Advice to new grandparents !!

[RSKY]

We baby-sat our twin grandsons until they were in grade school. It was a "treat" for Sharn Jean and I, having raised two girls, the boys were a whole new ball game. I grew up with two brothers, so I wasn't surprised that "boys will be boys" but Sharn Jean had a real culture shock with the boys as compared to the girls. A pizzing contest performed on the back porch was a new concept for her, as was the regular use of terms describing bodily functions.

After two daughters and three granddaughters this 3-1/2 year old grandson has been a shock to us. He can steer my little Kioti while standing between my legs. He can drive the Bad Boy, without the blade engaged and idling, around an obstacle course I set up for him and his seven year old sister. He is as tall as his big sister and 5-year old girl cousin.

And let a couple of 12-15 year old girls walk by and he forgets what he is doing and starts following them.

Gonna be fun watching what all goes on the next few years.

RSKY

 

[2LaneCruzer]

After two daughters and three granddaughters this 3-1/2 year old grandson has been a shock to us. He can steer my little Kioti while standing between my legs. He can drive the Bad Boy, without the blade engaged and idling, around an obstacle course I set up for him and his seven year old sister. He is as tall as his big sister and 5-year old girl cousin.

And let a couple of 12-15 year old girls walk by and he forgets what he is doing and starts following them.

Gonna be fun watching what all goes on the next few years.

RSKY

Treasure those times!

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, lock it when you are doing your business or "Hi Granddaddy, what are you doing?"

Of course you can't tell a 3-year old that you are just taking a s---.

RSKY

:laughing: Nice!

 

[MossRoad]

After two daughters and three granddaughters this 3-1/2 year old grandson has been a shock to us. He can steer my little Kioti while standing between my legs. He can drive the Bad Boy, without the blade engaged and idling, around an obstacle course I set up for him and his seven year old sister. He is as tall as his big sister and 5-year old girl cousin.

And let a couple of 12-15 year old girls walk by and he forgets what he is doing and starts following them.

Gonna be fun watching what all goes on the next few years.

RSKY

That reminds me of our first child. We'd go to a local state park, and she'd stand between my legs and steer our full size conversion van around the park when she was 2-3 years old. Had a blast. Then, of course, we didn't have seatbelt laws. Now, if they caught me doing that, I'd get a visit from child protective services. Probably rightly so, but it was fun while it lasted.

 

[Jstpssng]

That reminds me of our first child. We'd go to a local state park, and she'd stand between my legs and steer our full size conversion van around the park when she was 2-3 years old. Had a blast. Then, of course, we didn't have seatbelt laws. Now, if they caught me doing that, I'd get a visit from child protective services. Probably rightly so, but it was fun while it lasted.

A lot of kids used to do that, and probably were better drivers in the long run. The problem now isn't the seat belt laws as much as the air bags; even a minor accident could turn out wrong.

As an aside; my driver's ed instructor said they found the best drivers were those who were allowed to ride their tricycles inside when they were kids.

 

[dougtrr2]

We have six grandkids fairly close in age. One right of passage is learning how to run the backhoe on my Kubota BX24. To make it special, I arbitrarily set 5 years old as the threshold. Once you were five grandpa would teach you how to use the backhoe. One year after they had all learned how I turned them loose. They dug a hold 4 x 4 x3' deep before they decided to move onto something else. It is nice to live in the country.
Doug in SW IA