Kids Are Great, But Exhausting

My wife and I spent the last six days taking care of our MN grandchildren as their parents took a well deserved childless vacation. They returned Tuesday afternoon happy and well-rested. I suspect that lasted one, maybe two hours, before they were just as tired as they were when they left.

Having this time with our grandchildren was wonderful, but frankly, I am exhausted. There’s a reason why people have kids when they are young. One day we all went to Minnehaha Falls which were absolutely rocking after all the rain in the TC. After that, the 4-year old and I went to play basketball, then we played pickle ball and yes he can hit the ball. We finished by going to the park.

The little guy has one speed, wide open until he runs out of gas. And at this point in life, he has more gas than I do. Regardless of what I say, he always asks why. Its very important none of us quell the curiosity of a little person, the world will do it to them all too soon. So I answer every why question as best as I can. For example, the reason hummingbirds hum is they do not know the words. To him, yes means go ahead and no means wait a few seconds and just do it. This can lead to very intense discussions about actions and consequences.

His older sister, like her cousins, my other granddaughters is a princess and a total delight. She does not like the word no either, but she knows grandma is the money tree. So when she pushes back, I just say I will tell grandma on her. I know its a weak move on my part, but it works.

When one is responsible for little people day in and day out for a few days, it is fun, but a lot of work. That’s the reason parents everywhere are tired all the time. Between work, taking care of the kids, and not getting enough sleep, they are exhausted. For anyone actually dumb enough to think going to work is much harder than being a stay at home parent, leave that person, generally an ignorant white guy, at home with two young kids for eight hours and when you return he will be curled up in the corner in the fetal position sucking his thumb. Meanwhile the kids will be on the floor covered in flour making cookies.

Its not than any specific part of parenting is that hard. What is hard is it is every day. Kids need to be fed at least several times daily, kept busy, kept safe and sleep. Often they do not want to eat or sleep but we all know when they don’t, they turn into Tasmanian Devils. And they need to learn stuff, not just in school but all parts of life including how to interact with other kids at the playground. If you can give the parents of your grandkids a break once and awhile, that is a wonderful gift to them.

Though they do not know it, all of our grandchildren are blessed. They live in nice houses, have plenty to eat and lots of stuff. They do not understand millions of children in America are hungry and with cutting of SNAP benefits, hunger in America is going to increase, especially for children. For the record, I do not believe any Republican who voted for or supported the reduction of SNAP benefits which feed low-income people, especially children will go to heaven, does not matter what you call yourself or how often you go to church. Its simple, if you support cutting of food for children anyone for that matter, you are not following the teachings of Jesus. Period.

My grandchildren do not know that the current Republican party is completely and totally anti-children. Cutting SNAP benefits, defunding the Department of Education which has provided billions of dollars of support for low-income schools, voting against funding pre-school programs which provide a safe environment for small children of working parents who are struggling to make ends meet, support gun violence which is the leading cause of death for children, and making women second class citizens are all anti-children and all are supported by Republicans.

Well to be fair, my oldest granddaughter, age 10, knows this and I will make sure the others know this also as they get older. For me, its not good enough to be a fun grandparent who loves being with his grandchildren, I also have to be their advocate until they are old enough to be their own.