Who is Going To Camp Grandma?

Good ol' grandfolks
Every year we went to Georgia to spend a month with my Mamaw, Papaw and Aunt Julie.

We played in Mamaw's big yard with her dogs. We'd watch soap operas with her. We did just about whatever we wanted. We played in the sprinkler, and Mamaw always had old Barbies on hand. When that got old, we'd spend a few nights with our cousins and ride the dunebuggy in their big yard.
When we got into Mamaw's car after our father dropped us off, it seemed all the stress melted away and everything was all right.

I don't ever remember my Mamaw getting mad at me or yelling at me, not even when she was trying to show me how to sew and I made the machine sewing needle go through her finger. -Diann in West Virginia
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Adventures up north
Michigan summers at my grandparents' cottage on the lake were awesome! I loved waking up to the fresh air that only existed that time of year. My brothers or cousins and I would hop in a row boat and ride through the reeds looking at the ducks, frogs, turtles and fish. Usually after dinner, we'd get our life jackets on and go for a pontoon ride.

Family get-togethers there were great-BBQ's and 4th of July with sparklers and fireworks they shot off the island. Grandpa would pay us 10 cents for every cigarette butt we picked up.

So many memories. Good times. -Cathy in Michigan
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Ranching it up
My mom was single and couldn't afford daycare in the summer, so we would go to my grandparents "ranch" on the Klamath River in Northern California during that time. They had a swimming pool and we worked in the huge garden. We played croquette, badminton, and lots of card games because there was no television.

There would be plenty of family barbecues. Grandpa loaded us in the truck for trips to town where he sneaked us a treat. We helped grandmother clean the trout, steelhead and salmon fresh out of the river.

It was the simplicity of it all ... -Barbara in California

Posted On Monday, June 6th, 2011

My grandmother needed me. I am not sure if I was even old enough to start school when I was invited to spend a whole day helping her. Mema, as I called her, was recovering from something and needed me to be her legs. I arrived ready to serve wearing a small white nurse's apron with matching cap bearing simple red crosses.

Mema was unique in many ways. Her short round frame generally wore a no-nonsense expression. Her children seemed a little bit afraid of her. Daddy, the youngest of five siblings, was only two when their father suddenly died. Mema became a young widow forced to run a small grocery store and raise her brood of five alone. She had to be tough.

I remember her strange black shoes with clunky heels and black laces. She had an everyday pair and a dress up pair. I couldn't tell the difference, but she could. Pop-beads or a large broach adorned her simple dresses.

I never dared to disagree with this powerful adult. Her dark eyes and tight dark bun highlighted her "I mean business" presence. Yet, I knew she loved me. She didn't just read stories, she became the goats in Billy Goat Gruff, stomping across the bridge. Her ample body gave the softest, cleanest smelling hugs. We giggled and sang, sewed and baked together. She knew every verse of "Where Have You Been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy." I respected and loved her dearly.

To be needed by this strong matriarch was indeed an honor. I felt important. I was needed to help someone and my parents believed I could do it.

The Bible uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate the importance of every individual (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Each person, like each body part, contributes something special to the the whole body. The parts that are hidden are often the most important. God created us to need each other. That includes children and old folks. I needed my relationship with my grandmother and she needed her relationship with me. I am a different person because of her.

In a family, church or group, each person is necessary-even those we might call "the least." Consider how are you allowing the young and the elderly in your circle to contribute to your life. Recently the presence of a three month old grandson brought hope and joy to an otherwise very grave setting. He lit up the room every time he appeared. He was needed by friends and family alike.

What holds you back from sharing yourself? Mema couldn't buy me stuff, but she shared stories, skills, songs and time. Offering our best from love is sometimes better than being the best. Baking cookies with Mema beat baking with any fancy pastry chef any day. The relationships we build make us unique and special in the circles we frequent. Your presence and gifts are needed. So when you are feeling unimportant or helpless, remember, it is not the same without you.

Blessings,

P. S. Because you are important, let me encourage you to see "Forks Over Knives," a compelling documentary on the connection between what we eat and our health. If you or someone you love has been touched by cancer, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes or obesity, this film can offer real hope. It is playing in Raleigh for a limited time at the Wakefield Cinema. If you miss the movie, read The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell.
http://www.lighthouseministriesnc.org/debbies-blog/

1) Grandma rocks!
2) Grandpa is there, too!
3) Ice Cream!

Grandparents can play an integral role in the homeschooling family, but unfortunately, many simply don't know how to help. Drawing on their past educational experience and unsure about daily homeschool routines, they may need assistance in understanding ways to get involved. With a wealth of knowledge and a lifetime of practical experiences just waiting to be patiently shared, grandpas and grandmas can take a family's homeschooling to a whole new level with these practical ideas:
Read books about homeschooling and get informed.
Look at your grandchildren's curriculum to see what they are studying.
Accompany your grandchildren on outings and field trips.
Offer to help with housework (laundry, housecleaning, meal preparation, yard work) or babysit so that your children will have more time preparing lesson plans.
Take your grandchildren with you to places where you volunteer.
Transport older grandchildren to special activities such as music or swimming lessons.
Purchase educational materials such as a telescope, a chemistry set, or the student microscopes sold at Alpha Omega Publications®.
Proudly display your grandchildren's school projects and artwork at home.
Take your grandchildren on weekly trips to the library and spend time reading books out loud.
Keep on the lookout for interesting community events and take your grandchildren to these activities.
Become a tutor in the subjects you know best and help with homework or school assignments.
Pass along your expertise. Grandpas can teach woodworking, car repair, and hunting while grandmas can teach music, a foreign language, gardening, and other homemaking skills.
Start a hobby related to your grandchildren's studies and then learn it together!
Do you live miles away from your grandchildren? Not a problem%u2015you can still get involved using these creative ideas:
Become pen pals with your grandchildren and teach writing skills with letters or emails.
Subscribe your grandchildren to educational magazines and periodicals.
Purchase supplemental books and homeschooling resources. (Alpha Omega Publications has a huge selection of products at its Web Store.)
Send informative newspaper or magazine articles with handwritten comments or attach them to emails.
Stay in contact by phone. Discuss what your grandchildren are learning in their studies.
Install a webcam in your home and your grandchildren's to "see" what they're doing each time you call.
Visit often and schedule a time that works well to observe what they're learning during class time.
Have your grandchildren spend a week or two-week summer visit at your home and plan a multitude of educational experiences.
All children need grandparents who get involved in their lives, especially homeschoolers.

If your parents are unsure how to help, print or email this list and invite them to share in the homeschooling of their grandchildren. Chances are, you'll be surprised at how quickly your invitation is accepted!

Do you like writing contests? Check out a friend's great website.

Homeschool Writers Writing Contests & Resources

Do you like Math contests? Check out a friend's great website.

Homeschool Writers Math Contests & Resources