I’ve previously mentioned that I believe one of the great benefits of technology is how people who would not normally cross paths are now able to ‘meet’ and be a part of each other’s lives. Shonnie from Terrell, Texas, is one of those people that has come into my life and has shared with me what she does with her grandson.  Shonnie writes:

“We do what my grandson wants. We play with a plastic bat and a big ol’ plastic ball. He hits the ball when I throw it to him. We are not starting with tee ball. He does have a stand to practice with or to drive his mom crazy when I am not there and she can’t throw the ball for him.

“We each ride his bouncy horse. I make the horse buck because my legs reach the floor and it looks like the horse is bucking. Jakob tries to make him buck but he does not have enough lead in his bottom yet. We play on his rug with the cars that he got for Christmas. We make cookies. We play golf with his golf clubs and with mine if the weather is okay. We snuggle and watch a movie. We have lots of hugs and I love yous.

“I am doing with him all the things I could not do with my kids …… All I know is grandkids are the second chance to be young again and I am gratefully that God gave me that second chance…..”

Sometimes we grandmothers might think we have to do big productions, or take our kids to special places, or spend lots of money on them. Shonnie shows that the simple things in life (like just playing with your grandchildren) are very important. Important to the grandchildren and to the grandparents. Snuggles. Hugs. I love you. I like those the best!

Thank you so much for sharing, Shonnie!
Digi-Gram

I have a remarkable neighbor, Gay. Gay is always kind and nice. Caring and giving. Serving family and others. An example of goodness and integrity. I admire and respect her greatly. Someday, I would hope to be like her. The other day, she shared with me some of the things that she has done for her grandchildren. She wrote:

“I think traditions are important and create memories that carry on. We have a monthly family home evening on the first Sunday each month for all our our children, their spouses, and all the grandchildren. Each family has an assignment such as a story, an activity, music, or treats. We sing happy birthday to all who have a birthday that month and have a report from each family on their activities, honors, and plans. We have been doing this for many years and have scaled down a bit lately because our numbers are so great. Many of our children and grandchildren who live close visit on Sunday night on a weekly basis and we fix waffles when they come.

“One Sunday in connection with a family home evening, the grandchildren and I planted sunflower seeds. All summer, they watched the sunflowers grow. The grandchildren loved it.

“We have a reunion each summer at Bear Lake and it is a highlight of the year. The grandchildren really look forward to it. Activities include building sand castles, playing with water toys, having a treasure hunt, holding a tennis tournament, playing basketball, and having a piñata for the little ones. The night before we leave, all adults are treated by grandma and grandpa to a raspberry shake. (Note: Bear Lake, Utah, is famous for its raspberries!)

“We have an Easter egg hunt at our house for all the grandchildren the Saturday before Easter. Each family brings filled plastic eggs and the older ones hide the eggs. We usually have a wiener roast and picnic afterward in our back yard.

“I have made a play tent to go over a card table, made cookies with them, read to them, and I make play dough that they like. And of course being available to baby sit is a good way to bond and to strengthen relationships. Just knowing you love them is the most important.

“We keep in touch with those who live far away with a phone call every Sunday and a visit when we can, along with birthday and e-mail cards, especially on holidays.”

Thank you, Gay, for sharing!

I loved the idea of having a tent that goes over the card table. Before I can do this with my grandchildren, I guess we’d better get a card table with sturdy legs! I also liked the idea of planting sunflower seeds and growing sunflowers. Not only is it fun watching them grow, it would be fun eating the seeds.

I’ve been thinking that since we have plenty of garden space that it would be fun to let the grandchildren have a spot where they can plant either flowers or vegetables and watch them grow. I’ve seen where you can put a growing pumpkin in a milk jug. Let it grow and fill the jug. After a while, cut the jug away and the pumpkin will be square and keep that shape for the rest of the growing season! I think that would be fun to do.

We just had another snowstorm two days ago so thinking of spring and planting things and growing flowers and vegetables is very appealing right now. I think I’ll start planning my garden . . . .

Digi-Gram

One of my friends shared her thoughts about being a grandmother. This friend has seen many struggles in her life. And yet, she is the most positive, upbeat person I think that I have ever met. She has not turned bitter. She never complains. She always says that she is extremely blessed. What a great example to me!! Here is what Jeanne wrote:”I am not the best grandmother, but I try. I am very regular and plan it into my life to have Natalie’s family in my life. I go up every other weekend and babysit my grandchildren, and I babysit my daughter and her husband want to go away for a few days. This is easy for me, because I am single.

I also play games with my grandchildren and like to read to them. You will want to pick things to do that fit your lifestyle.

“Janelle and her husband are more spontaneous so it is hard to plan anything with them. Consequently, I don’t babysit much for them and really do not interact very much with them. I have to go to their home in the evenings if I wish to hang out. I think the main thing is to consistently be around the grandchildren so they know who you are. It seems that Janelle and Jared want their daughter to have a relationship with me. . . but we are still working on consistency.”

What nuggets of truth! Consistency. You can’t be a part of a grandchild’s life one minute and then not for the next 7.321 months! Especially for young grandchildren who might be frightened of people they don’t see very often or don’t know very well.

The second truth (and I’ve mentioned this before) is that YOUR children play an essential part in the process of building a strong relationship with your grandchildren. As your children understand your desire to be a part of your grandchild’s life, they will more readily do their part in making this possible. They are the connecting link between generations and their support is vital.

As a side note, I find it interesting that these wonderful people who have shared their ideas with me feel like they are not ‘good’ grandmothers. So far, I know most of them personally and know that they are great people. I’m sure if I spoke to their grandchildren, these grandchildren would claim that they had the best grandmother ever! If you love your grandchildren, they will feel it, and know it, and love you back unconditionally!

Happy grandparenting!
Digi-Gram

Diane W. from Irvine, California wrote the following about being a grandmother:

“I look at my mom as the fist example of what one does when grandkids aren’t close. My daughter, Kerilyn, has commented to me how she remembers my mom sending the kids sticks of gum and balloons in her weekly letters to us. The kids looked forward to it. Of course now days stickers are also easy things to slip into an envelope. My own grandson, Jack, enjoys them.

“Thank heavens for cell phones. Jack loves to talk to his “damma”. I can’t understand a lot of what he says over the phone, but that doesn’t matter. I just keep asking questions on things that I know he is interested in. My son, Larry, also puts his son, Creed, on the phone and he will babble away. I love to hear those little voices.

“Emails are also a great way to stay in touch. Jack knew that his mom (my daughter) sent me emails and asked to send me an email. Jack dictated a letter to me through my daughter.

“I think the key to keeping a close relationship to the grandkids is your own child. Your child has to be willing to nurture your relationship with your grandchild for it to work. I’ve tried to let my children know how important it is to me and encouraged them in doing it.”

What great words Diane shares. I was especially touched by her comments of the importance that your own children play in helping you fill your role as a grandmother. This is kinda like a ‘two for the price of one’ deal. As you work at establishing a relationship with your grandchildren, you will be strengthening your relationship with your own children. As your grown child understands how important it is to you, she will hold that phone to her son’s ear so he can chatter away to ‘damma.’ She will make sure she takes time to regularly send e-mails from her son to his grandmother. And, she will (hopefully) have a fun time with her son as she is helping him associate with his beloved grandmother.

The Digi-Gram