Chad and Nicole are both off tomorrow and they have several things planned to do with Addie, and another couple who have kids her age so we met Nicole halfway this afternoon and returned Addie to her parents. She was here 13 nights except for Christmas Eve night she went home for Santa. When Addie leaves, I’m always exhausted. I kinda sleep with one eye open when she’s here (not really but I don’t sleep as sound as I do when she’s not here). There’s more cooking because I’m often making things that she will like but things I wouldn’t normally cook. There’s way more running upstairs and downstairs. There’s more interruptions when I’m sitting and doing things. I think back to the amount of time I spent with my grandma. She had so much to do and it had to be exhausting for her having me around so much.
They had a hard life – growing so much of their own food, canning it, butchering their own animals, cooking a big breakfast very early, then a big dinner, very involved with church Wednesday night, Sunday morning and Sunday night.
I never considered the toll my staying there took on her til I realize how tired I am after Addie leaves. I do feel like I entertained myself a lot but Addie does too.
Unless they come to Joplin to shop and run by here, it may be 3 or 4 weeks before I see her again. This time of year, I can get her for the weekend but that means the weather has to be good enough for me to drive there on Friday and good enough for me to take her back on Sunday.
I miss her but it is going to be nice to sit and cross stitch a while tonight without having to stop and answer questions or see why something isn’t working or help her make something. 🙂
vivoaks says
I know the feeling! I spent the last two nights at my daughter’s to help with the 9-week old who won’t sleep unless he’s being held, plus an almost-6-year-old. First night I was awake till after 5:30 AM…yes, A.M!!! As in up all night. He slept till 7, so I got almost an hour and a half of sleep. An hour’s nap yesterday afternoon, and he was awake from 3:00 AM to 4:30… this morning. This afternoon I brought the 5-year old home for 2 days. Hopefully a real night’s sleep tonight will make tomorrow liveable.
Oh, and the kids dad might have Covid again… the joys of living in a pandemic…
Sara Fridley says
I know how you feel. We had 2 of the grandkids stay for a couple of extra days after Christmas. Sophia is 9 and an “easy keeper” like Addie. But Jack is 6 and goes non-stop. I was exhausted after they went home!
montanaclarks says
Your growing up sounds so much like mine. But there were three of us staying at my grandparent’s after school and during the summer. And how did they do it?? Feeding us, canning, butchering their own pigs and cows, growing a HUGE garden, growing watermelons for us and to sell (that’s why I’m such a good watermelon picker–taught by the best), church three times a week. I often wonder how my Mom did it too–she worked full time after my brother went to Head Start yet she also did all the above plus made every piece of clothing she, my sister and I wore!
Cindy F says
I love having family visit, the more the merrier, but once they are gone I enjoy the quiet for a few days and then start missing everyone and looking forward to the next time…lol
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, that’s exactly how it is here.