SuperGramma

Sibling rivalry – does it ever stop? I was the oldest of five children, most of us less than two years apart. I don’t remember always fighting with my younger sister when I was a pre-schooler. But maybe I better ask my mother first before I get too proud of my behaviour as a child.

Anyway, Grandboy I watch during the day is five now and Grandbaby Girl is over a year old. I know he loves her to pieces, but he is so jealous it’s driving me round the bend. (Although if you ask my kids, I past that bend a while ago.) Whatever toy she has, he wants it. If she wants a hug, so does he – that part I don’t mind. He’s constantly upset that she touches his things, or follows him, or gets more attention than he does.

As you can probably tell, this supergramma is losing her powers pretty quick. Part-time day care at a nearby center is starting to look very tempting. I think watching them two or three days a week instead of five will be best for all of us. Then I have time to do my own things and it gives me a chance to miss them.

I want to enjoy them and spoil them, not spend my time sounding like a grouchy old bear who woke up while it was still winter.
Am I wrong?

Technorati Tags: sibling rivalry, caring for grandchildren

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This coming week will mark the fourth anniversary of my little great-grandaughter’s death. My grandson’s wife created a beautiful and moving memorial video for her. Although it will make you weep, I wanted to share it with you. Then I want you to hold your family a little closer and treasure them with all your heart.

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Five-year-old grandson loves to go to the library. I allow him to choose his own titles, which are usually about dinosaurs, bugs, lizards, or snakes. There is something about creepy crawlies that appeals to boys that age. His favorite television shows right now are Dinosaur Dan and The Dinosaur Train.

Anyway, back to the books. When we get home with his chosen picture books, we sit on the couch and read them, one by one. Then they may sit on the shelf for days until he wants to look at them again. But there’s something about a new book that draws a person, no matter what their age, to open its pages and enter another world.

I hope as grandson gets older, his love of books will remain, no matter how many other interests enter his life. I keep our house filled with stories from Dr.Seuss, Robert Munch, and many other special authors. How do you instill a love of reading in your grandchildren?

Technorati Tags: books for children, reading

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My youngest daughter and her family went camping last weekend. After their first night in the tent, Grandson had spots all over his forehead. Looked like he was attacked by an army of mosquitoes. By noon, Grandbaby Girl had them too and Grandson was covered. Being the all-wise grandmother I am, I looked at the medical book and confidently stated they had the measles.

By the next morning, the spots looked a little different and Grandbaby had a strange cough. No doctor’s appointments available, so off I went with daughter and the kids to the walk-in clinic. The verdict – chickenpox, although a more rare kind that doesn’t form pox and then break. Grandson was still feeling fine, but Grandbaby had a fever now and her breathing was terrible sounding. Doctor said take her to the hospital emergency department as it could be serious. So off we went again, this time leaving Grandson with Poppa.

A few hours later, Grandbaby was admitted to hospital suffering from severe croup as well as chickenpox and spent the night and following day. Mom, of course, stayed too and Grandson got to sleep at Gramma’s house. He never acted as though he was upset that Mom and baby sister were in the hospital -  after all, he’s five years old. But his favorite stuffed dog never left his arms and when sister finally came home he kept hugging her. For a few days after, they even managed to play together.

Home at last

It was hard to see Grandbaby so ill, although I know that is the daily experience of many families. It did make us realize again that people are more important than things and we need to cherish our times together while we can. So if you can see your grandkids, give them a hug and let them know how special they are to you. And if they can’t be with you, keep them in your prayers and close to your heart.

Technorati Tags: chicken pox, croup, sick grandkids

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Since summer is stretching ahead of us and your grandkids will probably be bored before you know it, I’ve got some ideas. These are excerpts from my guide called “How To Create Newsletters Your Grandkids Will Treasure.” I’ve chosen a few of the
hobby and activity related ideas and hope you can make use of them, either when with your grandchildren or through the Internet.

1. Collecting Together
   Decide on something to collect together. Exchange information and materials you find and take pictures of your finds (even young kids can use digital cameras). Your collection could be rocks, coins, stamps, spoons, sports cards, recipes, models, even stuffed animals or miniature cars.
2. Share a hobby.
   Grow identical gardens and display photos to show how each of your gardens is doing. Mention tips that might help your young gardener. You could try to grow the largest pumpkin, or the biggest tomatoes. Or decide on a recipe you can each cook and take photos of the finished products.Share sewing, woodworking, building, anything you could be doing together even though the miles are separating you. Between newsletter issues, phone or email to see how they are making out. But be sure to publish the results in the newsletter. After all, this will be a treasured record to be shared with future generations.
3. Lego Challenge
   Tell a story or give a challenge and have them do a lego model related to it. Publish a photo of the results in a future issue.
4. Playdoh Challenge
   Tell a story or give a challenge and have them create a playdoh sculpture for it. Photo and publish as above.
5. Contests
   Write about contests you find online, or make up your own contests and encourage entries. Prizes of courses.
6. Recipes
   Share new recipes – ask them to send a photo or drawing showing them trying out the recipe. Eventually, you and your grandcook could even produce a joint recipe book, filled with illustrations showing you cooking together during those special times when you are able to physically be with them. Printed and bound, imagine what a keepsake that could become. (And thanks to places like CafePress,  it’s easy to publish your own cookbook).

Technorati Tags: activities for grandchildren, sharing hobbies, time with grandkids

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