The boys are back in town

I haven't worked a full-time job in more than four years. It's not because I'm retired, as I'm still far, far away from retirement age. No, I don't have a full-time job simply because, well, that's just the way things have worked out since my department and my job at the local newspaper were axed in late 2008.

Sometimes it really stinks that I don't have a full-time job. Like when I gaze into the dark and echoing chambers of my barren bank account.

Other times, though, it's pretty awesome that I don't have a full-time job. Like when Preston—my son-in-law—has a work conference he wants Megan to attend with him, and they need someone to care for Bubby and Mac while they're away. As someone who doesn't work full time and can carry the work I do any place I can carry my computer, I am fortunate to most often be the go-to grandma for the job.

Which, like I said, is pretty awesome.

That exact sort of awesomeness begins today, as I will once again be on grandma duty for my faraway grandsons. Only this time, it just so happens that Preston's conference is in my very own city, so instead of me flying to their house to take care of them while Mommy and Daddy go away, Bubby and Mac will fly to Gramma's house—to my house—for me to take care of them while Mommy and Daddy play conference just a few miles away.

Awesome indeed. Especially because this time, since we'll be at home in the mountains, not away in the desert, PawDad gets to join in the fun. Same goes for Aunt Brianna and Aunt Andie, when their schedules allow.

Usually when I'm on grandma duty, I stay on blogging duty, too. I write up posts and I publish something new for the Grandma's Briefs readers each day.

This time I'm not doing that.

This time, I'm taking a bit of a break from blogging while playing full-time grandma. Just a bit of a break, though, as I will still publish something each day on Grandma's Briefs, only it won't be a written post. It will be a photo post, a picture of the goings-on at Gramma's while the boys are back in town. I'll include a daily question, too, because that's just what I do...and because I like to read your answers to those daily questions. Daily. Just like I hope you like to visit me. Daily.

So, I will be posting daily, checking comments daily, thinking of my online friends daily. Just in smaller doses, as the majority of my time over the next ten days will be dedicated to showing my grandsons a good time. To be honest and accurate, though, I'll actually be doing those online things nightly rather than daily, as I'll have to wait until the boys are tucked into bed.

I'm sure you understand.

And I'm doubly sure I'll have lots to fill you in on once I return to blogging full force.

One quick note before I go, though: I will still host the GRAND Social on Monday and post a new Grilled Grandma feature on Wednesday. I do hope you'll visit for both, enjoy both.

So there you have it. Wish me luck!

My ten days of Grandma Duty begins ...

right ...

now!

Today's question:

What's the longest period of time you've been off the grid (off line) in the past few years?

11 things grandmas do when no one else wants to

1. Change a stinky diaper...every stinkin' time.

2. Willingly leave the theater with the fussy baby during a family outing to a movie she's been looking forward to for three months.

3. Attempt making a birthday cake in the shape of the birthday child's favorite television or movie character despite never having seen the show. And succeed to the delight of her grandchild—thanks to Google...and Wilton cake pans.

4. Call in sick to work to cover babysitting duty when a grandchild comes down with the flu and can't go to school.

5. Be the one to give grandchildren socks, underwear and other necessities at gift-giving time. Along with other more desirable gifts, too, of course.

6. Squirt the saline solution in and suck the snot out of a little one's congested nose.

7. Rise to the occasion when a pint-sized pooper announces from another room, "I'm done...I need wiped."

8. Clean up a child's spit up—and later, the vomit—without complaining...or gagging.

9. Whip up new dinner options when the original ones are refused by a fussy toddler. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we grandmas know the drill, but the poor kid can't go to bed hungry.

10. Take the baby's temperature when the digital thermometer batteries are dead and Mom has never had to do it the rectal old-fashioned way.

11. Make a grandchild's Halloween costume from scratch—and do such a bang-up job she's recruited and agrees to be costume designer for the school's annual holiday program.

photo: stock.xchng

The voting continues: If you liked this post—or Grandma's Briefs in general—please vote for Grandma's Briefs in the About.com Favorite Grandparent Blog poll. Vote once per day through March 21. Thank you!

Today's question:

What else do grandmas do—or are expected to do—when no one else wants to?