We’ve been away recently with our two granddaughters, Kim aged 12 and Lucy aged 10, introducing them to our new holiday home on the Isle of Wight. Due to my recent radiotherapy and the extended recovery, it’s the first time we had looked after them for quite a few months.
It was nice to have a full back seat again in the car (I once heard that you know when you’re getting old, as your car’s back seat will be empty!). Our daughter-in-law kindly provided in-car DVD players for the girls, to while away the necessary 5 hour journey to get there. We were therefore thankfully spared the eternal ‘Are we there yet?’ question, which children are so fond of asking.
The girls have got past the stage of holding our hands, and are wanting a little bit more freedom which their parents are often unwilling to give. Once on the holiday park site, they were chuffed that we allowed them to walk back to our place on their own from the shop (about a 4 minute walk), and gave free rein for them to spend some of their money in the amusement centre while we stayed in the bar next door (within sight). Kim especially was particularly happy with the leash being let out a bit. I feel sorry for today’s pre-teen children having to be supervised all the time. It really does them no good at all, and makes them terribly fearful.
And fearful they were to start with. However, after a visit to a trampoline centre where they bounced about without breaking any arms or legs, two sessions of swimming in the sea where they didn’t drown, and a ride on a chairlift with us down to Alum Bay where they didn’t fall out, the girls were having the time of their lives. They built sandcastles and collected ‘treasures’ on the beach to take home, paddled in kayaks, went in a ‘Water Walker’ for the first time and loved it, and were seriously tired at the end of each day!
In the picture below I’m with Kim in the chairlift going down to Alum Bay.
The only downside I found were the girls’ diets. They veer towards junk food and are becoming rather overweight. I knew they would not eat what Sam and I eat, and so we visited a few local restaurants. However, to try and change their way of eating would take a year or so at the least, and so Sam and I decided to let them eat what they wanted to but at the same time educate them on healthy options. They aren’t interested at the moment, but hopefully something of what we told them might sink in for the future.
Altogether we all had a whale of a time. We’ll make the trip an annual event in the school summer holidays, and I look forward to the next one. It’s rather fun being a grandparent.
Clive said:
It sounds like you had a wonderful time. When our two were little we had a caravan as a summer home, and it was great to see them blossom in the freedom we could give them in such an environment. I hope the multicoloured sands were still there 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Yes but you can’t scrape them off the rocks like you could when we were kids. You have to buy it in the theme park shop, and there was a long queue…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clive said:
That’s a shame. I remember buying a test tube that we filled with different colours, then the guy would put in some sealant and put a stopper on it. I guess erosion has taken its toll.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
That’s right. Yes I remember the test tube too. Now you’ve got to pay for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clive said:
A sign of the times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dgkaye said:
Sounds wonderful Stevie.Glad you’re trying to sneak in a little bit about health and nutrition with the kids. Maybe a few more visits are in order to help sink in more lessons. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
The phrase ‘flogging a dead horse’ comes to mind…
LikeLiked by 1 person
dgkaye said:
Lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
franklparker said:
I envy you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Have you any grandchildren Frank?
LikeLike
franklparker said:
Yes – but she’s grown up now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Ah well, you’ll have to look forward to being a great-grandfather then!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darlene said:
Sounds like a fabulous time. Did I mention that I set a few scenes in my Amanda in England book on the Isle of Wight? I loved it there the one and only time I visited. Yes, being a grandparent is fun. I get to see my grandkids in a few weeks time. Can´t wait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
It’s my favourite place on earth. I’ll have to check out your Amanda in England book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
fearlessinjesuschrist said:
My granddaughters have a terrible diet as well! It really concerns me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Seems to be the norm with a lot of children now. As grandparents there’s not a lot we can do except to try and educate them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fearlessinjesuschrist said:
Yes, and pray!
LikeLiked by 1 person