My friend’s mom had a similar situation right when friend’s baby was born. My friend ended up hiring her mom as a nanny, and her mom reached SS age around the time she wasn’t needed quite as often … but she still picks up her GD from school every day (and the GD is a non-driving high school senior now). It’s been a wonderful arrangement all the way around!
4 Likes
Yay! The infant care issue has been resolved.
SIL2 starts his job a week from Monday so the situation requires an immediate solution.
They’re doing a nanny-share with a medical fellow D2 knows from residency. The fellow and his wife have a 9 month old. Nanny is fully vaccinated and has experience caring for multiple infants at once.
Sounds like everything got worked out just fine and in time.
16 Likes
Glad it all worked out @WayOutWestMom .
2 Likes
Childcare in the States continue to be a big issue for young families. There are pros and cons of using daycare vs in home childcare. It’s nice when they have grandparents nearby to pitch in sometimes.
4 Likes
I am hoping D2 will have a baby soon while I still have energy to help out.
9 Likes
We had two of the grandkids (2 yr and the other almost 3) yesterday for 9 hours.We weren’t planning on such a long day but we made it,three meals, snacks, cookie making and bath. It was raining and the boys really wanted to play in the rain. We held them back till a break in the rain. They love pushing their trucks all over our property. We also have kid size wheelbarrows we got at Costco last year. They pushed their wheelbarrows along with big shovels and worked clearing a drain of stick clay mud.
My eyesight isn’t what it used to be and I realized I misread the recipe on the back of the chocolate chips. I used just 1/4 cup of each sugar when it should have been 3/4. They tasted fine but the crumb was way off.
7 Likes
The family took me out for a birthday brunch this morning.
The grand kids were sooo well behaved. They used cloth napkins, tried some new foods. No yelling. No food/drinks spilled on the floor or table. No antagonizing each other or kicking under the table. They managed to sit for almost a whole hour without getting too antsy.
And because it was a birthday celebration, the management gave us a plate of freshly cooked, still warm doughnuts with Nutella for dipping. Those were a big hit with everyone!
17 Likes
Happy birthday! 
What a wonderful celebration you had!
3 Likes
DH wasn’t feeling well, so I took my 6-year-old grandson to the free monthly Home Depot kid’s workshop. I was pretty amazed at his skill with the little hammer and screwdriver! I hadn’t attended one before so wasn’t aware how well run it is. They have a big table set up, made of just plywood with upside down orange buckets as seats. The kit was to make a wooden tow truck and all the instructions and materials were in the bag. The kids got a small screwdriver and hammer to borrow,and a plate with four different colors of paint, and a disposable paintbrush, and an orange HD work apron.
And after the kids are finished, they get a bag of goldfish and hot chocolate or a juice box and a pin that they can put on their apron to show they have completed that project.
It’s really a very sweet deal and teaches the kids hammer and other skills like following directions. I highly recommend it.
16 Likes
How much was the workshop? Are reservations required? Sounds like it was a fun activity for your GS.
The workshops are free. You can pre-register but it is not required… basically you just show up the first Saturday of the month after 9 AM and head back to where they have the table set up!
2 Likes
My kids did a few workshops when they were little (currently both 29). They are fun. Often holiday themed.
1 Like
Grandson has been going to them for about a year now. He is very confident swinging the hammer, and applying pressure to the screwdriver as he turns it to keep the tip seated in the Philips head screws. He has also learned to orient the projects correctly and follow the pictured instructions. Really very cool, and I was impressed by his focus and concentration!
I helped hold a few pieces in place, and was a little leary of his hammering so close to my fragile fingers. He said, “Don’t worry, Gigi. Ì hit grandpa’s hands lots of time!”
7 Likes
My SIL takes GD to the workshops. He’s been supervising her use of real tools for a couple years (she just turned 5). She loves helping with little projects around the house.
4 Likes
My son and SIL take their kids most months. Local GD now has dance class on Saturdays, so I or one of her parents swing by HD and pick up a kit to complete at home. My son hates mess, so if completed at home, no paint is involved!
4 Likes
Wow! I have literally never heard of these before. I wonder if they don’t do them in my area. We have a HD in town and I have never heard of anyone going to it for that.
1 Like
Check here and select your location to find a store. You do not need to register, just walk in. The kids will get an apron on their first visit; their pin will be in the bag with the build.
3 Likes
Lowe’s also does the same type of activity, but my crew go to HD, but I know of others that have gone to both.
2 Likes
Cool! I will have to see if D knows about this. Thanks!
1 Like
Everything this moment seems like a dumpster fire but my adorable chunk of a toddler grandchild is the light of my life.
11 Likes