I have two extras today. This neighborhood needs a Grandma and I am it! I have an 18month old and her younger brother who is 3 months old today. So far I have not fed mom or even gotten her dressed. But I have rocked a fussy baby to sleep twice, and changed a messy diaper. Mom seems to be enjoying all the commotion.
When we moved into this neighborhood 20 years ago we were the new young family on the block. Our youngest was in kindergarten and the oldest was just leaving for college. All of our neighbors were original home owners and quite elderly. We have watched the neighborhood completely change and we are now the old people. I took care of many an old neighbor for the last several years, cooking, dressing, and helping them move when needed. The last one is now in a home and I take him to lunch about once a month. He doesn't know me anymore but he loves the hot dogs at Sonic. So I am no longer Kim the woman two doors down that hems his pants. I am the hot dog lady and I can live with that.
As the hood turns over we have many young families around us. These particular neighbors moved in as a blended family. Both have jobs and the kids were all in school. However she became pregnant ( not on purpose but we all know this happens) so well now they would be a his, mine and ours. It would work. Their little girl was born Dec.7 2016. She is a dolly and mom went back to work when she was three months old. Then at her 3month check up she found out she was pregnant again! Baby brother was born on Dec.24 2017, so not quite Irish twins.
I feel for families that both need to work and day care is such a huge expense. Getting a day care that will take an infant is really hard. We got to talking over the fence and she said that the biggest thing in addition to the expense was that her sitter was a 1/2 hour away in the heights then 1/2 hour back to work down town. Plus getting the kids into and out of the car seats was another 15 minutes . So on top of a full 8 hour day she had 2.5 hours of car and car seats. Yikes. I cannot imagine. She just went back to work last week and her sitters mom passed away. So now she is scrambling. We offered to take the two on Wednesdays to give her a break. She brings them over the fence in jammies and leaves for work. She has a 5 minute commute. She can come home and nurse the little boy at lunch rather than pump. So far other than getting up way too early we are doing fine. I will sew while the two takes naps this afternoon. If one won't nap then Hub's will take that one on. This will save them about $400.00 a month plus a day of no commuting.
Crazy or what?
Have a great and productive day staying positive while in the negative.
Kim
I laughed when I read she hands them over the fence in pajamas. At least one is an infant and cannot move about much now. My son was two years and three months when daughter was born. They never took naps at the same time!!! So, you are the Wednesday sitter? Or, is this just until the regular sitter comes back?
ReplyDeleteI have looked for over an hour for that money saving chart. I cannot find it.
Okay, I reread and see you sit on Wednesdays and sitter must be the other days. She needs help. That is a lot of money. Our neighborhood was young people with children. Now, old people have died and we are now the old people. The two neighbors in houses two and three over have children, so maybe it will be a young neighborhood again.
Deletehttps://www.mediumsizedfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Money-Saving-Chart-1.pdf
DeleteLisa,
DeleteThanks. I found many not like this, and some on large family blogs. Thanks.
Sorry I gave you the wrong web name. It was Medium family. We will sit on Wednesdays and they did nap at the same time. I was able to get 2.5 hours of sewing done while they napped.
DeleteSo wonderful of you to help out.
ReplyDeleteYour story sounds like ours. We moved here 32yearsago,and everyone was original homeowners and elderly. Now they are gone and we are the older folks in the neighborhood! Amazing how a few years changes everything and perspective.
How are the cats? mom and Sis want to know. I read your blog to them yesterday.
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ReplyDeleteWe are now some of the old guys in the hood too. I absolutely adore opening the window and hearing the noises kids make when playing outside. I figure within 4 years we will be selling this place and downsizing (plus buying something in Portland, so we can see Pip more often)
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile I am the big candy bar lady since I give out full sized candy bars on Halloween.
Wow my mom used to do that. She gave out big bags of m&m's.
DeleteYou are a wonderful neighbor! Does your mom enjoy having the littles around?
ReplyDeleteActually she loved it! I was surprised. She held the baby and rocked him to sleep three times. It was so cute. Today she has sobbed for two hours..... Love my life.
DeleteYou have a heart of gold my friend! I'm sure that the mommy is very grateful to have you as her neighbor. It is funny how we all become the older people in town isn't it? My DIL Rachel and I were talking about that yesterday when she was asking me about the demographics of our town. All of the older "grandmas and grandpas" that adopted our family when we moved here almost 26 years ago are now gone. We are becoming the older ones who are now trying to help out the young mothers and families in town along with watching out for our elderly neighbors who are struggling a bit in their late 70's and 80's.
ReplyDeleteWell it takes a village is true in many ways.
DeleteYou are such a kind person, Kim. I'm sorry your mom's having a meltdown today.
ReplyDeleteThank you she seems to have gotten over it.
DeleteThat is so nice of you. I really miss having little ones around. That mom must think you are an angel. Glad the little one kept your mom happy and busy.
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