- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- grandparents today articles
- grandparents today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Love 'Em and Leave 'Em
Making the "Hotel or Houseguest?" Decision
By Kelly Burgess
Everyone's heard this old cliche: The best part of being a grandparent is that when you're done with the kids you can hand them back to their parents.
Like most cliches, the reason that it's so oft repeated is because it's so often true. While there's nothing quite like the way we love our grandchildren, the fact is that at the end of the day it's wonderful to be able to have that precious quiet time.
There's even research reinforcing the cliche. When Candlewood Hotel Company conducted their annual survey on travel preferences for grandparents, more than 500 grandparents were asked what type of sleeping arrangements they prefer when visiting children and grandchildren. What did more than 90 percent report? Grandparents prefer to spend the night at a hotel. Why? Some of the respondents cited a lack of privacy, others a lack of space. Six grandparents actually said they'd rather parachute out of an airplane than stay overnight with their grandchildren.
The Steffens* were probably among the six. The 62-year-old couple has five children and nine grandchildren. They adore every single one of them, but at night they like to be able to walk away from the chaos and just relax and be together.
"We get a place near our kids that's also near an all-night restaurant," says Diane Steffens, of Orange, Calif. "That way if we get hungry we can stroll over and have a meal or snack. Sometimes we go back to the motel and relax and read, or Bill does a little work. Sometimes we just need to get away from being 'company,' so we'll change our clothes and get in the car and go exploring. We spent many years being responsible parents, and these were things we couldn't do then. Our grandchildren are so precious, but life is very hectic with kids around. We've earned the opportunity be alone at the end of the day."
