Some people call it coincidence, I like to call it the hidden hand of God shaping and moulding our lives, such was the case when my job was terminated four months after the triplets were born.
My daughter birthed triplets, two girls and a boy, three months premature, weighing 2 lbs each, immediately placed in incubators, enjoying the hospitality of the hospital for a further ten weeks.
My daughter also had a 15 month old son, and a family debate issued around finances, whether my daughter could return to work, she’s a teacher, and afford to pay for day care for four toddlers.
Four months after the triplets were born I was terminated from the company I had worked at for 30 years, and my daughter asked if my wife and I would be willing to look after our four grandchildren because she couldn’t afford to quit her job and could not afford daycare.
After a lengthy discussion my wife and I agreed and eventually ended up looking after them 11 hours a day for 13 years, including a fifth child born five years later.
There are many stories I could tell of those 13 years, but one in particular stands out when I took them to a park and we were caught in a summer storm with thunder and lightning crashing down around us while we were perched under the slide for shelter, enduring the onslaught for ten minutes, with eight tiny hands gripping my legs and screaming at the top of their lungs, we were soaked, but we survived.
Lensdiary 
My grandfather moved in with one of his daughters and raised her kids while she was a flight attendant for at least 10 years- I was so jealous- I would have given anything to have had him raise me!
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When you spend so much time bonding with your grandchildren, they become as close as your children. They are now in their twenties and in university but we are still very close.
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Reminds me of the saying, “when a door closes, a window opens”. How special for you and your wife and your grandchildren to have had that opportunity, Len. That story is precious. Hopefully, they were screaming in excitement, lol
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Definitely not, they were screaming in fear. But you are absolutely right on the door closes and a window opens. We should all look forward and see the possibilities.
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oh wow, such lucky kids to have grandparents instead of the daycare. How difficult it can be with so many younglings but I am jealous, I wish I was that close with my grandparents.
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Thanks, Reelika. It was an adjustment at first, but I would still do it all over again. I have no regrets.
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That adventure under the slide sounds like great fun once it was over. It was a blessing to be able to take care of them.
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It definitely was not fun Frank………and yes it was a wonderful blessing to take care of them.
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You do what you can and what you have to for your kids and your grands. My heart is going to break when my son/daughter-in-law/granddaughter/grandson all move away in October.
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Oh, Mimi. That is so sad. I know my wife and I would be devastated if that happened to us……but there is FaceTime, although it’s not the same as being there……and you’re absolutely right you do what you can for family.
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And do they now enjoy the thunder, with the brave care of grandparents to teach them how? 💙😊
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They are going to be 21 this year and have no recollection of the event.
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