How many children do you have?

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma?

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house?

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? That has been harder. The two oldest grandchildren lived very close to me when they were little and they were at our house all the time. Most of their birthday parties and all holidays were with us at our house. The others when they were real small like our two year old is now, they couldn't talk on the telephone or even understand cards and we visited them a lot more. We helped the Moms take care of them when they were babies and toddlers but after they started school we went less frequently. We have now installed Skype on our computer and the other families are installing it on their computers so we will be able to talk to each other and see each other at the same time. I have sent them magazine subscriptions to Family Fun so they could find crafts they liked and they could make them with their Moms and Dads. They loved to get mail and I found some small, inexpensive games and puzzels at Cracker Barrel and would send them to them every month or so.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? The love of a God that is so in love with them that they can talk to Him whenever they want and depend upon Him to always be there for them. The love of reading and getting a good education. The love of family and a love of our wonderful country. And to know how much they are loved no matter what they do, unconditionally.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Love

How many children do you have?

When they come over, I drop everything and just play with them.  Of course, I also love to be able to send them home at the end of the day….hahaha.  I earned that!

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Knowing how hard it is for my girls.  Raising kids is just plain hard and when my girls are stressed or afraid they aren’t doing it right, then I am stress too.  You never stop being a mom.  Also, I am not as young as I was when I had kids so I get tired easily.  After they leave, I am exhausted….haha.  I had four and never slowed down but I can have one grandchild and can barely get out the door on time.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. Wow…..they make me laugh out loud all the time.  But, my grandson makes me laugh out loud all the time.  He is a funny kid.  However, the story that comes to mind is the other day we were shopping in Canton, Texas with my granddaughters and the oldest one needed to go to the bathroom.  Well, it was filthy and she looked at it and then looked at me and said, “What?  Seriously?”  It just cracked me up.  She was still 3 at the time.  How do you pick just one thing with grandkids.  Everything they do makes me laugh with pleasure.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? I have an adjustable, vibrating sleep number bed.  For some reason, they love to get on my bed and put the head and feet up and turn the vibrator on.  Also, we have a golf cart and live in a little neighborhood where you can ride it around all over so, we ALWAYS ride the golf cart unless it is too cold or raining.  One more thing, we set up a tent and I cook them a corn dog.  Not that healthy, right?  But, that is part of being a grandma.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Well, I just like to watch them play.  They want to show me their toys.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Well, since they live so close and they are so young, it isn’t hard.  But, sometimes I talk to them on the phone.  I also talk to my daughters every day.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? The love of Jesus Christ and unconditional love from me.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Acceptance

Find out more about Susan on her blog, Permanent Posies.


How many children do you have?

The two granddaughters, Lucy and Josephine, who live in Milwaukee I get to see every few months or so.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? It's a real gift to have these precious, creative, lively, unique individuals in my life and family.  I love building an individual relationship with my grandchildren, connecting with each one through something they are interested in.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? I think once they reach school age and begin to have a number of activities that kids can get overscheduled with (they're all good--just so many of them!), it's a challenge for them to find time for us grandmas--we almost need an appointment.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. Friday night we had a "Cousin Campout" in our big woodsy backyard, complete with a camp fire grandpa built with the grandkids' help, a big tent we set up, cooking out hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores.
Just when we had their tummies full and thought they were about to go to sleep in the tent, a foul smell emerged. Everyone was sure it was our resident little grey fox (or one of the cousins) emitting an odor. We finally figured out Luke (7) had stepped in dog poop and tracked it around the campsite. Many chuckles over that; it took me over an hour the next day to clean the new shoes!

Second try on their settling down seemed the charm. My husband, son Justin and I went inside and got comfy and had just started watching a movie when the four grandkids ran in the house, screaming and laughing. Caitlin (12) had told them scary ghost stories and they were sure they were in danger outside. They piled in with their sleeping bags and pillows in the family room, we snuggled up, changed our movie to "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and everyone settled in for the night by 10:30.

When I was up in Milwaukee last taking care of Lucy & Josephine while parents out of town for five days, the girls and I were at Walgreen’s and asked if they could get a toy and I said yes. Josephine chose a squeezy light-up creature but red-haired Lucy (3) found a Whoopie pad. She sat on it and thought it was the funniest thing she’d ever seen. The three of us dissolved into giggles which continued on the walk home and every time one of them sat on it.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? If it’s nice weather, we love to be outdoors. Today I took Noah (8) and Luke (7) to the Oklahoma City Zoo. We play board games like "Scrabble" or "Candyland," card games like "War," "Black Jack," "Go Fish," and just hang out. I also love to take them to the park, or ride bikes with them. If they are spending the night, we pop popcorn and settle in with a movie or a pile of books before lights out.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Have special time with them doing a craft (I usually bring a craft when I go visit Josephine and Lucy in Wisconsin. We've made sock puppets, made and decorated a Christmas gingerbread house, done Shrinky Dinks, for example), However, THEIR favorite thing when I visit is the Treasure Hunts. I tell all about the treasure hunts in my book, Connect With Your Grandkids. Before making the trip, I save little surprises: like a package of Gummy Worms, new book or Slinky, yo-yo, some little toys in a basket and pack those in my suitcase. When I get there I make clues--and hide them around the house. They love the element of surprise and "the hunt" and always ask for another treasure hunt.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? I write Lucy and Josephine (my out of town grandgirls) cute postcards that say "I miss you" or "You're Special!")

