Nanny and Pappa Come to Care, Part 1

For this retired couple, hitting the road at 7:40 a.m. means a mighty early day. That's how Monday started. Our son-in-law Cliff went back to work on Monday so we tried our best to pitch in for him.

This following statement has been uttered many times, CATHY HAS A VERY BUSY LIFE! They say you don't really know what that's like until you walk in some else's shoes, and walk or should I say, run, we did!

A typical day after our arrival. Now keep in mind, that the children by the time we arrived were fed, dressed, lunches and snacks prepared, beds made, faces washed and hair "where grandchild actually had any to comb, was combed".

Arrival - Greeting by all mobile grandchildren! What love, what hugs, what smiles!
Watch clock

Prepare to walk to school -

get lunches, and school paraphernalia, hats, mittens, boots/shoes, coats backpacks.

Hit the road by 8:30
Walk to school, see all the sights in the neighbourhood-who has Christmas Lights, etc.
Kiss boy child and tell him to have a good day-before we hit the school ground
Drop off Carly's backpack by her classroom door
Drop off Claire and Cameron at their classroom door (kissing, wavine and goodbye saying included)
Walk back to Carly's classroom and wait for teacher to open door

Kiss, kiss, hug, hug

Walk home at a brisk pace

Get in door

collect laundry

start tea water

cuddle baby

play with Catie and Caroline

make tea for momma

make morning snacks

clean up after morning snacks

wash dishes (if not already done)

refill diaper supplies

tidy up

sweep up

fold laundry

make snack for momma

change a diaper or two

take pictures

start another load

do garbage detail

play, cuddle, cajole, laugh

decide on lunch

watch clock

pick up Carly

walk home, listen to her day and details as shared (if shared)

have lunch

admire baby

wash faces and anything else that needs cleaning

continue laundry

determine supper details

wash up

put one tired little girl down for a nap

play, read books, cuddle cajole, laugh

continue laundry

watch clock

spread around kisses and germs

determine after school snack

pick up Claire and Cameron

walk home, playing silly (but not really silly) games, look at all the neat stuff along the way
put away all the coats/hats/mittens/boots/shoes/school paraphernalia

snack time

wash up dishes

take more pictures

get out crayons and ???

referee, entertain, laugh, console, cuddle, cajole

put all the laundry away in appropriate drawers-that's the hard part-who owns what??

rehang the towels

change a diaper or two or three

kiss and admire and hopefully hold the sweet little baby

help with dinner preparation

leave with reluctance-because now Cathy has to respond to all of the demands herself

kisses and hugs and waves at the window

drive home

fix dinner at home

flop on the couch and crash!

The above list did not include: the visit to the Optometrist with Claire, cleaning of bathrooms, dusting or vacuuming!

Now all the Super-8s have to do is have dinner, clean up, bathe kids, do all homework assignments, try and settle them all down, make the lunches, sign all the forms. Gee, perhaps in another 5 hours they'll have 2 seconds to themselves!

All because of one tiny, perfect little baby-and worth every ounce of energy it takes.

My hats go off to these children of ours, I don't know how they do it day-in-day-out.