That's great and all, but not the same as seeing someone in person. Not at all.This is what FaceTime is for.
That's great and all, but not the same as seeing someone in person. Not at all.This is what FaceTime is for.
Grandparents being close is a blessing. Growing up mine were in bike distance from our house and my parents had to drag me home from their house every night of the week. They gave up on weekends. I spent so much time there I had my own room. Grandfather had all the time in the world to keep me out of trouble either hunting, fishing or taking me to college football games. You are lucky if your kids can spend time with them.It’s a perfect scenario for us and the kids get to see their grandparents a lot.
OMGSix kids. One in Arizona with a child of her own. One in Utah. One in Winston, NC, with three kids. One in DC. One in Vermont. One still in college in CT.
We do a lot of flying…
Colorado is really expensive. I honestly don't see my youngest staying in Florida. Plus Michigan is a beautiful State.It could have been worse. Both my parents as well as my wife's parents aren't even in North America - 4.5K and 8K+ miles away. Haven't seen them in over 3 years now, and they haven't seen their grand kid.
What's keeping you in Michigan?
I have flown a lot for work and some vacations. Even to drive home classic car from out of state, YET I have always hated to fly.
We expect all of our kids to head West. We looked at potential retirement locations in Montana, Idaho and Utah last summer. I don't see us moving to Seattle. But moving further West after parent pass and we retire is in the realm of possibilities. I could see us working as docents or other staff in a National Park or similar stay busy jobs after we retire. Or at least try it for a summer or two.Our oldest daughter moved to Colorado years ago and is married and has a 3 year old son. Our youngest daughter just moved to Florida with her boyfriend. Both are now far away from their Michigan roots. I know they must grow and spread their wings, but I wish they wouldn't have flown out if State. It makes it hard to see them and help them if needed.
How about you guys and gals out there?
I had great fights with sibbling about exactly what u speak of. I never started them. I think it was their own guilt at using my parents as baby sitters.Moved South 15 years ago, relocated kids to new schools (HS and Middle) at the time.
Now college graduates, all live within 2 hours of us with very good jobs. Except for the oldest whom stayed up in NY.
As far as grandparents go, we dont agree with many in here and some will agree with us.
I never imposed my kids on my parents to be their baby sitter and dont misunderstand my parents loved all their grandchildren but I didnt work my whole life to retire then be stuck babysitting just like I didnt expect my parents too either. Talk about selfish and "entitled" kids!
Your entering the late years of your life and your on this planet to make life more easy on your kids? It should be the other way around.
Anyway, we always made sure to get baby-sitters for nights out alone and for trips, well guess what? You bring your kids, after all, why wouldnt you?
When you have kids its time to be a grown up and take responsibility to properly raise them.
Now I am not saying having a grandchild for a sleepover is a bad thing once in a great while, not at all but I see some young parents constantly unburden themselves from their responsibility of raising their children to go off immaturely without their kids. I mean, what the heck???
Consider two things. You are lucky. And you have done a good job of raising normal children who want to go out into the world and make their way. Yes it's sad for you. Too many children don't want to leave home these days. Right now my 43 yr old son and 41 yr old daughter still live with their mother who is on husband #3. She makes things easy for them and doesn't require anything of them.Our oldest daughter moved to Colorado years ago and is married and has a 3 year old son. Our youngest daughter just moved to Florida with her boyfriend. Both are now far away from their Michigan roots. I know they must grow and spread their wings, but I wish they wouldn't have flown out if State. It makes it hard to see them and help them if needed.
How about you guys and gals out there?
12 years ago we were making $14 an hour working mundane jobs in Buffalo, NY with college degrees and no change in site.
We moved to Austin and really got our careers going day one. Now we live near San Antonio in a new house and both work professional jobs.
Better weather, more stuff to do, higher salary, nicer house, more diverse people, various circles of friends, etc etc.
When I go back home to visit family they say they live their lives through watching us on facebook because we do so much, and they sit at home and do nothing. Let that sink in for a minute, how sad.
I did this to my parents. I joined the Coast Guard in '99 and wanted to get stationed as far away from Southern California as I could. Not because I wanted to get away from my family, but because I wanted to see a different part of the country. I ended up in Connecticut and got married there. Eventually, my wife and I did move back to Southern California. We lived there for 8 years until we had our own kids and outgrew our 2 bedroom condo. We couldn't afford a house, so we looked elsewhere in the country. We ended up in a suburb of Kansas City and love it here. My parents did not believe me when I told them we were moving. I felt bad taking the grandkids so far away from them. We did what we thought was best for our family. We are 1500 miles from my parents and 600 miles from my wife's family. My parents visit once a year and we do Christmas alternating years between families. My parents have talked about moving out here a few times, but in the end I don't think they'll leave my sister and her family in Southern California.
I look at my own kids (11 and 9) and think my oldest will move away and the youngest will stay close to home. My oldest shares my fascination with exploring while the youngest is content to stay home. It will be strange when they both move out of the house and go off to college. Ask me then how I feel about them potentially moving away.
There is plenty to do. Just that certain types of people life in a bubble of repetition, and don't go outside that bubble.There’s nothing for them to do in Buffalo, NY ?
This right here is spot on in my opinion. PERFECT!I never imposed my kids on my parents to be their baby sitter and dont misunderstand my parents loved all their grandchildren but I didnt work my whole life to retire then be stuck babysitting just like I didnt expect my parents too either. Talk about selfish and "entitled" kids!
Your entering the late years of your life and your on this planet to make life more easy on your kids? It should be the other way around.
Anyway, we always made sure to get baby-sitters for nights out alone and for trips, well guess what? You bring your kids, after all, why wouldnt you?
When you have kids its time to be a grown up and take responsibility to properly raise them.
Now I am not saying having a grandchild for a sleepover is a bad thing once in a great while, not at all but I see some young parents constantly unburden themselves from their responsibility of raising their children to go off immaturely without their kids. I mean, what the heck???