And it's free. Sweet.
I know, I know, "you're lucky".
We are! While that night has become so important to us to re-connect and spend quality time together....it's just as important to my kids! They love it! On Thursday night they usually get 'the itch' and start asking for them. When Friday rolls around they go running to the door squealing when the big red truck shows up! They can't get in the truck fast enough! They kiss me and say bye with that look of 'I love you as long as you don't get me out of this car'.
Did it used to make me feel like my son loved my mom more and just wanted to get away from me? Sure. Now...not a chance. I love my mom, my mom loves us, and my kids adore her.
When I was a new mom I got so upset because I felt like she had this magic touch. Abram would stop crying instantly when she rocked him...but would scream for hours if I had him! I didn't want to feel 'less than', I didn't want to feel like I couldn't connect to my child, I wanted to be mom and not my mom!! Ohhhh, the hormones.
Now that I look back, I feel so eternally grateful for them during that time. That my mom loved my babies so much that she took off work a week to stay with us. She loved them enough that on her lunch break, or immediatley after work, she would drive to my house (40 min away) just to hold them for 10 min! That someone, besides their parents, love them and adored them and wanted what was best for them the way that I did! It's safe to say my mom loves them more than me! Hey, that's ok by me. When you're a mom as long as your babies are taken care of that's all that matters.
I can't say enough good things about my stepdad, he's been in my life for 10 years now. To my babies he's just papaw, he loves them like his own. They are his own. We live in the middle of town and I always wanted my kids to have a 'country background' like my husband and I did growing up. The ability to relax and explore...and just learn about the outdoors! I can't provide that. However, I am itching for some chickens.!!!
I'm not sure how it is in other places, or how it works in your family, but I grew up with my grandparents pretty much as second parents! I had some rough times growing up; abuse, moving, divorce, etc and they were my one constant secure thing. They had it together. I loved going to their house; I blame my grandma for my shopping addiction! We were always going to the salon with my great grandma, always shopping...she bought me Merle Norman makeup for Christmas in 4th grade! I wish someone would have told me it was too thick for a little girls face then! You live and learn.
She spoiled us because she loved us. I felt safe with them because I knew their security and love. Spoiling is part of being a grandparent! You aren't responsible for how they turn out! Send them home like my mom does; full of sugar and being used to getting their way! Abram now says, "no sweet tea at home, only at nanny's house".
However, grandparents raising grandkids don't have that luxury and that makes me sad
If you've ever had the blessing of knowing and loving a grandparent...you know when you loose them...you just loose something so special! When I lost both of my grandmothers it was like loosing a mother. My husband never got to meet one of them and it's just a part of me I wish he had known One day, each day, closer to seeing them again!!. Now, we will only have sweet memories from our time on Earth growing up with them. I have tons of memories and I want my kids to have tons of them as well!
So, are we lucky? Very fortunate and blessed, yes! But my kids are really the lucky ones! They won't know what they have until they can look back and remember with a smile.
And I won't feel bad sleeping in on Saturday morning ;)