Sorry folks. I know this is hardly relevant but the fact is, our son called a few minutes ago and I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDAD.

Oh help. Does that make me officially old? My grandparents were incredibly ancient.

Still....

Congratulations! Don't worry about feeling old, my parents worried about the same thing recently when my brother made the 'announcement'. They fell into the grandparent thing straight away the minute they saw the newborn baby, all thoughts of being old went completely out of the window!

Congrats! Grandparents are definitely getting younger these days .

I'm going to become an aunty in December - am really looking forward to it. He or she will definitely be encouraged by Aunty Carys to learn an instrument, if they show an interest in it...

QUOTE (carys @ May 27 2005, 11:08 PM)

Congrats! Grandparents are getting younger these days . I'm going to become an aunty in December - am really looking forward to it. He or she will definitely be encouraged to play an instrument by Aunty Carys, if they show an interest in it...

Brilliant. Enjoy being an auntie.

I intend being the best grandad the world has ever seen.

Bet there is some hot competition for that.

QUOTE (SteveHopwood @ May 28 2005, 12:10 AM)

I intend being the best grandad the world has ever seen.  :D Bet there is some hot competition for that.  :D  :D  :D

I bet you'll be a fantastic granddad, especially with all that piano knowledge to pass on. It's so nice, as a proud aunty or grandparent, to be able to foot the bill for those little extra things isn't it. Enjoy your new role .

QUOTE (carys @ May 27 2005, 11:16 PM)

It's so nice, as a proud aunty or grandparent, to be able to foot the bill for those little extra things isn't it.

Written some cheques already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! It's wonderful being a grandparent.And you can hand the child back to the parents after being hoisted with it for a few hours! No sleepless nights and you will feel younger.

Aside: I advise an epidural...(tens,water bath,pethidine,gas and air,antenatal classes are a waste of time...and the real labour starts after the child is born.)

When is babe due? And are you going to perform Rach3 during Labour...but there is a possibility that,if you do,your daughter in law might become slightly irrational...but only temporarily.

Seriously though, my best wishes to all.

(Semele disappears singing There's no one quite like Grandad.... )

PS One for us ladies here.

Who can remember their first ever contraction? I can. Once felt,never forgotton?!!!! But I now have 2 wonderful kids,so it is all worth it.

QUOTE (Semele @ May 28 2005, 12:37 AM)

Aside: I advise an epidural...

Do you really think Steve will need one? (sorry couldn't resist)

I became an Aunty last November, and the little sprog is adorable. Wasn't one for babies before he came along, but I was in the hospital when he was born and held him when he was less than an hour old, and he always has a grin for me now.

Er, no - grandparents aren't getting younger, because people are having their first babies at a later and later age. What's happening is that grandparents are becoming younger at heart, no matter how old they are, because the generation gap seems to have virtually disappeared from the face of the Western world.

Whether this is a good thing or not I'm not totally sure. Good in some ways as the barriers fall down, but not so good when you see what I saw tonight; my son showed me a website where people of my generation advertise themselves for partners. All these people in their 50's calling themselves "groovybabe", or "upforit".

Hmmm.

But congratulations and I'm sure you'll be a brilliant grandad!

Violinia

Perhaps this topic should have been saved for next week's Forum Cafe....

I won't be here to see it when it is redone! I'm going to be in the forest jumping off ropes and generally acting like Tarzan!

Oh..Many congrats by the way!

Congrats! Great news.

Fantastic! Many congratualtions!

Matt

Yes, congratulations I wish you all the best

Fantastic, brilliant, many congratulations Steve.

Congratulations, Steve - I'm really envious. Neither of my children look as if they are going to produce grandchildren, and I often see thing in shops and think .... if I had a grandchild I'd love to buy that ....

Don't forget that babies can hear music in the womb - ask your son to make sure the little one gets plenty of the right sort of listening music in the months before birth.

Congratulations - great news for you and your family.

I hope all goes well.

Maggie

Kodaly said:

'Music education begins nine months before the birth of the mother'...

My married daughter is being a little slow in that department too...

Then again she works nights, my son in law works days... they only pass on the stairs .

Congratulations !

QUOTE (Suepea @ May 28 2005, 03:47 PM)

Neither of my children look as if they are going to produce grandchildren

I get the same from my mum

Husband's brother has two children, so at least the pressure's off from the in-laws. I'm quite happy staying Auntie Deborah thank you very much, having all of the fun, with none of the pain or expense, happy to hand assorted children back to their parents. I do my best to encourage the children in music - my niece (who's 5) LOVES my bass clarinet.

Steve - congratulations! Don't feel old unless you want to. I'm sure you can show perfect maturity when necessary, but never lose sight of the fun out there to be had.

congrats steve. what are they going to name the baby?

Hey, Steve, really nice! The first year or so's the worst, until you get used to being called "grandad" by several very small people. Then you realise that they're your own life and family continuing, and it's wonderful. They come upstairs and disrupt my piano lessons, but I don't mind, and neither do my pupils.

Congratulations!

Every time I go home my dad asks "where's my grandchild"!!