Thursday, July 16, 2009

Thursday 13 - Things a Grandparent Should Know

Things change - so if you are about to become a grandparent for the first time there are some things you should know.

Here are just some (13 to be exact) of the things I have learned in the past two years.*

  1. Rule # 1 - assume all the rules you remember from being a Mom/Dad are wrong!

  2. Diapers come in multiple sizes and food is divided into age stages.

  3. Anything that ties is bad - hats, coat hoods, bibs - bad, bad, bad.

  4. Bibs all have Velcro now - be sure to attach the Velcro together before putting the bib in the laundry with your good sweater, shirt, etc.

  5. They are not called play pens ( because you are not confining the child - that might warp their little id), they are Pak n' Plays.

  6. Everything you will sit the child in will have shoulder harnesses and lap straps (so apparently when they are sitting it's okay to warp confine them).

  7. Unless you go retro, every toy you buy will require batteries.

  8. Never assume the child safety latch you just bought will work.

    It took Isaac less time to remove this one then it did for me to put it on!


  9. Any toy you kept from when your kids were little may put you at risk of child endangerment - it undoubtedly has smaller parts than are now allowed.

  10. FYI - car seats have expiration dates! Don't ask me to explain why, I can't.

  11. Oh, and if you have grandchildren that tend to be thin or small, they'll be in some kind of car seat until they're 12.

  12. The list of what you can feed them until they are about two is about the same length as what the list of what you couldn't feed them was when you had your kids.

  13. Good news - according to the surgeon general, the CDC, and all the parenting magazines and books, you can still love them just like you did your kids.




*DISCLAIMER -This list is not meant to disrespect or poke fun at my daughters in any way. They roll their eyes at some of the "new" rules too.






Go here to join Thursday 13.

14 comments:

Mia Celeste said...

Ha! Funny. I remember when we used to haul a pack 'n play around. :)

Christy said...

No offense taken. :-)

The car seat expires because if you leave it in your car all the time, the heat from the sun weakens the plastic over time, making it more likely to break/crack in an accident (she typed while rolling her eyes).

Lori said...

LOL @ #12. It does seem that way, doesn't it? My son has always been big for his age, so he really looked like a big goofus in that thing they are supposed to ride in after they out-grow the regular carseat. Love your sense of humor about it all and that photo is priceless! (-:

Lori said...

Oops, I meant LOL @ #11! The one about them riding in the carseat until they are 12.

Nicholas said...

I am in no hurry at all to become a grandparent, but when the inevitable happens, I'll remember these rules!

Kristen said...

Great list! Things change so fast nowadays, that some things I could/couldn't do with my 14 year old I can't/can do with my two year old. That is, if I listened to "them."

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I'm still close enough to have experienced all this as a mom. The Tour Manager and I often shake our heads in wonder at the rules and how things have changed. It's actually scary.

Oh, and since you asked about Trevor's love of old movies and strip clubs... Why see a professional? He's a rock star, after all! (Albeit a fictional one) That IS quite the contradiction, though, isn't it?

Americanising Desi said...

lol

http://2short2sweet.blogspot.com/2009/07/words-in-kiss.html

DoubleDeckerBusGuy said...

Okay, well... #13 is the best... but...

"FYI - car seats have expiration dates! Don't ask me to explain why, I can't."

It's obvious you haven't been near a car seat that's "gone off". I mean, really gotten way past it's "Best Before" date. They can be incredibly manky!!! :)

Pollyanna said...

Funny! I'm in the mommy stage of life and even I called the pack 'n play a play-pen. I can't tell you how often I put them in there just to keep them out of my hair for a few minutes.

I'm sure my mom and mother-in-law have rolled their eyes at me behind my back. I don't care because I'm the mom and I said so ;)

Alice Audrey said...

I remember being stunned that my mother didn't already know all the rules I was learning when mine where little. I'm now sure I'll be stunned by all the new rules when my kids have kids.

A Scattering said...

....and the wheels on the bus go round and round..... Great advice in a very funny presentation!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

#4: I have been a victim.
Also, I had a child that could've been in a car seat (by her weight, etc.) until she was 12, too.

Debbie@Like a Rose said...

Yes, if Isaac gets much taller without gaining a lot more weight he'll be sitting yoga style in his rear-facing car seat!