Grilled Grandma: Kayann

How many children do you have? I have three children - a son Patrick and a daughter Becky who both live near Portland, Oregon. I lost my son David on September 11 at the Pentagon.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Six grandchildren: Sophie 15, Meredith 12, and Dave, Jr. 10, who are my son David’s children. Patrick 10 and Abby 4 are my daughter Becky’s, and William 7 is the son of David’s wife and her husband.

Any great grandchildren? Not for awhile I hope!

What do your grandchildren call you? Sophie, Meredith, Dave, Jr. and William, who live in Belgium (soon to be returning to the states) call me Grandma in St. Louis (grandma for short). Patrick and Abby call me Grandma K.

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? I don’t remember having any concerns when I first learned of becoming a grandmother - I was too excited to worry. When Dave, Jr. was born (seven months after 9/11), it was heartbreaking to know he would never know his dad. He looks so much like him and his personality is so similar.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? I see them at least twice a year. I hope to retire and change that soon.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? My favorite part of being a grandma is the special relationship I have with each of them. They know when they call me to talk about things that interest or excite them that I will listen to every word until they are tired of talking. It makes them feel special and me too.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? For me, it’s the distance between us. Also, as I get older, it’s getting harder and harder to play soccer with them!

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. My grandkids have made me laugh out loud so many times it’s hard to pick one. Dave, Jr. and family have been living in Brussels for the past three years. On one visit, he and I were watching a program on French TV. We didn’t understand the French, so we made up our own dialog for the show in English. We both laughed so hard we cried. Little Abby in her pink tutu and red bike helmet with dress-up sparkly plastic heels always makes me smile.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? They don’t get a chance to visit often, but when they do we enjoy the many attractions for kids in St. Louis (one of the best zoos in the country). The teen and tween girls love to shop. We all enjoy sitting around and eating, talking, and playing games too. We also like to look through my photo albums.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? I particularly enjoy spending one-on-one time with the kids when I visit. Patrick and I walk to a park with a stream and look for frogs and lizards. He loves to grow things, so, depending on the season, we walk to a nearby nursery and buy flowers to plant. When he’s at school I play store and beauty salon and read books with his little sister.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? I stay in touch by phone, Skype, email and snail mail. I make sure that I keep up with their ever-changing interests and passions and learn about them so we can talk. I send them articles and stories about things that interest them. I make sure that the birthday and holiday gifts I send are on their wish lists. Sometimes I send them surprises.  Actually, I am so passionate about maintaining the bond between my grandkids and I, I wrote a book about long distance grandparenting.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? I would like them to know about their family and where they came from, and to realize how important family is. I want my son David’s children to know who he was and how each of them resemble him in their own way. His wife is great and carries on traditions from before and keeps his pictures around the house.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? I’ll cheat and write two words: Love and Fun.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? To accept what can’t be changed.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? I would advise her to start out early on the right foot with her grandbaby’s parents. Be someone they enjoy having around and respect their wishes and rules. Forming a strong and lasting bond with grandkids is so much more pleasant and easier when there is peace in the family.

Do you have a website or blog? What is it about? I have a blog at http://longdistancegrandparenting.wordpress.com. It’s all about the rewards and challenges of grandparenting from afar. There is information about and excerpts from my book “Love Across the Miles: How to Stay Close to Long Distance Grandchildren” available now on the Amazon Kindle and soon on other e-readers. I would love to share ideas and experiences with other long distance grandmas!

Grilled Grandma: Connie

How many children do you have? We have 5, his and mine, 3 daughters and 2 sons.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? There are 9 grand kids, and 4 surrogate grand kids.  The oldest girl just turned 6 this last weekend. After her there is a 5 yr old, 4yr old, 4 that are 3 yr olds, 2 yr old, 18 month, twins that are 16 months old, 14 month, and Itty Bitty is 11 months.

Any great grandchildren? Ha! Won’t that be something when they start coming!

