NANA SAYS SUMMER PLANNING HELPS WITH FUN

Parents have planned summer camps already. But there are moments to have some family times together. A trip to a cottage or weeks in Europe or south may be on the agenda. Grandparents often help with some summer babysitting too. So having activities in the home, day trips to local venues. For us there is the Toronto Zoo, Ontario Science Centre, The Aquarium and if possible tickets to a sports event. Beach or pool jaunts use up 1/2 days. So parents needed to plan but grandparents can plan too. One of daughters suggested to get the kids helping with digging in the garden. Not a bad idea. Perhaps giving them a corner for flowers or a row of vegetables to maintain. My teacher friend then calls it a Natural Science lesson. So planning can include simple basic summer activities. Make sure the library card is up to date because trips to the library for some books is another easy fix.

NANA SAYS MARCH BREAK IS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH GRANDCHILDREN

Taking a few days away from work to have grandchildren sleepovers is always busy. Loud, and fun, grandchildren bring a joy to life. Feeding them is non-stop. They love Nana and Granpa's snacks. The ylove being with cousins. It gives time to bond! It always amuses me that they have huge beds at home but will squish together in one or two beds. It is a time to develop a relationship. Listening to them. Disciplining them. Encouraging fun and respect. Nana sure loves her grandchildren. But when they go, the quiet is okay for awhile. Until next time!

MARCH BREAK-SPRING IS HEADING OUR WAY

March Break occurs at different times in different parts of the country. In our area, it begins next week.The mass exodus from Pearson airport to sunny southern destinations such as Florida and Mexico has already started. Many people still drive to Windsor then cross over in the USA driving along #75, passing through many states to escape the Canadian winter cold. Adolph and I have done that drive a few times when the children were little. A break froms school is important for everyone, except working parents that may need to take time off work or make alternate babysitting arrangements, i.e. the ones that are not vacationing with their children. Why do I talk about a March break? Sometimes the monotony of work&home and home&work wears a person down! Why is it when the days are longer, just being outside for a time after work takes some of the pressure off? Breaks are nice. Change for awhile is good. Doing something different at a slower pace! Like sitting on the beach! Seeing all those travellers featured on the news gave me some pangs of wanting to go somewhere. Alas, perhaps just a jaunt around my snow filled garden looking for the first real sign of Spring- a bulb trying to pop its head up! Not yet! Glad I have pictures from last year to remind me! Are you heading anywhere south? Do you have March Break plans? Are you the backup babysitter?

NANA SAYS ENJOY THE END OF SUMMER

Since July is over and August has begun, the stores are full with back to school items. There can be a pressure to get organized now. Get over it with some school supplies shopping- buy a package of pencils! Then get back to the continued enjoyment of the summer. Stressing too much about the new school year filters down to the children who may be enjoying their time at camp or camping or just being with their parents and families more. Yes there is shopping with the little ones-maybe! You know their sizes! When my girls reached an age where they wanted to buy their own school clothes and supplies, they were given a nominal amount. They had to be frugal with the money. Actually if you hold off until the middle of September for clothes, many things go on sale anyway. For older children, they often wait to see what the other kids are wearing and may reject the earlier purchases. Save the bills! So see there is no real need to rush the month away with worrying about school shopping yet! If you are lucky, Nana has a new activity! As each grandchild starts school, she will buy an outfit! Last year one but this year three! Two grandsons start Junior Kindergarten! As for the granddaughter starting Grade Two, well Nana plans to try to have a special outing with her to buy that outfit. It is seen as stretching out the gifts bought for birthdays and Christmas. One less at those events budgetting to help the working parents with their budgets! So back to summer. Nana and Granpa have a babysitting gig in a week- 5 days and 4 nights while one couple celebrate a special anniversary away in a southern location! Plans to go to a  farm for children to enjoy things like a wagon ride and enchanted forest, splash pad visits and of course an ice cream or two! That's the real meaning of summer- simple, slow fun things! And yes a nap or two in the afternoon when the children are expected to read a book with quiet time!

NANA SAYS BABYSITTING TO GIVE YOUR KIDS A VACATION

Is a renewed experience. Babysitting fulltime for several day is a reminder of days gone by! Letting your grownup children have a much needed vacation for a few days means being on duty. Remembering how to get two little ones ready for Day Care and bathtime and bedtime with all the demands is a good fodder for more posts on parenting. Organizing the morning and night differently with a watchful eye on the children at all times is like riding a bicycle. You never forget! Trying to fit in fun as well. Snuggle time before bed is actually quite enjoyable. Heh to hold a little toddler and cuddle him until asleep is one of life's many pleasures. The sibling fighting- not so much! Oh yes, I have one more sleep until the parents return but who is counting!

NANA SAYS BE KIND TO WORKING PARENTS

Do you have family members or friends with young children who work? It is a challenging road to take. Those with Nannies in their home do not struggle like the parents with Day Care or Babysitting pickups. What to do with older children who do not want anyone to watch them, yet by law are not old enough to be left alone, and better yet left to watch younger children. I remember the rush home after work to meet the Day Care pickup time. My mother had relocated to another province and my mother-in-law worked fulltime. Both could help occasionally with a Saturday night sleepover or if Mom was visiting watching the children while I went out but were not available as regular backup. Grandparents can play a significant role if close to their adult children. Not taking over the care but being available to alleviate some of the pressure. Letting a child be with loving family while other tasks are accomplished. If a parent can grocery shop child free, so much more is accomplished. Having a special day with grandparents is a treat. One of my brothers and his wife have two grandchildren every Friday: everybody wins- children have fun and the adults get to be like children. The parent knows the little ones are in loving hands. Adolph and I assist our children as needed- their support team. Of course, if the girls need some home cooked meals during their work week, yes you guessed it, he is always willing to accomodate. The grandchildren are establishing a relationship with the older generation. Do you help support your children? Do you go the extra mile as needed? Letting little ones share your life while you are helping the family system is always rewarding. If you have responsible adult children, they will not abuse the help either. What do you do to help your children? In return, how do they help you?

HALLOWEEN PARTIES

As we head into the weekend before Halloween, it is a great opportunity to go to a party. Dressing up, out of character is always fun. I had a Halloween party years ago and dressed like a cat- leotard, black tights and painted on whiskers. Slimmer then. If I had to chose a costume today, not sure what I would wear- wouldn't be so risque! My duty this Halloween is to babysit the grandkiddies so one daughter and son-in-law can go to a party! I guess I am going as Nana. The question-if you were going to a Halloween party-what would you wear? Who would you be? Would you pass on the whole costume thing? One of our friends who is a dentist came to that party years ago- guess- as a dentist! Come on adults out there, have so fun! When I shell out, I try to wear a hat or fake hair or something so that the little kiddies that come to the door know I am having fun too. Or are you one of those people that turn your lights out and does not get into the fun of the event? What do you think?

NANA SAYS BABYSITTING CAN BE FUN

What better way is there to experience the grandchildren! Babysitting and helping the moms and dads with a break. Spent Saturday with one twosome at my house in the morning with some outdoor time and Saturday night with the other twosome at their house. Loved the moments of cuddling a baby to sleep. The 3 year old wanted story time sitting on Nana's lap. Grandparents are the backup teams in so many families. Children benefit from the unconditional love that is provided. Do you have grandparents in your life? Do the little ones relish the time spent with them?