Grilling the guest

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I once was approached by a woman I'd never met, online or off, who asked if she could write a guest post for Grandma's Briefs. Other than a guest-post trading stint featured as part of a SITS activity, I had never published guest posts here. Funny thing was, I was swamped and in desperate need of help. So I said yes, Grandtravel was published, and a stranger named Mary had saved the day. End of story.

Or so I thought.

Not too long ago, I was contacted again by Mary, with an idea for another post, wondering if I might want to publish it. Again, she had come along at exactly the right time, exactly when I needed her. I published Grandparents can be fun AND consistent, and once more, Mary — now no longer a stranger — saved the day.

That's still not the end of the story, though.

The rest of the story is that the guest-post-writing stranger named Mary, the woman who saved my butt the day...twice...is this week's Grilled Grandma.

You've read her articles on grandparenting (and if not, go ahead, read them, then come back). Now it's time to read about her. Please give it up—meaning the clicks and the comments—for Grilled Grandma: Mary, an online angel who somehow magically knew I needed her, even before I knew that I did.

Now that, dear readers, is the end of the story. At least for now.

Call for guest posts: I'd like to throw a guest post or two into the mix during the time I'm away meeting my new grandson. If you would like to submit a 300- to 600-word post on any grandparenting topic (no ads or promotions, please), please e-mail it to me by Tuesday, June 14 for consideration and possible inclusion. Openings are limited, but I hope to fit in a few. Thank you!

Today's question:

When has a stranger made a difference in your life?

Giggling and grilling

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I believe I've mentioned that I'm not really much of an LOL person, especially when reading things on the computer. I may snicker or smile, but LOLs are rare.

Every once in a while, though, I truly do LOL. This week's Grilled Grandma, Maryann, made me do just that with her response to my prompt of, "Describe a recent time when one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud."

Here's what she said:

My grandchildren are always saying or doing something that makes me laugh. Most recently, while in church for Easter, my 3-year-old grandson was listening to the pastor speak about Jesus (this surprised us that he WAS listening!). The Pastor mentioned that Jesus died for our sins. My youngest grandson turned to his mother and shouted, "Jesus DIED???!!! When did THAT happen??" Of course, we were all trying to stop from laughing out loud. 

LOLs all around, for sure!

You'll find more to laugh about — plus some other awful sweet sentiments — in Grilled Grandma: Maryann. Please check it out and pass along some comment love to this delightful grandma.

Today's question:

Certain people in my life do make me LOL each and every time I'm around them. Who in your life most often makes you LOL?

Less strange, more grilled

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The Internet has opened up an amazing world of opportunities for meeting strangers with whom I'd have never in a million years come into contact otherwise. This week's Grilled Grandma is one such stranger.

I met Melinda through HARO (Help A Reporter Out). She needed an interviewee for an article, I offered up myself, we became less strange to one another.

After a few e-mails back and forth, Melinda offered up herself as a Grilled Grandma. I grilled her, and we became even less strange to one another.

No big deal, right? Such interactions happen all the time. Strangers meet online and make a difference, small or large, in one another's lives.

What made my interaction with Melinda extraordinary — at least for me — was that Melinda has written the book on such interactions and exchanges between strangers. Okay, she's written a book on such exchanges, and I found that an interesting coincidence. As the author of Consequential Strangers, co-authored with Karen L. Fingerman, PhD, Melinda waxes eloquently and informatively on folks on the outer skirts of our social circle, the virtual strangers, the "people who don't seem to matter ... but really do." It's a fascinating concept from a fascinating woman.

Read Grilled Grandma: Melinda. Then read her blog, buy her book, become less strange. We all matter to one another to a degree we never previously imagined. We all are consequential strangers.

A Grilled Grandma and a Bubby update

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As many of you know, I'm still on assistant nurse duty with Bubby, so although I'm short on words for this week's Grilled Grandma because of time, I'm long on adoration for this interesting grandma. She's a lovely woman with two equally lovely granchildren. Her name is Olga and you can learn a bit about her in her grilling, and even more about her on her very own blog.

Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Grilled Grandma: Olga!

In other news, Bubby is recuperating nicely. He's not yet at 100 percent, but he'll get there soon, surely due in part to the kindness of virtual strangers — you awesome readers of Grandma's Briefs — keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you all!

Today's question:

Bubby's been eating a lot of popsicles and ice cream the last few days. What's your favorite frozen treat?

Better late than never: Thanking a Grilled Grandma

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When I was first laid off from my newspaper job in December of 2008, this week's Grilled Grandma, Anne, helped me out immensely. She helped me see that there were indeed writing jobs I could do from home, and even helped me secure a couple that added to my coffers.

Anne doesn't know she helped me. In fact, she didn't know me, and I didn't know her. I knew only her website, AboutFreelanceWriting.com, and the market and job listings she posted daily. I visited daily, took her advice daily, searched for work daily. Despite the help she gave, I never met her. And I never thanked her.

Which is why I was so pleased Anne recently wrote me nominating herself to be a Grilled Grandma. I was thrilled. Of course I jumped at the chance to feature this woman who selflessly helps writers all across the country, heck, maybe even all across the globe.

So today I offer up Grilled Grandma: Anne. Please read her grilling and visit her blogs. She's a smart lady with lots to offer — not only to her grandchildren, but to her readers, too.

And for that, I offer my official thanks: Thank you, Anne! Unbeknownst to you until this very moment, you made a difference in my life. Thank you!

Today's question:

Who in your life deserves a big "Thank you!" today?

A daring and sharing Grilled GrandPA

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I've featured many a lovely lady here for the Grilled Grandma feature, but today I bend the rules just a tad and grill up a grandpa. As the grilled grandpa, John, said in his request to be grilled — yes, he asked me — "some of us testosterated reparenters make good bonne-mamans, too." (That's "grandma" for those who don't know ... and might need to Google it, like I did.)

How could I refuse? To be honest, I didn't even consider refusing, as John's a good bloggy buddy to Grandma's Briefs.

Yes indeed, John makes a marvy bonne-maman. An even better one once grilled. One quote from his grilling that proved most resonant for me was this:

Good talk with kids is underrated. It's not something you can do without practice. If you want to learn something about children, you can't ask them outright unless you already have a working conversation going with them. They need to know you've been listening all along.

As the primary caregiver for three grandsons, John knows of what he speaks, and he offers much more wisdom and wisecracks about his experience as a grandfather, a "reparenter," and a most interesting man in Grilled Grandpa: John. While there, be sure to show him some comment love. It's the least we can do for the only male — so far! — brave enough to willingly join the Grilled Grandma gang.

Today's question:

What stands out most in your memories of your grandfather?

Wherein I (again) admit my jealousy of a Grilled Grandma

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We're all friends here, so I feel safe in admitting that I can be a jealous grandma, have admitted before I'm a jealous grandma. Of other grandmas, in particular. Especially those grandmas who get to see their grandchildren on a regular basis.

This week's Grilled Grandma, Jules, is one of those grandmas of whom I'm jealous, but for more reasons than just her proximity to her grandkids. Although that tops the list.

Here are the top three reasons I'm jealous of the incredibly sweet and lovely Jules:

1. Her answer to my question of how often she gets to see her grandchildren: "Since we all have homes on the same 100 acres, I am fortunate to see them every day. I am so blessed to have them so close." I would love to be blessed in such a way!

2. She's an awesome photographer with incredible Photoshop skills! Take a look at her blog — and the grilling photos — and you'll see what I mean. (The link to her blog is included at the bottom of her grilling.)

3. Her smile. Jules has got to have the most winning smile of any grandma I've met. Or not met. Or grilled. Or not grilled. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Read Grilled Grandma: Jules to see that Jules is just as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. And, like I said, be sure to click over to her blog to get an expanded view of her awesome photos and learn more about her and her just as awesome family.

Today's question:

What do you consider your best feature? And YES, you have at least one, so don't be modest.