When our first grandchild Maddie, was born in 1996, John and I had a holiday unit on the North Coast of NSW. Maddie was quickly followed by seven more siblings and cousins over the next six years although three of these lived in Queensland so I was the one who travelled north to see them. After retirement both Poppy and I had more time to travel north for visits.
While they were young my northern grandkids thought I lived in the plane, as they met and said goodbye at the airport. They are now busy teenagers all grown up. It’s hard on grandparents not to be involved in some of the grandchildren’s lives because of distance etc so we have to make the most of the time we spend together.
Maddie started travelling with us at an early age as there was lots going on at her place. My daughter had given birth to premature quads in 1998. Maddie loved the beach but was worried when I went for a swim so we spent happy times together in the water. On a 4WD Track one day she wasn’t her usual happy self so I told her to close her eyes and have a sleep while we negotiated the track for an hour passing vibrant red bottle brush and white flannel flowers. When she woke she had come out with chicken pox spots. That holiday didn’t go well.
As her siblings grew they joined us for holidays, sadly only two had survived early childhood. Having three in the car for hours had it challenges. I packed snacks and colouring in books etc but when boredom set in fights and teasing began. The poor driver (Poppy) didn’t cope very well with the distractions so we decided to just take two at a time while they were young which continued for a couple of years. We had upgraded from the unit to a holiday house in the same area which gave us more room and meant the children’s family and other family and friends could come for holidays. Also our other daughter, son and my sister spent happy weekends with us.
Poppy enjoyed the interaction with the children, even when they put clips in his hair and stickers on his face. It meant quality time we wouldn’t get at home and they loved their milkshakes in the cafes and fish and chips and barbecues by the sea. Once they started school we had to take them in school holidays but the third week in January was good for a summer break as the Christmas crowds had dispersed by then.
As the three became teenagers, the pull of the holiday spot didn’t appeal so much and life went in different directions for us all. We sold the holiday house and bought a motorhome.
All of the family remember the coast times as precious memories, us especially; as it gave us time with our grandchildren in their early childhood years.
Fast forward to 2018. Now we are eagerly awaiting the birth of another grandson. Tash and Nath are to become parents and start their own family memories.