What do your grandchildren call you? Grandma or Gramma

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? I wanted to help decorate the nursery in the worse way I was afraid I wouldn’t be asked to help! After my daughter in law decided on a design I painted the walls and added a painted border that matched the toile she picked out for the bedding. I have painted several of the kids’ rooms with murals.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Some of them several times a week, most at least once a week. They all live here in the valley.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Mostly that I can be involved in my grandkids lives as much as I want and can manage to be. I have more wisdom and patience this time around, and I hope to be an influence and soft place to land should they need me.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Energy! And time, and sleep! Sometimes it take a moment to remember what their name is when I want to call them!  And remembering that I want each moment to count in the middle of all the diaper changes and cleaning up messes. I have so much I want to give them if I can. I spend about 30 hrs a week with them, not counting weekend nights or family gatherings. I have had to make a lot of personal sacrifices like my social life, (which is non-existent at this point, who has the energy?) and my hobbies (which are now making gifts for the kids) to spend this time my grand kids. They grow up so fast; I know I won’t be sorry down the road.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. Wow, I’m laughing at something all the time! I gave the kids packets of ‘lollipop seeds’ for Easter. The oldest was surprised that you could buy lollipop seeds, the 5 year old remarked after finding that the lollipops grew over night that she had planted, that it was strange they grew with the paper already on them! At the Easter program at church one noticed that Jesus (who was speaking in Hebrew on a movie clip) wasn’t speaking English. She said to her mom, “you mean I’ve been praying to Him all this time in English when He speaks Spanish?!”

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? There are many things, mostly crafting I guess would be my answer. When I have the energy to do the cleaning up, we bake bread. I’m also teaching them to sew. Sometimes we sit in a circle and do what I call what’s your story? I will start off with a sentence like, A little frog hopped on a Lilly pad for a look around the pond; then I look to the kid on my right and it’s their job to add to that, and around the circle we go. We have some pretty silly times doing that!

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? I love to see them interacting with each other and playing with their toys. I always go into their rooms and sit on the bed and ask them questions about their things.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Well since I see them so often that’s not really an issue! Just between us, I have declared Fridays as a no grandkids day unless it’s an emergency! I have to have a break once in a while and get my housework done.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? We have a family heritage and history of loving God and His ways in our family. I hope that our tradition will be carried on to future generations.

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

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Wow I’ve been so busy being one I’m not sure what that would be!

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? I have worked hard at establishing a good relationship with my daughter and son in laws. This has laid the foundation for the wonderful freedom I now enjoy to encourage, instruct, and discipline my grand kids without having to tip toe around and wonder if I’m going to hear about something I did or said. Establish rules for your home when the kids are visiting, but make sure you are not crossing parental boundaries ever! Rules are simple at my house: food and drink stay in the kitchen. Babies on bottles are held while drinking their bottles so I don’t have drips on floor and furniture. Can you imagine what my house would look like if they all ran around snacking everywhere?!  My craft room is off limits and kids enter only when invited and with grandma. (This is for safety reasons mostly.) My bedroom and bathroom are not for playing in. We are nice and loving to each other ALL the time! Nothing will get you in time out faster than being mean to someone.

Do you have a website or blog? What is it about? I do have a blog thank you very much! It is http://www.familyhomeandlife.com. It is pretty much about my time with the grand kids, crafts with the grandkids, and things I make for the grandkids. But I throw other things on there too.

Grilled Grandma: Diane

What is a Grilled Grandma? A Grilled Grandma is a grandma whom I've grilled with some grandma-related questions, and she's graciously responded with answers and photos. Here is Grilled Grandma Diane:

How many children do you have? 4 wonderful sons!

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? I have 7 wigglies – that’s my name for them I use in my blogs, radio and such.

From Son #1 – 3 = Austin 11, Braiden 8 and Colten 4.

From Son #2 - 2 = Clayton 9, and Callie is 7.

Son #3 is still single.

Son #4 – 2 – Hailie – 7 (she is my bonus wiggliette brought in with her mama when they were married 3 years ago) – and Rylen is 15 months.

So I have 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.

Any great grandchildren? Nope

What do your grandchildren call you? It has changed – it used to be Gramie but now most of the time it is Grama

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? What their world would be like. Would they be safe? Would they grow up knowing and loving Jesus? Their future in general I think.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? I am blessed to see them daily if I choose. Son #2 and #4 live on the farm with us and Son #1 lives 3 miles away. I rarely go more than 2 days without loving on them.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Making memories, celebrating the ordinaries with them and sowing the Gospel into their lives.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Trying to not overstep my boundaries. Giving advice only when asked.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. The latest is from wigglie #3. Little league is starting up again. He wanted to be on a team call the Tigers – badly – really, really badly. He came home and could hardly stay in his skin. He told his mom his team was the Tigers!!!! Grinning like crazy. Mom figured this was a good learning situation. So, Mom asked “Did you pray for favor to get on that team? Do you think God did that for you?” He shook his head yes and then added “Either that or I was really lucky.”

