2011 Calendar
Date Presenter Host
Jan 9 Donna Jeannie Lythcott
Mar 6 Helena Nancy Wulff
May 1 Michele member mixer
July 10 Marcie Open
Sep 17 Kathy Open
Nov 6 Dee Open
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January 9 Meeting
Our January 9 meeting is being hosted by Donna P. in San Carlos. GaGa Jeannie will present some easy but intriguing science investigations using everyday equipment that we can do with our grandchildren.
Her intention is to show us pieces of our world differently, to rediscover what's around us, to awaken curiosity, and above all, have some fun.
Jeannie just "retired" from the Stanford Teacher Education Program where she spent ten years teaching science educators from kindergarten through the doctoral level. Then headed right back into the classroom where she's teaching high school chemistry at Summit High School.
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2011 Presenters Needed
For our March 6 meeting artist Nancy Wulff will discuss the different stages of art development and the creative process in children. She'll also teach us some art projects to do with our grandchildren.
For our May 1 meeting we're going to have a member mixer instead of a presenter. We'll have small group discussions and opportunities to get to know each other.
We still need presenters for July 10, September 17, and November 6. If you have any suggestions for topics or speakers, please let me know.
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Greetings!
When I became a grandma seven years ago, I often wished I didn't have to drive two hours to see my granddaughter. Every time I visited my daughter, she told me about the latest house that was for sale in her neighborhood. But I didn't want to move. I remember having a conversation with one of my GaGa friends who adamantly said: "I'd never relocate near my grandchildren. I'd be giving up too much and it's such a big risk."
Recently, I met three of our new members, Mary Ann, Judy, and Barbara, who took that risk. They sold their homes and moved to the Bay Area to be near their grandchildren. Being a native San Franciscan, I have to say that it would be easier for me to move to the Bay Area than to leave it! Still, these grandmas left family and friends they'd known for 45 years to be closer to their grandchildren. I'm awed by their courage to start over at this stage in their lives, as well as their commitment to their grandchildren. Read their stories below and ask yourself what you'd do if you were in their shoes.
I wish you a healthy and joyful New Year,
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Relocating Near Your Grandchildren
Mary Ann
Mary Ann M. and her husband raised their three children in Hawaii. After 17 years there, they moved to San Francisco. When they retired in 2000, they moved back to Oahu where they intended to stay. But when all three of their children settled in the Bay Area, the pull was too great. In 2007 they returned to San Francisco so they could be closer to their two grandchildren, 18-month old James, and 7-month old Sadie. "Yes, it was hard to leave paradise," laments Mary Ann. "But family is most important. Now I'm available when my children call and I get to chew on my babies!"Mary Ann, aka Nana, babysits her daughter's son, James every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 to 4:30. She feels like she's reliving her own youth as she watches him grow. She visits her son and daughter-in-law in Santa Clara every other week and watches Sadie so her parents can have a date night.Her biggest challenge is not getting too far ahead of what the parents are doing and overstepping that fine line between teaching and discipline. When she's not with her with her grandchildren, she plays tennis, volunteers at her church, and attends the 49ers and Giants games. Her grandson James was featured in November's GaGa Zone sporting a Giants cap and bib after their World Series victory.Judy
If you listen to Judy S. talk, you can guess she was born and raised in New York. Her "New Yawk" accent is pretty hard to miss. Last August she sold her home, quit her job, and said goodbye to family and friends to move to San Mateo to be near her daughter and her partner and their five-year old son, Zane. She tells people it was like "getting on a train and not knowing where it was going."She took the risk because she knew her daughter needed her help and she was willing to make the sacrifice. She moved to an apartment, a mile from her daughter. Three nights a week she stays overnight with them so she can take Zane to school and help with the housework and cooking. In March she'll be even busier when her daughter gives birth to twin boys. They plan to get her some help when the twins arrive.Judy's son and four other grandchildren, ages 8 to 18, still live in New York. She used to visit them once a week. The oldest, who's 18, named her "Mimi" when he was a baby.She recognizes the huge commitment she's made but considers it a blessing to be able re-live her days as a