Having kids after 50???

[tigercat]

To start with I am 55. I have seen articles that some women have had kids after 50. I wish I knew how they did it. I am looking after my 3 youngest grandkids (5, 3 and just turned 1 last Friday ) and I am WORN OUT. By the time they leave (they arrive at 9 a.m. and leave about 6 p.m.) I am so tired I just want to go to bed. But I still have 4 people to cook for so have to get supper ready and I am on the board for my baseball league as well as the treasurer for it and the treasurer for my religion. This is not going to be easy. Ít's a good thing that the kids are fairly good and play together really well, and that the little one seems to go down for an afternoon nap better for me than her parents. Probably because it is necessary for me not her LOL
tigercat

 

[Imzadi]

Sounds like you need a and a glass of wine before flopping into bed.

 

[tigercat]

I sure don't have any problems going to sleep at night. In fact I think I sleep better than the kids do at night LOL Sure was easier on me when I was younger although I must say I have a lot more patience with the kids than when I was younger and things don't cause me to freak out as much as it used to. My kids are in their 30's and the older grandkids are 12 and 17 so I have had a lot of years to grow my patience LOL
tigercat

 

[LuvOrlando]

I read your Thread title and thought, I don't even want kids IN my house when I'm 50,never mind babies, but that doesn't/won't include grandkids. You are a peach, anyone lucky enough to have a safe loving grandparent available to watch their kids is soooo blessed. as tired as you are I know 3 kids whose lives are so much better because of Grandparents willing to be caregivers so here is a And a

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I was thinking, wow she's got a lot more spirit than I do!

 

[Michelle67]

Boy do I hear ya. I'm only 44 and my two little grandsons (both under 3 years old) run me ragged when I have them! There's NO WAY I would watch them every day. You're a better woman than me. Good job on being a great grandma.

 

[MIGrandma]

You have your little grands every day?

Hats off to you, as I couldn't do that.

I'm 53 and my youngest grands wear me out just having them for a few hours occasionally. Last week I watched them (age 6 and 2) two afternoons and that was enough. Love them to pieces, but like you they wear me out. I can't imagine having any of my own now at this age. I would be a certified nut case for sure!!

I don't mind helping out now and then, as they live just about a quarter mile up the road from us so it's pretty convenient for them to be dropped off, but to do it all the time? No thanks. I'm gettin' too old for that.

 

[PigletsPal2]

There's a special place in heaven (with personal masseuses) and crowns with many stars for grandparents like you!

We were able to avoid this dilemma by getting overseas assignments until DGD was a teenager, and she's our "precious only."

Queen Colleen

 

[tigercat]

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. I do enjoy the kids. The smiles the 1 yr old gives me with her sloppy kisses as she is dropped off is so nice. And the other 2 can't wait to get here in the morning. Usually by the time they leave they are okay at leaving because they are sooooo tired. I do have a son at home in the afternoons and he looks after the older 2 while the little one and I have a sleep. She needs some company don't you know!!! I have a large wooden swing set with a fort and the whole area is convered with sand. As well I have a canapy over the deck convering our table and chairs so we spend a LOT of time out there playing. We also eat our meals out there right now as well. When it rains we have a cover for the canapy and go still use that area. I am tired but do really love having them. At least they go home at night. If they were mine they would still be here at night. Don't think I could handle that. LOL
tigercat

 

[princesshannahsmom]

You are a special lady!

DD must be the luckiest kid in the world, as she stayed with MY grandparents until she was three (while I worked full time), and my MIL until she went to pre-k at 4.5. She stays with my parents and grandparents constantly and there is never a shortage of grands and great grands at the houses. She also stays with my aunt A LOT, who ALWAYS has her grandkids. Guess the folks in my family must flop down in the bed at night exhausted!

But there is no doubt, there is a special place in heaven for grandparents like that!

 

[mhsjax]

I am 48 and youngest is 10. I can't imagine little ones at your age. I have to say, that I hear more and more of grandparents like you, that watch their grandkids. I say good for you if you enjoy it, but as I have said before and my mother before me said it to me,"they are your kids, I raised mine and I won't watch yours on a daily basis."

 

[njmom47]

My dd and dgd (8 months) moved back home full time a couple of weeks ago. I do as much as I can (weekends I'm up early, if I hear dgd fussing I will go get her and let dd sleep). I don't mind helping out, but I am done raising babies. I am 50 and work full time (plus dh and I have 2 other kids at home) so when I'm tired, I tell her I'm done. She always says thank you and that she appreciates what I do. That's really all I ask.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Big to all the grandparents that watch their grands. You are so kind to do that. When I become a grandparent I will only watch the grands if it is a last resort. Like if my child needs to save the money it would cost to put them in daycare or if the grand is home sick from school. It was hard enough on me to raise my own kids, I would not want to do it every day.

 

[Arielle22]

I am 45 and don't have grandchildren yet. I do watch my nephews who are 5.5 and 2.5. They are not brothers but cousins to each other so I don't usually have them at the same time.

They tire me out. The younger one has a feeding tube so I am up with him until about 1am. To keep him contained in 2 rooms downstairs when he is awake we have to move our couch to block the larger doorway and then use a baby gate on the other doorway. The living room is trashed when he is done but he will help clean up when we ask him to.

The 5.5 year old is at the age when everything is a question. It is very cute but can be annoying (why is the sky blue, why do I have blood etc).

I do like to have them over to show my DDs (17 and 16) what it is like to have a baby to curb any impulse they may have. DD17 tells me it worked that not only does she not want a child now but she never wants one. She first said that after the younger nephew threw up in her bookbag.

 

[abdmom]

I'm 47. My youngest CHILD is 5. He goes to sleep around 9. I go to bed around 9:30. DH got out of any of the fun by passing away soon after ds was born. I love him to bits, but I tell my older children to not wait as long as I did to have children. I'd be so happy to have grandchildren at this age.

 

[tigercat]

Things just sort of fell into place this year after her maternity finished. It is a struggle for them to meets ends and then to find good daycare that they can afford was difficult. I don't have a job at the moment (I left my job after my dm died as they started to attack me verbally and were making accusations up) so I was home and available. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up and be a Mum so I am still following that I guess. My dd and dsil really appreciate what I am doing for them. I think it would have been harder if the kids were horrible but they aren't.
tigercat

 

[wvjules]

It sounds like watching 3 little ones all day is getting to be too much for you. I know you are trying to help out your DD but you can't exhaust yourself in the process.