We also Skype or talk on the phone once a week. I send them a package once a month or two. I take lots of photos when we’re together, and have made them a number of albums of our adventures and time together.

The in-town grandkids I try to keep in touch with by stopping by, taking them for ice cream, planning an outing or sleepover, or calling. When they're sick, I send a get-well card. When they do something commendable, I send a "Congratulations!" card.

A special thing I do during the grandkids’ 10th year is take them on a trip, just the two of us. When the first one, granddaughter Caitlin, turned 10, she picked Washington, D.C. We planned the trip together and went during her fall break during 5th grade. I bought her books ahead of time, a biography of George Washington and Clara Barton, she read on the way, and we went to both of their homes (Mt. Vernon and Clara Barton’s home & the 1st headquarters of the Red Cross). We rode the subway, walked to all the monuments, Smithsonian, had tea at the Ritz, took lots of photos, and a wonderful time. When we got home, I helped her create a scrapbook about the trip. Each of the other kids are already thinking about where they want to go. I have to save up ahead of time! Caleb turns 10 in October.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? A sense of adventure, faith, and a realization that I believe in them and their potential 100%.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Fun--because I like to have fun and hope we can do that when we're together. And "Listening" because I want to be a grandma who listens to them.

Do you have a website or blog? Yes, www.cherifuller.com and I have a blog on that website. This new website just launched a few weeks ago. Sometimes my blog will be for grandmas with fresh and fun ideas on ways to connect with their grandkids.

How many children do you have?

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? I have 16 grandchildren and one on the way in August. Their ages are 24, 22, 20, 19, 14, 13, 13, 12, 12, 11, 7, 7, 6, 6, 4, 3. There are 6 of them that are step grand children but they are mine in my heart.

Any great grandchildren? Yes, I have 3 greatgrands and 2 on the way: a little girl due just any time and a boy that is due the last of July.

What do your grandchildren call you? They all call me Maw Maw.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Well, there are four that are married and have children, now I see them on get-togethers and talk regular to them on the phone or the computer. But the smaller ones, we see them on a regular basis. We have custody of two of them; they live full time with us.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? I think the best thing is the special way the grands talk to me. We have always had a good communication system between us and that makes it special.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Oh, the older kids sometimes seem to be a bit jealous of the little ones, especially the ones that live here with me. But they know I love them and I would do anything for them.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. One afternoon we were baking cookies and the kids were taking turns in adding the ingredients to the mix. The little boy didn't think he was doing his share and asked, "What do you want me to do, just sit and watch?"

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Well I have three that come down and they stay a week with me during summer break from school. We try to plan the week out so all of my time is spent just on those three children. Like going to the library or swimming in the pool, just sitting and watching a movie together and just cuddling on my bed.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Don't visit them much; they always come to my house. They love my homemade cooked meals and the sweets I cook.

How do you maintain the bong between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? I always keep the communication open so they can feel free to talk to me about anything and not be afraid of being put down.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? To respect themselves and other, to be honest, and do their best at anything they do.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? RESPECT

You can connect with Linda on Facebook.

How many children do you have?

What is the best thing about being a grandma?

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house?

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? My granddaughters call me and ask me to tell them stories. The older one started calling me when she was 3 ½. She’ll stay on the phone with me for an hour. We do creative projects together like designing their Halloween costumes. Last year they were both bunches of grapes.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? I want them to understand the importance of being a family and celebrating joyous events together.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Fun! We always have so much fun together. I want them to remember our annual Girls Getaways and the little rituals I’ve made up for them, like breakfast picnics with candles on the eggs.

Do you have a website or blog?  The GaGa Sisterhood is a social network where grandmas bond, brag, and benefit. I founded the GaGa Sisterhood in December 2003 after I witnessed the birth of my first granddaughter and went completely gaga!

How many children do you have?

How often do you get to see your grandchildren?

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma?

Suzanne's hubby.How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits?

Want to find out more about Suzanne? Visit her any time at Liam's Grandma or Maggie in Real Life.