[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Congratulations! God bless them. Three little ones like stair steps. What wonderful news for your family. I know it makes you happy. I can feel it in your words. That is nice.

Thank you.....and Gracie too.

When we were younger, everyone told us that we'd make wonderful "young grandparents" but by the time they all went to college, then grad school for their masters, moved out of state of course, then got settled in careers, the stork didn't arrive when he should have, or on their original schedule.........we actually thought we'd never have grandchildren.

Thus, the almost 20 year old (next week) is our first , via adoption, and we've always always told her that she is and will forever be our Number ONE grandchild/granddaughter.

She came into all of our lives at age 5 as a foster child, then was adopted right as 911 was occurring and her mom (our daughter) was expecting our first grandson (one and only grandson); quite a coincidence but doesn't it always happen that way after nine years of trying? She had a good three years of attention by mom/dad before the adoption and arrival of grandson to my daughter and her husband.

........to be followed three years later by his little sister.

The eldest, adopted child, age 8 at the time, was like a wonderful big sister to the 2 little ones, as she always loved children and they loved her.........(and now that the Colorado cousins have come along, they also just love our very first grandchild and the feeling is mutual, so much so that it does bring joy to the heart).

Being that they lived in northern Vermont, we were able to see a lot more of them all growing up............but we all try to get together at least once a year for a family reunion ; it's fun to see all the little cousins interact with the newest members of the family.

The Colorado team fly east once or twice a year, love Florida and definitely will visit. Ditto for the Vermont grandchildren,etc.

Which makes me think? (What else is new?)

I know all the rules about the visitation and limitation of grandchildren in T.V..........but would like to get an honest perception of how other "grandmas" or "grandpas" in The Villages have felt about their neighbors reaction to say "twice a year visits" by adult children along with the grandchildren....all staying in our home of course. In our case that would be 4 adults(our two children with their two spouses) plus us equals six plus six grandkids, one of which is an adult.

Are they welcomed.....or considered a nuisance? For the most part? Up here, in the frozen tundra of the north, all of our neighbors are our age of approx. 69 and all have adult children that live out of state with lots of grandchildren and all of them visit in our neighborhood at least once or twice a year. We're happy for them when the grandkids arrive.

Have any folks honestly felt a cold shoulder from neighbors when they had "company" twice a year.....say at holiday time and during summer vacation or spring break? Just wondering, based on things I've read. If this community is truly for the younger set at age 55 or even in their 40's, perhaps with no children.......what their mind set would be to others having grandchildren visit all at one time. Visiting alone is possible, but probably not an option as they would want to all be together as one big family unit.

Personally, we'd just as soon have them visit us than have to fly north and west several times.

Our adult kids are in their 40's (spouses 50 and 30) and mannerly, intelligent and not loud or problematic. The 9 year old and 12 year old are Honors students and energetic; their mom keeps them very involved in all kinds of activities, including church/school/music/cycling, swimming, hiking,arts and crafts.......so they would be out and about a lot.

They are kind and loving children........but we'd definitely have a crowd visiting. The reason? The siblings (my two children) want to have their children mingle with their cousins and get to know each other....and us, of course.

So, us being HOME makes sense to them to time their visits to US......such as a yearly or twice yearly family reunion.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the matter.