My grandson Jake asked me last Saturday if we could go to the park. He asks every Saturday, pretty much.
Usually I’d say something like “oh, maybe later” or “grandpa’s back is bothering him today.” Which was true, but also I just didn’t want to stand around for two hours.
This time though I said yes. And honestly it’s changed everything for me and being a grandparent.
Why I Kept Saying No
Look, I love my grandkids. Jake just turned five and his sister Emma is seven now. They’re at that age where everything is exciting and they want you there for all of it.
But I kept making excuses to not go places with them. Not cause I didn’t want to, more like I knew how it would go.
We’d get to the park and there’s no place to sit. Benches are either taken or wet from rain earlier. So I’m standing there. And standing. Twenty minutes in my feet start hurting. Half hour and my back’s getting stiff. Hour later I’m the one saying “okay guys time to go” even though Jake and Emma just got started really.
Hated being that grandpa. The one always ready to leave first. Seeing their faces when I’d say we had to go… that was hard.
Same thing at soccer games. Those metal bleachers they have, I don’t know who designed those but my back hates them. Can’t sit for more than twenty minutes before I gotta stand up and walk around. End up missing half the game just cause sitting hurts too much.
Started to realize I was saying no to a lot of stuff. Or saying yes but then wanting to leave early. Missing out on time with them cause I was uncomfortable. That’s not a good feeling.
Tried a Few Things That Didn’t Help
So I bought one of those folding chairs from Walmart. Thought okay, problem solved.
Brought it to the park once. What a disaster. I’m already carrying Emma’s sweater cause she gets cold, Jake’s water bottle, snacks for both of them. Now I got this big chair too. And the kids don’t just stay in one spot, they’re running all over. Swings, then the slide, then they wanna go see the ducks. Can’t drag that chair everywhere.
Tried just toughing it out standing. That worked for maybe twenty, thirty minutes.
Sitting on the ground was okay till I had to get back up. Jake thought it was pretty funny watching grandpa struggle to stand up. Emma’s sweet, she tried to pull me up. Didn’t help much but I appreciated it.
My Daughter Had an Idea
So my daughter Sarah comes over one day. She’s been watching me make excuses to the kids I guess. Shows up with this bag and pulls out the neatest stool I’ve ever seen.
At first, I’m looking at it thinking there’s no way. It’s tiny, weighs almost nothing. She says it’s called a NUMANU something or other. Portable seat. Says it holds 600+ pounds. I’m like yeah right.
She clips it to my backpack and I can barely feel it’s there. Says just try it next time Jake wants to go to the park.
Alright fine, I’ll try it.
The First Real Change
Next Saturday Jake asks about the park and I say sure. We get there, kids take off running like they do.
I pull out this stool, extend it up – it goes to 18 inches tall. Sit down. And I’ll be damned, it’s actually comfortable and sturdy. I can see Jake on the monkey bars, Emma’s on the swings. I’m just sitting there. Not hurting.
We stayed three hours. Three hours! Jake made friends with some other kids. Emma showed me everything she could do on all the equipment. And I was there the whole time cause my back wasn’t killing me.
Getting the Bigger One Too
Ended up getting the bigger one too, the XXL version that they also make. That one’s got a wider seat, goes a bit taller. Nice for the soccer games.
Both are on Amazon, that’s where Sarah got them. Or you can get them from NUMANU directly, they got a website for ordering. Come with a lifetime warranty which is good I guess since I use it all the time now.
The standard sized one I got first weighs about 2 pounds, folds down to almost nothing. The XXL is a bit heavier, maybe 3 or 4 pounds, but the wider seat and seat pad accessory is nicer for sitting longer.
Now I Just Go
Jake wants to go to the playground? Sure, let’s go. I can sit and watch him climb around, don’t matter how long we’re there.
Emma’s got soccer? I’m there every game now. Bring my little stool, set it up on the sideline, watch the whole thing. Some of the other grandparents been asking me where I got it actually.
We even go on little walks on trails now. Jake likes looking at bugs and stuff. When he wants to stop and check something out I can sit down with him instead of just standing there getting antsy.
My backyard too. Kids come over wanting to play outside, I can sit out there with them now instead of going back inside after ten minutes.
It’s More Than Just Sitting
Thing is, it’s not really about the stool. It’s about saying yes more often.
Last week Jake asks if I can come watch him at the playground after school. Before I probably would’ve said grandpa’s tired. But I grabbed my Portable Stool and went. Got to see him showing off to his friends that his grandpa was there.
Emma’s got some tournament coming up. Four games in one day. Old me would’ve gone to maybe two before I had to leave. Now I’m planning on being there the whole day.
My back still bothers me, knees aren’t great. But I’m not missing stuff anymore just cause I’m uncomfortable.
That matters a lot to me.
Just Keep It in the Car
I leave it in my car now. Sarah calls asking can I pick up the kids and take them to the park, I don’t gotta think about it. It’s already there.
Folds up so small I forget it’s even there till I need it. Which ends up being pretty much every time I see the grandkids.
Other People Started Noticing
This one lady came up to me at Emma’s game couple weeks ago. Another grandma. Said she’d been standing for three games and her feet were killing her. Wanted to know what I was sitting on.
I showed her the stool, she pulls out her phone right there and orders two of them in a 2-pack right on Amazon.
See a lot more grandparents with them now at the parks and games. Guess we’re all figuring it out.
Use It for Other Stuff Too
I bring it when I’m doing yard work now. Been to a couple outdoor community concerts and family BBQs with it. Anytime I’m gonna be outside really.
But mostly it’s for the grandkids. That’s the main thing and I love it.
What It’s Really About
Jake asked me yesterday can we go to the park today. Know what I said?
“Yeah buddy, absolutely. How long you wanna stay?”
His face just lit up. “Really? Can we stay till dinner?”
“Sure. I’ll bring some snacks.”
See that’s the thing. It’s not about the stool really. It’s about saying yes instead of no. Staying instead of leaving early. Being there for the whole thing.
Jake and Emma aren’t gonna remember that grandpa had some portable seat. They’re gonna remember that grandpa was always there. Always said yes. Always stayed as long as they wanted.
That’s what matters to me.
If You’re Making Excuses Like I Was
Look, if you’re doing what I was doing, saying no to park trips, leaving games at halftime – I get it. It’s tough when your body doesn’t want to cooperate.
But maybe just try it. Get one of these collapsible stool. Keep it in your car. Next time your grandkid asks to go somewhere, say yes and bring it.
For me it meant three hours at the park instead of half an hour. Meant staying for Emma’s whole game. Meant being the grandpa who shows up instead of the one who’s always got an excuse.
Your grandkids are only gonna be little for so long. You don’t get this time back.
Don’t miss it cause you got nowhere to sit. That’d be pretty dumb honestly.