parent and re-learn all the fun things she did with her children when they were growing up. Her biggest challenges are keeping up with Zane all day and following his parents' lead in disciplining him. She and Zane have found a bond through gardening together and grow all the vegetables for the family.In her free time she works out at the YMCA, volunteers at the Central Park Rose Garden, and enjoys the symphony and opera.BarbaraBarbara C. is the most recent transplant. She sold her home in Santa Barbara, where she'd lived for 45 years, and moved to an apartment in the San Francisco Presidio in November. She wanted to be closer to her family and always wanted to move to the City, but wasn't sure about the timing given the financial market.She gave up old friends she'd known for 40 years, yet she's noticed that people in the City are much friendlier than they were in Santa Barbara. She admits she started withdrawing from social interactions before moving and now she's given up feelings of being guarded.The biggest benefit in moving is being able to see her 3-year-old grandson more frequently than every 9 months. Now she has a bigger picture of him and his personality and she visits or babysits twice a week.Her biggest challenge is seeing the family up close and keeping her mouth shut when she disagrees with her daughter or son-in-law's parenting style. She tries to remind herself of the advice a psychologist once told her: "You can never change the way parents raise their children. But it's important to raise children with grandparents close by."Barbara says she's starting a new stage in her life that's really different. She's excited about getting into the routine of living in the City and enjoying all the new opportunities. She worked at the arboretum in Santa Barbara and plans to check out volunteer opportunities at the Academy of Sciences as she gets acclimated and settles in.
The Pros and Cons of Moving Near Your Grandkids
According to a study by Boston College, 28% of retirees prefer to be near their children and grandchildren, either by moving or staying where they are. Here are some things to consider about moving to be near your family.
Pros- Getting to know your grandchildren as they grow up.
- Getting help from adult children with decisions such as budget and long-term care.
- Getting help with daily life such as shopping, transportation, and doctor visits.
- Getting emotional support when your spouse or partner dies or you become ill.
Cons
- You may not get along. If you didn't get along with your children when they were young adults, moving near them usually doesn't make it better. You may have to face the fact that your children may not want you to be that close.
- Your kids may move somewhere else because of a great job opportunity or better education for their kids.
- You may end up doing more babysitting than you want.
- If your kids live in different places in the country, who do you move near?
- Location, weather and cost-of-living may not be what you like.
It may be the best move of your life, but before you pack up and move near your kids, make sure it's something you think has a good chance of working out.
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GaGa News
I'm thrilled to share good news from one of our GaGa Sisterhood members, Marilyn, who also happens to be my oldest friend. (We met in first grade.) Marilyn's third grandchild, Ellis, was born on December 20 weighing in at almost 7 lbs. Marilyn wrote that she is "absolutely in love with this little fellow." His older brother and sister, ages 6 and 4, were "wild with excitement and a challenge to keep calm." She helped her daughter and new baby settle in, put their house back in order, and then went home for a "blessed full night's sleep!" She closed by saying "I feel more Bubbie than ever. This little one has sent me over the top with joy!"
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How to Build a Fire And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew
Author Erin Bried knew only one of her grandfathers and still wonders what he might have taught her if only she'd asked. This experience inspired her to interview ten other grandfathers, all members of the Greatest Generation, and share their wisdom in her new book, How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew.
I found her book sweet, touching, funny and filled with truly practical advice that both men and women will find useful. Nine of the ten men she interviewed served in World War II and shared some poignant stories about living through the Great Depression. All of them are grandfathers many times over and six are great-grandfathers. You can read the rest of my review on my blog.
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The GaGa Zone
Please continue sending me pictures and stories of you with your grandchildren for the GaGa Zone. GaGa Judy S. and her five-year old grandson, Zane love to garden together. They grow vegetables and roses.
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