The Whole Holiday Package

Grandparenting has a push-me-pull-you quality this time of year that some younger generation they envy.

If you officially now the oldest generation, there are the memories of long ago, some nostalgia watching old movies, maybe a sigh as you unpack the last of the Christmas ornaments off your growing-up tree.

And there is the excitement of the newest generation - the true faith in presents that appear magically, the real pain of waiting for the big day.

 In between are our kids - we watch them maneuver through the parenting years and juggle it all as we did. And now we don't. We watch more than do.

Tears, smiles, laughter, sighs, memories. Let them all come and fully be present in whatever place you are in.



May the hope, peace, joy and love of a new baby in Bethlehem be yours this Christmas.

Remembering

About 20 minutes after my father died, I thought of a question I wanted to ask him. Not a deep life engaging question - just the location of a motel on Sanibel Island. But he was the last person who could have answered it and suddenly...he couldn't.

Once in a while the children will ask to hear stories in my past and I think "How boring! The grandchildren are so much more interesting!" I struggle to drudge up interesting events - like living through the Vietnam era or having a bomb shelter in the cold war. Like knowing how to use correction tape (or whiteout) or roller skate keys.

Now I wonder if pictures are more useful for starting discussion. Through an unfortunate set of circumstances, all my baby and childhood pictures are gone. But the internet is full of pictures of hand held egg beaters and creamed chip beef on toast. Here are some ways I thought to share memories without being BORNING!

Send pictures of something I used with explanation
Send pictures of their parents and uncles at the ages the grandchildren are now
Scan and send report cards and drawings from their parents
Collect generation pictures - my grandmother, my mother and me all at 50
Collect family pictures of Christmas or July 4 past
Typical clothing for each decade I have been alive




And remember that some things  - like kindness and faith in God and compassion and love NEVER EVER go out of style!

 

Holy Days, Blessed Grandchildren

How can grandparents influence Easter traditions and activities?


If we are not there in person, use the internet! Send pictures of Easters raising your children - one event most everyone gets dressed up at the same time and we take pictures.  Use pinterest or facebook or email.

Send books or easy to read Bible stories for gifts. Whatever the reading level there are books on line and in the Christian bookstores.

Buy a lily plant for your church and note it is to honor the grandchildren - by name if possible. Send them bulletins.

If we are local grandparents, take them to special children's services. Invite their friends to come along.

Whatever church they attend on Easter morning, go with them. It may not be your home church, but it will be the same wonderful story wherever you are!

Blessings
on your journey as Christian Grandparents!