Quality Time

One of the biggest challenges of being a long distance grandparent is that visits are short and intense. No day to day update on Brownies or casual dinners. The nice thing is we are Special and take lots of pictures! The hard parts for me are that I also need time with my daughters (sans grandblessings) and each child is continually vying for attention because the visits go too fast for all of us!

The last few times I have instigated a divide and conquer method - my husband and I request an hour and a half during which the parents can do whatever they want. We set the stove timer. Then I get 30 minutes totally concentrating on one while he takes the other. At 30 minutes (or so...) we swap. the child completely chooses and directs the activity. We will read or play games or puppets or shoot baskets or chase with lasers. Both of us are capable of 30 minutes of anything!

Sometimes with those memories - and tiredness - the kids will bed down quickly, and I get time and wine with the girls.

Last goodbyes

The curtain closes on a life. How to mark that in a meaningful way that comforts and celebrates, not micro managing from the grave but not dumping a lot of hassle and cost on the kids?

Our family had a wonderful example this weekend. My Aunt Libby - the last of her generation - died last November. Cremains were held until this spring - the idea being to let her be part of the earth under a new tree in my cousin's yard. So on Friday the formal service was held in a church none of us knew, but which allowed and encouraged as much family involvement as possible. A grandson sang. Three family members spoke, others had memories read. Two did scripture readings. We were all together.


On Saturday we were all together at my cousins - from age 67 to about 18 months, including little ones age 8, 5, and 4. Before we took out the ashes we talked about people who get old and die, what can happen to their bodies. A few shared memories. Then anyone was invited to put some ashes around the Nana Tree. The children did not hesitate. Most of grownups didn't either.

We had a celebration lunch and an afternoon of talking and laughing and begin grateful to be together. Tons of pictures!

(This in contrast to my own parents funerals which were in a still funeral home, lead by the retirement home chaplain and in which none of us were invited to take part. All very proper and very unrewarding for my sister and me.)

So from this I take away - as far as my planning goes - make (and pay for) the general arrangements - cremation, clergy. Choose 1 or 2 things that are important to you so the kids will feel that your "wishes" are being met. Then let the rest go to whatever feels right for them.

Now I need to write that down somewhere....

Already

I noticed in the tweens and middle grade girls catalog that the body type of the models and the clothing styles are already for the slim and leggy. Leggings, skimpy shorts, teeny tops - how is a normal sized girls supposed to see herself in these? Or see herself if she does not look good in these. I can't imagine that is the majority of girls in this age group! What are we doing?
 

Remembering and Replicating

I only knew one of my grandmothers. She was a gracious lady, but like most of her generation, not very demonstrative. Much as I hug the grandblessings in my life (with varying degrees of response!) as a long distance grandparent it is never enough.

One thing she did do was signed all her letters "All my best love." Those words were precious and I can see her handwriting in my mind some 40+ years later.

Drop your grandchild a card or post card to day and find a special
way to tuck in a hug!

Good article on Grandparenting

http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/education-and-school/child-brain-development?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl871&mc_eid=48739ef081

I would add #6 - tell them the stories you love from the Bible and introduce them to a church where children are valued and engaged.

Blessed Holy Week to you all!

The little old woman and the little old man

Looking at grandparents in children's picture book - we are either sweet knitting/newspaper reading/bird feeders or way out of the rocking chair crazy - big glasses, clashing clothing and unreal toothy grins. There is more variation in how polar bears are drawn! Where are the volunteers, the world travelers, the folks who do not know how to quit working?

This requires action!
 

Kid endorsed!

I am studying 5 picture books a day this month so when I was with the grandkids on a day off from school we went to the library! The 9 year old told me the best picture books were by Patricia Pollaco and she pulled all she could find (after some very clever computer work!). She was right! If you have not looked at picture books these are true stories for older children about tough subjects. Fantastic!

Plus who could not think is a librarian in the making?!