Just ordered some from Amazon.
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If your stove has a drawer on the bottom, you can make that a special place for their allowed kitchen stuff. They can be taught that is the only place in the kitchen that they can open.
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We had a lower kitchen cabinet where all the Tupperware, and many of the pots and pans were kept. We added a couple of wooden spoons to the mix. Our kids were entertained for hours!
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Yes, I remember being at a resort, San Diego Princess Hotel back when S was around 1 year old. The room we had included a kitchen and S just loved having free rein of the pots, pans, silverware in our room (we didn’t prepare any meals but all the kitchen equipment was the highlight of the trip for him)!
You might see if there is someplace near (library, rec center) that has toddler time. We have rec centers that have kids play rooms with climbing toys, climbing through toys, etc. There is often ‘open gym’ time so for the admission ($5 or so) you can go any time that’s convenient for nap time. Some of the nicer rec centers also have aqua centers if you are comfortable with that and have splash pads and other water fun. He would be nice and exhausted for you!
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You can put a sticker of a cartoon character or some other thing they like on the drawer or cupboard to mark the one they are alllowed to open and play in.
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Newest grandchild was born on Sunday. There are three of us grandparents caring for the 19 month old and we are exhausted and in bed by 9. The toddler is going great at our house and only has had one bedtime where he cried for his dada. He’s a busy boy! Up early but he goes to bed at 6:30 which helps.
Mom, dad and baby came home last night but we will keep the toddler today and maybe one more night.
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Our neighbor’s granddaughter can not join older brother at daycare until 3 months old, so grandparents are splitting duty M - F; their son has a split work shift arranged (he has customers in Australia, so that is a fit too).
GS1 in 4K has a unique ‘shut down’ - he just lies on the floor (no tantrum). Little ones have their feelings. I imagine his parents, his teacher, and he will work it out, in time.
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They do indeed. I wish more people understood that.
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Congratulations, @mom60! You are one blessed grandparent! How lucky that your dear GS gets to have special time with you while the parents and new baby get some extra rest.
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Congratulations 
to the family.
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I spent a week with my son, his wife and his three kids (4,2,7 months) babysitting while they were working. It was fun to get a picture of their daily life and I love the littles but boy am I tired. I got up before 6, helped with the baby in the morning, dropped off and picked up the 4 year old from TK, picked up the 2 year old a couple days a week at preschool, took the 2 year old to dance class one day and library story time another day, put the two year old down for her naps, read stories at bedtime, etc… Most days either my son or his wife was working from home which was tremendously helpful. But Thursday I was all on my own. Getting the three kids in the car, in the car seats, out of the car seats, out of the car, etc… was the hardest part. I saw a lot of grandparents at the elementary school picking up and I was struck by how old they look. Do I look that old?!?
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My D and SIL will be going out of state for a wedding next weekend and I will stay home with my 22 month old grandson. I can honestly say I never thought I would be spending my Medicare birthday with a toddler. But thinking about other options, I think it’s perfect!
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congrats!!
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And now we know that GS1 is getting a sister (Feb) and a boy cousin (May).
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OMG the car seats are definitely the hardest part! I do pickups for both kids at separate times, and the whole–get the kid, get all their stuff (backpack, water bottle, lunch box, art work, jackets etc) and then into and out of the car, definitely a lot of work. It IS fun to be part of their routines, but yes, exhausting.
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I was almost 41 when S2 was born. So I was 43 when he was two and needed to be picked up, placed in the car seat, strapped in, give the drink or the toy or whatever. Then, when we arrived at our destination, unstrapping him, lifting him out of the car, making sure he didn’t run away in the parking lot . . . . I remember doing it one day and I hit my head on the roof of the car. I just wanted to sit in the parking lot and sob. But I carried on, because – what else do you do??
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Babies are so much easier! Just click the baby seat into the pre-installed base! Car seat makers sell additional bases separately so several cars can be equipped. Toddlers are a lot more work.
DDs were born the year DH and I turned 38 and 40. Somehow the car seat issues were not problematic - I don’t remember them being difficult. However, I had to ask another parent at Grandkids’ daycare how to loosen a strap that GS1 tightened… DDs’ Montessori school even had field trips where we left the car seat to go into another car pool parent vehicle (that stopped a few years later).
There are grandmothers that have their hair go gray (which IMHO ages a person). Maybe there is a big gap between the kids having their children. DD1 is 29 and has 4 children, so the gap is age is more between DH/me and the DDs.
I actually wanted to have a 3rd child, and DH said “we are too old” - and I respected his wishes. Things turned out fine, as we were able to afford the schools/activities of DDs.
When I was dropping GKids off at daycare, I was in DD’s Odyssey which has the sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle. That was a big help. GD1 in the 3rd row seating was a bit of a reach to buckle her in, but she often could unbuckle herself. With the 4th baby, the older 2 were in 3rd row seating - and DD had to have a very stern talk with GD1 and GS1 about not unbuckling the seat while the car is moving – they thought it was a good joke; DD told them “do you like to walk? Because with an accident and you not buckled in your car seat, you might not walk again”. When I heard her talk, it sounded like it was not the first time.
When my kids misbehaved, I would pull over and wait for them to act properly. And they knew I would not move until they complied.
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One of my former bosses was 56 (maybe 57?) & his wife 49 when their son was born. I was the same age as my boss, and I honestly didn’t know how he and his wife managed. I was in awe.