Nana’s Helpful Hints for Summer Fun with Grandchildren

“Unscheduled, unsupervised, playtime is one of the most valuable educational opportunities we give our children. It is fertile ground; the place where children strengthen social bonds, build emotional maturity, develop cognitive skills, and shore up their physical health.”  Jessica Lahey The Atlantic 6/20/14

OK.  I know the kids got out of school for summer vacation in May, for gosh sakes! And, most of the schools start up again next week.  At least that’s true in my little part of northern California.  So, you may have been asking -- Where are the Helpful Hints for Summer Fun that you may have been anticipating from this, your grandparent blogsite?  (True, maybe no one was holding their breath for the list and that is a good thing.)

In my tenure as Nana to Ethan and Taylor, I have had lists many pages long for stuff I wanted to do with them when I got the chance. But, I hesitate to share all that in the light of Jessica Lahey’s statement quoted above.  She points out that few children get the opportunity for any unstructured playtime and I agree with her that “doing whatever” or nothing at all is essential for all of us at ANY age. 

When Ethan was born, I lived in Bob and Tracey’s little apartment behind their house on Carrillo Street.  I got to see him every day.  He kick started my song-writing career,  (See "Nana’s Greatest Hits" blog, June 13 and "Hits Keep on Coming", July 4) and I got to spend lots of unstructured time with him. (Remember my favorite early childhood sport – baby watching?)

My time with Taylor was not quite as lavish nor unstructured, but my wish was always for the same kind of time that I got to have with Ethan.  I wrote this song when she was  2 or 3 years old (video to come) and it contains all the advice and helpful hints that I can offer in these waning days of summer vacation.  Mostly, have fun with your darling grandchildren!

I Wanna Spend Time with You

We can go in the car

We can take a walk

Sit right down and have a little talk

It doesn’t much matter what we do

I wanna spend time with you.

***

We can play in front

We can go out back

Sit right here and have a little snack

Whatever we decide to do

You're with me and I'm with you.

***

Running, jumping and playing with the ball

What we do doesn’t matter all

We can’t help laughing and when we’re done

What we are doing is having fun.

***

OR…we can crawl around

We can read a book

Sit in the garden and quietly look

When I see your face, I can see

You like spending time with me.

****

Longing for Grandchildren

“There is a space between one’s imagination and one’s attainment

that may only be traversed by longing.” ― Khalil Gibran

Babies and young children were ever present in our big Irish Catholic family.  Girlhood summers in the midwest, spent with my oldest brother Jack and his wife Sue, were all about babies.  At nine or ten, I thought learning to change diapers was part of the fun.  Jack and Sue managed to provide me with a new niece or nephew every year or so for quite a while there.  And each one welcome; each one a treasure.

First, I longed to be a mom

I grew up longing to be a mom and when Tom and Tracey arrived, I was very much fulfilled.  I loved being a mom.  My favorite sport:  Baby Watching.   Later, I loved being a teacher of young children.  By the time I discovered Dr. Maria Montessori’s best advice,  “Let the child be the teacher,” that principle was already resonant in my being.  Attentive Baby Watching is at the heart of all good early childhood education. Dr. Montessori’s great wisdom informed so much more about life both in the classroom and out. 

No wonder in my later life I developed this longing for grandchildren. As soon as my two off spring were happily married to lovely, loving potential parents, I think my imagination started churning. 

Tracey and Bob, started off with two kittens – Buddy and Jim – to see if their parenting styles were robust and compatible.  They were.  And, Tom had raised my first granddog from a puppy, providing nourishment and care for Dusty into her old age.  He and Maura, the youngest of eleven, would be great parents.  So get busy, already!

Ok, while I was waiting (not very) patiently, I still needed a kid.

Paul and Sherrie Corbett came through for me...

Along came Alex:  A bouncing baby boy born to the Corbetts, my special friends at the Center for Spiritual Living.  I went to see Sherrie, Paul and Alex in the hospital and held that sweet little guy in my arms. Alex had two very happy sets of grandparents, but I took advantage of being closer geographically and loved knowing Alex in his earliest years. Let’s say I was his spiritual grandmother…

After Bob and Tracey’s son, Ethan, was born, Alex showed him the ropes of being a kid one day.  Alex was five and Ethan still under a year and crawling when the Corbetts came for a visit.  Alex wanted Ethan to come over to him and he gestured energetically with his hand.  Ethan didn’t seem to understand, so Alex got right down close to him and said very patiently (waving his hand toward himself), “This means come here.” 

Alex Corbett, thank you for helping me through my great longing for grandchildren!  You are the best.