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? We bake cookies, read and have a craft cupboard that we explore.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Check out their “stuff”. Their rooms and etc. Because we live so close and I see them frequently I think we have a little different relationship. It’s not like I go to their house just to visit – I drop in all the time, we work together on the farm, summertime Grama’s house is the go-to house with the pool. The fridge is always full of drinks and freezer has Grama’s cookies in abundance. We also have Sunday dinners here most Sundays – I am blessed beyond limits.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? It’s funny – even though we see each other we do “facetime” and message on mom and dad’s phone – but there really isn’t much in between time for us.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? The love of family. The love of Jesus. Appreciating the ordinary blessings God gives us daily. To live out loud. To love hard and strong and never leave things unsaid. To be grateful and loving. You can not tell someone how much you love them and appreciate them too much.

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

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? I can’t really think of anything – other than to appreciate more.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? You can’t go back and do it over again. Take and make time to spend with your wigglies. We have such an amazing opportunity to teach them. There may come a time that they need advice and won’t want to go to mom or dad. If we can build a great connection with them, hopefully they will come to us and that will give us the opportunity to point them to Jesus in all situations.

Do you have a website or blog? What is it about?www.randomramblingsof.com = blog about farm life, family, randomness.

Dear Readers: If you'd like to nominate a grandma for grilling—yourself or any other grandma—please e-mail me her first name and e-mail address and I'll take care of the rest. Thank you!

Grilled Grandma: Merci

How many children do you have? 1 daughter and 1 son.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? 2 - a girl, 5, and a boy, soon to be 2.

Any great grandchildren? No

What do your grandchildren call you? Nunna (Maltese for Grandma)

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? The concern of the baby's health.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? 2-3 times a week

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Getting to watch every move they make with joy and pleasure, and knowing I am no longer the disciplinarian, I am the grandmother who gets to spoil them and send them home.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Taking the back seat in how the children are being raised. Opinion is not always welcomed, especially since the mother is my daughter-in-law and not my daughter.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. When Sophie dresses up like Lady Gaga and sings her songs, and Christian plays under the kitchen table, like he is on the monkey bars...so cute. Laughing out loud happens more often than not, the kids are so entertaining.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? I love to take them to our favorite ice cream place, Frosty's, and ask Sophie if she want rainbow sprinkles on her ice cream, and she always says, no I want colored sprinkles. We laugh. And it never fails, Sophie eats only the top with the sprinkles and Christian devours the whole thing.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Watching Sophie play dress up, with all her customs, also we go through all her books. Sophie has a chair in her room that she turns over and they both slide down the back, they love to entertain me.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? If I don't see them in a couple of days, which sometimes happens with our schedules, I call Sophie. The younger one is to young for the telephone.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? That family is the most important people you can have in your life and having a grandmother is a blessing from God.

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

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Be the best Grandma you can and kiss, kiss,kiss them when ever you get a chance, or they let you...there is nothing like being a grandma.

Do you have a website or blog? What is it about?Groovin Moms — that baby boomers are not your regular grandmas.

Dear Readers: If you'd like to nominate a grandma for grilling—yourself or any other grandma—please e-mail me her first name and e-mail address and I'll take care of the rest. Thank you!

Grilled Grandma: Cheryl

What is a Grilled Grandma? A Grilled Grandma is a grandma whom I've grilled with some grandma-related questions, and she's graciously responded with answers and photos. Here is Grilled Grandma Cheryl:

How many children do you have? Six children and they are 29, 26, 25, 24, 15, and 13

How many grandchildren? One

What are their ages? 17 months

Any great grandchildren? No

What do your grandchildren call you? Grandmum (grandson lives in U.K.)

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? A good crib and good equipment such as stroller and high chair.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? 2 or 3 times a year for one or two months each.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? The gift that they are from heaven and hugs.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Wanting to set an example of Christlike behavior that they can follow.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. My grandson, Benjamin, likes me to hold him except when one of his pretty young aunts walks in the room, then he wants to go to one of them. He's smart!

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Walks though the park in the pram (stroller).

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? I have not visited Benjamin yet in the U.K., but I hope to do so soon.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Skype! I am working on several journals with special things he liked at each age each month. Like one month he was fond of doggies. I am just getting pix out of magazines, etc. Children like to know when they are older that you thought about them at each stage.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? The Gospel of Jesus Christ

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

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Save everything and keep a day to day journal or keepsake box, since the little mommy does not have time.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Relax, encourage, and enjoy! Use a soft touch verbally with your daughter or daughter-in-law, there's more than one way to raise a baby to good health.

Do you have a website or blog? What is it about?

Momlaughs — Laugh Your Way Through Motherhood

For Keeps Ministries — Connecting Two Hearts for Lifetime

Writing Mentor — Teaching Aspiring Writers How to Get Published

Dear Readers: If you'd like to nominate a grandma for grilling—yourself or any other grandma—please e-mail me her first name and e-mail address and I'll take care of the rest. Thank you!