and holds memories. I put it on a table at the top of our driveway and I will start a tradition with the oldest and go from there.
When my kids were little, they had a “mailbox” too - but it was just an oversized manilla envelope or shoe box that we decorated together and had their name on it “Abasket’s Mailbox” and they left it outside their bedroom door. It was a habit to put something in it when they were napping to find when they woke up. It might have been a food treat or small toy or even a book from the library to read together when they woke up. But often it was just a note or a picture I would leave with a joke, or riddle or rhyme or a love note!
DH’s had farming family relatives, and retired older relatives popped popcorn (family grown) on the pot belly stove and served the kids their popcorn in cottage cheese containers. Things kids remember.
DD2 feels she wants to know her quiet dad a bit better, so there is a program where it sends him a question every other week. He discusses what the question is, and often I can jar a good memory out of him to fit the question - for example, what was your greatest adventure? I suggested one, and he agreed it fit the bill.
Making up memory books that the grandkids will enjoy later. DH and his brothers wrote up a memory book for his parents for Christmas – each wrote up their favorite Christmas memories.
The oldest grandchild (who is 5 now), had gotten use to me bringing at least one small toy or some new clothes – and one time when I barely got in the door asked me what I brought her. So that had a little discussion about appreciating the visit and not always expecting a toy. Being all about love as the most important thing.
Start a bank account in your name and the grandkid’s name. Still get them a gift at times, but at other times make small deposits. Have it build up over time and when they graduate HS give it to them. You can even let them know about the account and both of you can go to the bank when they are older to make a deposit. They learn from this.
So…GD ended up in the local ER the day after Labor Day and was transferred via ambulance to the Children’s Hospital in our city. Three separate viruses caused her to have pneumonia and she was in ICU at Childen’s for 2 weeks and another week plus on medical unit. She was able to go home yesterday where she will continue to receive PT and speech therapy (to help her eat solids again) on an outpatient basis. But she is home…
Such a little one had us so worried. When I think of how sick she was…
I am thankful D and SIL got her to ER quickly and that we live in a metropolitan area with excellent healthcare. The Children’s Hospital is amazing.
I am thankful D and SIL have good jobs with large companies and have good health insurance, generous time off and understanding colleagues and bosses.
I am thankful we live here and were able to visit every day, bring food and supplies, Take the dog to our house, and support then in any we we could.
I am thankful SIL’s parents were able to come for additional support.
I am thankful for the kind words, thoughts,prayers, door dash and Uber eats cards, etc. from family, friends and colleagues.
I am thankful our tiny, but so strong girl is back.
We got up bright and early Sunday…for me…and headed out to Cox Farms to meet the family…sons, DIL’s and four grands. It is a mega fall, pumpkins, Halloween super playground. OMG, the kids went crazy. Too much fun. Nicely set up and spread out so in spite of the crowd it was never crowded and not super long lines for the kids. Food. Live music. I didn’t take any pics. If you Google it, you can see a few shots. And OMG, a big huge pig had piglets and they were so darned cute and very brand new. I see now on their website they truly were just born Sunday overnight! Mom was collapsed on her side, worn out apparently. Anyway, good family time. For us and the pigs.
The pumpkin patch sounds wonderful.
Spent two nights with all my kids and the three grandkids. It was a lot of fun juggling three different sleep schedules.
D and SiL have apparently been working on manners with four year old GD. She’s pretty good about please and thank you, and where we live it’s expected that children say Sir or Ma’am when responding to adults.
This week when I told GD it was time to go (after prior warnings that we’d leave when the big hand reached six) she pretended to not hear me. I called her name and told her again it was time, and she said, “Not yet, Nana.” I unfortunately had to insist, “Yes, GD, we have to go now.” She very loudly replied, “NO…MA’AM!” Never has ma’am sounded so much like a cuss word. H had to leave the room so she wouldn’t see his face.
Those 4 year olds are full of sass! My 4 year old GD was here this week and I see the changes in her. I was upstairs, and she and my D were downstairs; my D must have asked her to do something, and her reply was, “If that is what you want me to do, I guess I will do it.” The tone was pure teenager and there was a stomp in her footsteps coming up the stairs. I imagined her hand was on her hip, which later my daughter told me it was!
Oh to have a 31 lb. teenager! She may be little, but she is mighty!
