Grandparenting--Near or Far
Today, I'm going to be talking about being a Long Distance Grandma and also being a Nearby Grandma. Most of us find that we are in both positions, and I want to share some ideas from my book, Long Distance Grandma: staying connected across the miles (Simon & Schuster). While the book was written with the LDG in mind, many of the ideas lend themselves for those who are nearby too. NOTE: You may buy a copy at any online bookstore, Simon and Schuster website, or from me.
The spring rains have arrived and the world is greening up before our eyes. Spring has arrived in Indiana. Soon, we'll have days filled mostly with sunshine, but for now there are puddles are everywhere. It is the perfect time to share weather conditions with the grandkids via skype, email, or cell phones. You can always talk about the weather. Maybe, you'll get even more creative and suggest they chart the weather for your area and theirs. You may even have a budding weather forecaster in your midst.
Since showers are insisting on sharing center stage with the sun and the wind, here are some ideas for care packages. Make those rainy days bright spots for mom and dad when the grandchildren are stuck indoors.
-Mail a box of brightly colored markers, crayons, coloring books, and sketch pads to your grandhildren.
-Create and send a box of craft supplies. Look around your house for odds and ends of craft materials: old necklaces or beads, Styrofoam plates, cotton balls, colorful craft chenille sticks, glue sticks, fabric and trim scraps, bits of yarn, toilet paper rolls, and other items.
Since the rain makes everything green up,
AND green makes me think of the Ireland,
AND thinking of Ireland makes me think
of the Irish Shamrock. . .
then this is the perfect teaching tool to weave some spiritual thoughts in your conversation. Use the shamrock to teach about the Triune God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Seeing the example of one shamrock, but three parts, helps them understand that God is three in one.
The rains also make it a perfect time for sharing books on Noah's Ark with the younger grandkids. Use the Bible to share the story with older kids. When you're sharing those storybooks, don't forget to mail or share some animal crackers with the younger grandkids.
You may want to purchase one of the many novelty items available on Noah's Ark and treat your younger grandkids. There are jewelry boxes, toy arks with animals, tea sets, key rings, and coloring books.
Then in closing,some of you may be planning spring or summer trips to visit your long distance family. I just have to share this funny.
A little boy told his kindergarten teacher that his Grandma was coming for a visit.
“Where does she live?” the teacher asked.
“Oh, she lives at the airport,” he replied. “Whenever
we want her, we just go and get her.”
Until the next post--Happy Grandparenting!
The spring rains have arrived and the world is greening up before our eyes. Spring has arrived in Indiana. Soon, we'll have days filled mostly with sunshine, but for now there are puddles are everywhere. It is the perfect time to share weather conditions with the grandkids via skype, email, or cell phones. You can always talk about the weather. Maybe, you'll get even more creative and suggest they chart the weather for your area and theirs. You may even have a budding weather forecaster in your midst.
Since showers are insisting on sharing center stage with the sun and the wind, here are some ideas for care packages. Make those rainy days bright spots for mom and dad when the grandchildren are stuck indoors.
-Mail a box of brightly colored markers, crayons, coloring books, and sketch pads to your grandhildren.
-Create and send a box of craft supplies. Look around your house for odds and ends of craft materials: old necklaces or beads, Styrofoam plates, cotton balls, colorful craft chenille sticks, glue sticks, fabric and trim scraps, bits of yarn, toilet paper rolls, and other items.
Since the rain makes everything green up,
AND green makes me think of the Ireland,
AND thinking of Ireland makes me think
of the Irish Shamrock. . .
then this is the perfect teaching tool to weave some spiritual thoughts in your conversation. Use the shamrock to teach about the Triune God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Seeing the example of one shamrock, but three parts, helps them understand that God is three in one.
The rains also make it a perfect time for sharing books on Noah's Ark with the younger grandkids. Use the Bible to share the story with older kids. When you're sharing those storybooks, don't forget to mail or share some animal crackers with the younger grandkids.
You may want to purchase one of the many novelty items available on Noah's Ark and treat your younger grandkids. There are jewelry boxes, toy arks with animals, tea sets, key rings, and coloring books.
Then in closing,some of you may be planning spring or summer trips to visit your long distance family. I just have to share this funny.
A little boy told his kindergarten teacher that his Grandma was coming for a visit.
“Where does she live?” the teacher asked.
“Oh, she lives at the airport,” he replied. “Whenever
we want her, we just go and get her.”
Until the next post--Happy Grandparenting!
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