Happiness is...grandparents who are happy to babysit.

A major contributor to my happiness in general, and certainly on this vacation, is the fact that the Big Man’s parents, and my parents, are all super-hands-on grandparents.

All of them are such naturally helpful grandparent types that it took me a while to appreciate how lucky I was. Wasn’t everyone thrilled to be a grandparent?

Thrilled, usually. Eager to help, not as common.

One friend told me that after her son was born, she asked her mother-in-law if she’d be willing to babysit. “Well, I suppose so…” her mother-in-law replied. “As long as you don’t leave.”

But in my case, both grandmothers are the take-charge type, in the nicest possible way. My mother came and stayed for weeks when the Big Girl and the Little Girl were born. My mother-in-law loves to take one or both girls for hours at a time.

The two grandfathers work more on the entertainment and “let’s-get-some-ice-cream” side of child care, less on the diaper-changing side, but they’re also both very enthusiastic.

This is one of those facts of life that is so easy to take for granted. Our vacation would be a lot less relaxing for the Big Man and me if his parents weren’t spelling us with the girls.

Right this minute, as I type, the Big Girl is off eating lunch with her grandparents while I stay with the napping Little Girl. An eight-year-old isn’t a particularly challenging lunch companion, but they were just as willing to take her when she was two.

I crave gold stars for myself, but how often do I tell the grandparents what a huge help they are? I resolve to tell them all, today.

Comments

[Sara in Austin]

Hear, hear! I can't say how happy it makes me to have helpful grandparents. It takes a lot of the stress of parenting away to know there are people who will help out in a pinch, and who are just as in love with your children as you are. I enjoy seeing how my parents push my daughter in different ways, and I love having a sounding board for whether I should be concerned about particular behavior or health issues.

[crunchycarpets]

Hi, found you through a recommendation of Ken Blumberg...and isn't it wonderful having GOOD and Loving grandparents around!?

My mom is 2 minutes away and drops everything to help and OFFERS to watch em when she sees us looking frazzled.

The in laws not so much and that is probably a good thing as they tend to make the kids sick with junk food and trash my house.

But they still love the kids so I will bite my tongue!

Great site....

[Steve Olson]

Gretchen,
My wife and I struggle with this one. My parents live hundreds of miles away and my in-laws don't seem to want to watch the kids much. I used to allow myself to get depressed about it. But what can you do?

I can't control how other people choose to spend thier time or where they choose to live. So happiness to me is accepting them as they are where they are.

[NTE]

I'm an eager (& hands-on) Auntie & have been helping raising my nephews/niece since they were born. Both sets of grandparents are also very involved in the lives of our little people, and they certainly deserve the recognition. I know the grandparents in your life will appreciate it.

[Pablo]

We are blessed to have grandparents, therefore we should make everything to keep them happy and in return it makes us happy. Kind of magic.

[Tara]

Yes you should feel very lucky! My parents live 1000+ miles away, and my in-laws live 1 block away, but don't really love to watch the kids. Maybe I should write them a note and take them a small surprise to thank them for the times that they do help us out. Maybe if they feel appreciated they won't feel so bugged about watching them.