Sometimes raising children is like being pecked to death by a chicken ...

No matter where you live, raising children is not for the faint of heart. Needless to say a sense of humor is a most important survival skill. I find that day to day life is much less stressful when your kids are all grown; you have somehow survived, and now it’s time to enjoy grandchildren – the most wonderful of all creations. I am totally “into” my grandkids, who are, of course absolutely wonderful in every sense – even when the younger ones band together and begin to lurk and skulk about in tandem – silent little Ninjas on an imaginary mission of some sort. If they would start not to be wonderful, I have learned that whatever the problem is, it will pass with a little love to get them through – or - I can always send them home to their loving parents. (Actually I haven't had to do that yet.)

I figure that I am entitled to enjoy my grandkids as I survived raising a son and a daughter… good kids, but they still dragged me kicking and screaming through the usual growing-up challenges – I found myself to be ever captive but … willing to help. I have to tell you that my hair is totally white. The loss of color happened prematurely, and I earned every single white hair. Frankly, I blame it on my son’s four wheeler experiences in combination with a certain fearlessness and his belief in his own immortality and on my daughter’s tendency to love and adopt animals – of all sorts… hamsters, fish, bunnies, dogs, cats, horses. She actually trained an old pulling pony to jump logs. She was about 7 years old at the time, I think -- maybe even younger.

Further -- I feel compelled to mention that the poor driving skills of both of them during the first year or so of having a driver’s license also contributed to my premature white hair phenomenon. My daughter totaled a car shortly after she passed her driving test. I think it may have been one day after. One Day! The terror that comes with that sort of experience tends to hang on for a long time in a mom who tends to worry over even minor things. I will say though that at least she didn’t have speeding tickets in four states in one year like her big brother, so there is that for which to be thankful. By the way -- I no longer ask him about the status of that "tickets in one-year" record. I just assume that he has matured on that front + he lives in a Midwestern state that already has a high speed limit -- one which I find excessive to say the least. What can I say? He comes from a family that has a race car driver in its background. He feels the "need for speed" -- or did at one time.

Nowadays -- I have to admit that I take a certain perverse pleasure in listening to both of my children discussing their child rearing "situations" as well as when they call to ask advice.  I particularly love it that my son called to ask how I handled it when he was out late past curfew which, in truth, was never -- that I know of. He laughed when I told him that I used to go to bed early and set the alarm for 15 minutes before he was supposed to get home, so that I could be at the door to give him a nice long hug and to ask about his evening.  It worked for the most part – both kids knew I would be giving them that hug when they got home.  It was always my hope that they would think about that hug and welcome home talk.  I think they did. Then again – they may have left the house after I went to bed so that I never even knew that they were out – I don’t want to even think about it.  I have told them not to talk of such things in front of me as I am just starting to relax a bit on the worrying front now that they are handling their own stuff and raising their own children.  They are, by the way, doing an excellent job of it all.  (They now ask me nicely not to share their stories in front of their children.  Oh the struggles of temptation….)

Overnight at Nana's House

School is starting the day this blog "goes live", so this past weekend was the last chance that I had to keep a promise I had made to my two local grandkids that they could stay overnight again before the end of summer vacation.  Why I made this promise, I will never understand. Maybe it is because they are so cute, so well-behaved, so wonderful....  Nevertheless, I have to say that I wonder if I am alone in this but... I have mixed emotions about overnights with grandkids.  It isn't them; it's me.  Take last night, for example. My two little grandkids arrived with toys and pillows in hand and huge smiles on their faces. It doesn't get any better than those smiles.  They were through the door and into "their" rooms as quickly as can be -- busily getting their areas arranged. They exude a lovely (and exhausting) energy. It makes me tired even to think about it.  Wish I could borrow some of it.  The dog, lest I neglect to mention her, came with them, of course. We (the dog and I) share the kids -- only they are more hers than mine.  She sleeps on the floor between their rooms when they are here.  Personally, if I were the dog, I think I would have snuck up onto the couch after Nana dozed off, but not the Lovely Luna....  she is the guard dog to end all guard dogs where her little people are concerned. Guess I am not the only one to sleep/not sleep with one eye open and ears alert all night. 

So anyway -- by the time the kids had settled in their 35 stuffed animals, etc. (pardon the exaggeration, there were probably only 30), it was time for the dinner I had also promised -- which involved a short drive to a neighboring town for the Chinese food which we all love.  So after the unpacking  -- we were off to our favorite Chinese restaurant. The children had perfect restaurant manners and we were all smiling as we left for home with our leftovers.  Then came a movie that we had all been waiting to see.  One of their favorite people had given them the DVD of HOME, and we settled in to share the experience.  That too was wonderful.  I found myself smiling most of the way through and clapping enthusiastically with my four-year-old granddaughter at the happy ending. (My eight-year-old grandson just looked at us...)  Anyway -- shortly thereafter, they both went right to bed and I never heard another peep out of them until morning - in the predawn hours. Anyway -- you must/may be wondering by now what my problem is. Well... here's the thing.  Sleep is not one of my personal "talents", and when the little ones are here, I barely sleep at all.  I leave little lights on all over the place in case they get up in the night.  I don't want them to be afraid or anything.... Then all throughout the night I listen with renewed attention to noises and hear all these strange sounds that I simply do not remember ever hearing before. I find myself sitting up in bed or padding around in the semi-dark trying to find the source of the sound.  Good grief!  I am exhausted by morning.  I am exhausted just typing words about the experience. Please understand, as well, that all of this Nana behavior is actually an improvement. When these kids were babies and spending the night, I would sleep on the floor next to the crib so I could hear them breathe.  Am I alone in all of this?  Is there anyone else out there who exhibits this same nutty behavior?  Please tell me that I am not alone.  Ah -- the joys of "grandparenting".  

All of this overnight stuff and my nana behavior being explored a bit, I simply must say that I do so love being a Nana.  It is the best gift ever- even if it does tire me out once in a while.  These kids will be invited to stay again and, of course, the Lovely Luna will be invited as well.  I can sleep later.  They are growing up way too quickly.