My two grandchildren are coming to stay for a fortnight over the holidays – and I am dreading it.
The first week their parents are working so we are in charge of them – they’re eight and six. For the second week our son and daughter-in-law will be staying too. She’s a decent woman but is a ‘gentle parent’ and is raising entitled kids who negotiate about everything.
My wife runs around after the kids and says she loves it, but I haven’t got the patience. I feel like there’s no space for me in my own home. If I ask the kids to keep the noise down then they either ignore me, or, when their mum is there, she’ll step in to defend them ‘having fun’.
My children showed me respect; this generation doesn’t think about others. I know they’re little but they’re not being brought up to help or be considerate.
I’d always imagined I’d have a good relationship with my grandchildren but they don’t seem to even notice me in their tornado of energy.
