Guess what? You know what I'm going to say, don't you? As of last Friday, I have become a childminding Nonna! Only for two days a week, but let me tell you, a day childminding is harder than a week writing. I already knew that, of course, after all, I brought up four children. But I'd forgotten just how hard it is keeping a baby entertained for several hours.
On Friday, I only had dear little LHG for four hours, but I was bushed! Pa offered to look after him on his own the following day, being a Saturday, so I could do other things, though in the end we shared the job.
LHG is of an age now where he wants to be constantly occupied. With no siblings to amuse him, it's down to poor old Nonna and Pa to come up with games. It's amazing how long a baby can be entertained by someone stacking up blocks or beakers for them to knock down. How does that not get tedious after twenty goes?
I remember C being the same as a babe, being the oldest and on her own. You get to a point where you wonder if you ever had a life before their birth, so all encompassing are their needs. Ironically, having two or more children is easier than having one. At least, I found it so. When Peter, Giovanna and Jack, each came along, they had older siblings to play with. Peter in particular would sit for hours in his bouncy chair watching C play. Very laid back. He hasn't changed!
Pa, despite volunteering his solo services, had clearly underestimated how tiring it would be looking after LHG. By 4 o'clock in the afternoon, both he and his grandson were soundo together on the sofa!
That evening we sat in a stupor in front of the TV, fit for nothing but watching a DVD of New Tricks (heaven!).
As for my Daily Mail article, like more than a third of the things they commission, it never saw the light of day.
Maybe they knew I'd have to eat my words!
