There’s something so funny about grandkids. They show up like these tiny whirlwinds that haven’t known peace a single day in their lives. Which, of course, is beautiful in its own way. Your grandkids, well, all grandkids, are running, jumping, climbing on furniture, asking ten questions at once, telling stories that make absolutely no sense, and expecting every adult in the room to match that energy like it’s nothing. Like, even if you’re an elderly parent, well, grandparent at this point, that grandkid gives you a boost of energy and you’re just hoping to match theirs, too, right?
And honestly, it’s adorable, but it’s also, well, yeah, a lot. Seriously, like there’s no shame in admitting it. But really, keeping up doesn’t mean someone needs to turn into an athlete. Yeah, sure, that would be marvelous, but it just doesn’t work that way; it’s just about keeping up, literally, that’s it. But what’s the best way to go about this?
Movement Makes Everything Easier
Yeah, this is already obvious, but kids aren’t going to sit still. Ever. Instead, they just move, and they just keep going on and on. And so yeah, grandparents end up bending, lifting, crouching, getting up from the floor, sitting back down, you get the idea. So it helps when the body isn’t stiff every time someone tries to stand up. As you can guess, it’s like a workout within itself being around kids.
So, you don’t need a gym membership, but help yourself to one if you really want. But it just helps to focus on preventing muscle stiffness and just general muscle weakness. Seriously now, even tiny things like walking a bit more, stretching while the kettle boils, doing a few little movements each morning, it all adds up.
Just Hearing is Half the Job
Well, listening to those little fast talkers. But yeah, kids talk so fast. Oh, and quietly too. Also, they mumble, and then they whisper, and then they’re shouting from another room. All of these “ands” could go on forever. But no matter what, they’re expecting full comprehension at all times. So, just even missing half of what they’re saying can make someone feel left out, which is sad because the random things they come up with are honestly the best part.
So, you basically have to be hyper-aware, and you have to have a strong sense of hearing. The younger ones, especially, can get into things, and so you always need to have eyes and ears on them at all times. So if you’ve noticed any sort of struggles with hearing, then you absolutely need to see your local audiologists, because it might be time to get your hearing checked (which needs to be checked annually anyway).
It’s About Managing Energy the Right Way
Honestly, it can feel like a superpower just being able to manage energy, really, it does. And yeah, as you know, grandkids wake up ready to sprint. Adults, well, they do not. So yeah, managing energy is everything.
Now, this might sound so generic, but it’s really about sleeping enough and having snacks nearby, staying hydrated, and actually resting instead of powering through tiredness. It helps so much. Sure, it sounds super simplistic, but it’s really this easy.
