HOME AGAIN FROM A FAMILY TIME

 Being a grandparent has its quirks.

So babysitting for 4 grandchildren while parents had some away vacation time was good.

Busy.

Very busy.

I almost forgot how much work children can be .

A good busy though.

Will do it again sometime I am sure.

#babysittinggrandhildren#funwithgrandchildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS EASTER IS A TIME FOR FAMILY

Family time on a long weekend energizes everyone. A good family dinner or two. The Easter egg hunt at home and again at Nana's house is fun for one and all. Depending on the weather, what activities can be had. Indoor board games, a movie or two, sorting seasonal clothes to see what fits or a good walk or bike ride if warm enough to be outside. Those wanting more winter fun, well find a place that still has some snow! Grandparents love to be part of the fun too. So if some babysitting is needed then don't hesitate to ask. The teaching of the Easter message of love, peace, forgiveness and what it means to be Christian. I have some Easter books I put out for the kids. I have some bible story books for year round. Actually good for the adults to visit these important messages too. Time to be together in a quiet way. Nana says the special holidays are a time to be together. Making an effort to celebrate these events build memories for all. Children have a good feeling about family. However, pick the right family events. The number of invites can be smaller to fit your own needs too. So being flexible and flowing with the demands of young families makes a good time for all! The older grandparents can have a nap or two when the babies do!!

SOME HISTORY FOR A CANADIAN THANKSGIVING

Unlike our American counterparts, the Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October. It had humble beginnings. It was about the the harvest season. Apparently the English explorer Martin Frobisher after establishing a settlement in 1578 celebrated surviving trying to find the way to the Orient or the infamous Northwest Passage. His was the first documented Thanksgiving celebration by an European in North America.  The French explorer Samuel de Champlain had a celebration in 1604 to give thanks he crossed the ocean and was safe in the new land. Halifax had a special celebration according to history when the 7 years war ended in 1763 when Nova Scotia became British and not French anymore. After the American Revolution when loyalists came to Canada some new settlers brought the idea of an American Thanksgiving.  The day in Canada floated from the Spring to coinciding with Armistice Day until it became Remembrance Day in November. Hard to believe that it took a proclamation in the Canadian Parliament January 31, 1957 to make the day official every year. So it seems- " A day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest which Canada has been blessed... to be observed on the second Monday in October" made it tradition. Schools and churches across the nation find ways to celebrate. Children learn about the holiday. Churches usually have a display of the general harvest that is known in this great land. Corn, squash, sweet potato, wheat sheaves, turnip, parsnip, cranberries, apples, carrots, pumpkins, onions, fall flowers like sunflowers could be some of the many fall items included in any celebration. For the average Canadian it means getting together with family for the traditional Canadian meal of "turkey with all the trimmings." Coming home for Thanksgiving or being the host/hostess of the event.

 Homes can have some decorations.

A festive table with fun items for the kids!

Some appetizers before the big meal. Thanksgiving- a time for celebration of harvest and family times.

#canadianthanskgiving#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#harvest#festivetablewithfood#familytimeatthanksgiving#canadianhistory#samueldechamplain#armistice#parliamentaryact#lovingturkeyatthanksgiving

HANDLING THE STRESS OF CHRISTMAS AND FAMILY TIMES

Christmas with all its magic and fun and good cheers can bring lots of family time. Family time together can bring up old issues and children fighting. "He got one more present than I did- that's not fair!!!" Cooking an amazing dinner then someone to turns his nose up at the food. How to keep the magic and peace and love in our hearts when others around us are not!!  Giving space to each other really helps. Try to find quiet moments in the day over the next few days. If children can have some outdoor time to get fresh air, well go for it. Even for oneself to be in fresh air enjoying the winter time may be helpful too. Having the grandchildren for two days and two sleepovers inside a house is a huge reminder of how long a day can be! Trying to keep the peace!!  Being together means tolerating all the personalities. Others have to tolerate mine too! Try to stay away from politics and touchy matters for Christmas day. I remember one Christmas dinner with my folks and the politics of the country that was discussed at every family dinner surfaced with my friends who were Christmas guests. Very annoying! So try to watch another Christmas movie together or play a board game or cards or something that makes the Christmas day special. Children will be noisy and excited. No more threat of Santa is watching you have to be good!! Taking time for those phone calls with loved ones. Maybe make them on Christmas Eve to be a head of the game. I find nothing more annoying than just as we sit down to dinner, the phone rings and need to take time to talk to a loved one. So if made earlier in the day or the day previously than there is real time to discuss something and be happy to talk. One Christmas a relative of my husband showed up and we tried to ask him to eat with us. We had to delay dinner by an hour so the food was not hot when we finally sat down to eat. So if you do show up at some one's house sit down to the meal if asked because they may have been ready to eat as you arrived!! Christmas talks can be short and sweet and to the point. If long conversations are needed, try a long chat in the New Year when there is so much less to do. Try to keep the focus that family together creates memories to last. Making them good and happy ones does take effort. Understanding that being together for long periods needs breaks. So retreating for a quick nap or playing on the computer or sitting outside for a cigar or cigarette and putting some spaces between each other are good things to consider. Knowing when one's level of patience is over really helps!!

NANA SAYS TIME TO PLAN FOR MARCH BREAK

With February coming to a close, parents are scrambling to plan for the upcoming March break. To go away or have a staycation. Can time be taken off work or do other babysitting arrangements need to be made. It is the time of year where the cost of a vacation is at its highest. The beaches in southern locations are filled with people especially vacationing children or even college kids! Are family vacations necessary? You bet. Time together without all the running around of lessons, school, homework and lunches-well you understand- gives a family time to regroup. A third generation of working mothers teaches us that Moms need time to chill without the double duty of home and work. Watching children on a beach is very different than all the other stressed faced daily. Dads need time to enjoy the children differently. Vacations can bring a different kind of stress. Without all the busyness, people do get bored of each other. So some planning for  those moments may be necessary. Time away from I-phones, I-pads, tablets etc. so some real face to face time actually talking and doing may be difficult. Many families can be seen in droves all looking down at the electronic devices in their hands! For stay at home Moms the break is necessary too! Being out of the home in a new environment gives renewed energy to everyone. Major cities have copious amounts of entertainment for those staying home. Movies galore where the matinee can be attended so everyone can be home for dinner. Oh March break-that time of year where the weather is dubious and more needs to be planned. But stopping and enjoying the family life is so necessary. As I have said many times, your children will not be young forever so building those memories with them means being with them. So let me know about your March break plans.

LET THE CHRISTMAS PARTIES BEGIN

December is in full swing with the last minute preparations for the festivities. Work dinner/dance tonight and a work pot luck next week are some of the fun things for me and my group of acquaintances. It is fun to belong to social situations. The year I was laid off, it was difficult not to be part of such events. So look around you, are there people that could be added to your functions. Someone who could benefit from a social gathering. If you have a Christmas open house, could you add one more person? Even though many people complain there is too much to do and too many events, there is an undercurrent of real enjoyment and belonging when invited. If taken away, there is an emptiness. Adding people to events, does fill up the room and give some real social time to those people. Quieter family Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners may be your choice too. After the buzz of the season it is comforting to look forward to some quality family time with smaller gatherings. There are so many plays and concerts too that can bring a lonely person to a social gathering. Buy a ticket for one and go join in the fun. Of course, the church doors are open everywhere. We all know that the great bakers will bring their goods to Church socials, dinners and pot lucks. Parties and fun, joining others in celebration are some of the Christian values of reaching out to others! Worship with others could not be more Christian and the real meaning of the season!