| 2012 Calendar
Date Host Presenter
May 6 Michele Member mixer
July 15 Day One Jane Angelich
Sept 9 Sandi Sandi D.
Nov 4 Diane Rachel Eryn
|
Please Forward this GaGazine
One of the best ways to spread ideas is through telling others. Would you share this information? Just click on the link below that says, "Forward this email to a Friend." Thanks!
|
Where is GaGa Sisterhood?
I gave my first reading from the new anthology Wondrous Child: The Joys and Challenges of Grandparenting at A Great Good Place for Books. I joined Lindy Hough, the book's editor and Karine Schomer who both read excerpts from their chapters. |
Mother's Day Gift
Looking for a gift for a new mom? Food For Thoughtful Parenting would make a great gift for a new mom adjusting to her new role.Authors Nina Coslov and Tara Keppler have pulled together their favorite parenting strategies and tactics into an easy-to-read collection of 12 lists to help moms through the rough spots. They're offering the book for their annual Mother's Day special that includes free gift wrap and a contribution to The Guidance Center, an organization that for 50 years has been a beacon of hope for children and families in need. |
Conscious Grandmother Workshop
Two years ago I took a fascinating workshop from a grandmother named Yeshi Neumann. Now she's offering her "Conscious Grandmothering Workshop" at Esalen Institute on June 1 - 3, 2012.The workshop will develop practical skills for effective communication between grandmothers and the parents of their grandchildren about cultural or personal differences.
|
|
Pineapple Upside Down French Toast
My mom's recipe would be a real crowd-pleaser for your Mother's Day brunch.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
10 ounces crushed pineapple with juice, drained
1/4 cup pineapple juice, reserved
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
8 slices French bread (1")
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter over moderate heat and stir in sugar until dissolved.
3. Add pineapple, stirring well to incorporate.
4. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, half and half, reserved pineapple juice, salt, cinnamon and vanilla.
5. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 pan and spread pineapple mixture evenly over bottom.
6. Dip bread slices into milk mixture and arrange in one layer on top of pineapple mixture.
7. Bake french toast in middle of oven 20-25 minutes or until bread is golden.
8. French toast can be made a day ahead of time, covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator.
9. Serves 4.
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
When my granddaughters were little, my daughter once said to me: "Mom, you don't have to bring the girls toys. Their favorite thing to play with is YOU!"
Her sweet compliment has stayed with me over the years and helped me become more aware of the "gifts" I do bring every time I visit--the intangible gifts of my undivided attention, imagination, and patience. These attributes are so much easier to offer as a grandmother than they were when I was a mother.
Of course they're easier, because I know my time with my granddaughters is finite and I'll get a reprieve when Mama comes home. But they're also easier because I've matured thirty years and have had some time to hone my talents. I know that I love storytelling, singing, and making up creative games. So when I'm with my granddaughters, that's what we do.
What "gifts" do you bring to your grandchildren? Start noticing how you spend your time with your grandchildren and maybe you'll discover some long-hidden talents you'd forgotten you possessed. That's also one of the "gifts" our grandchildren give to us--the chance to reconnect to a long-forgotten passion.
 |
|
Grandma's Gifts
Storytelling
When my first granddaughter was 3 years old, she learned to dial my phone number and asked me to tell her a story. I got so good at making up stories that I felt a little sad when she stopped asking for them. But now her younger sister is requesting them and I'm keeping her entertained with some brand new stories.
If storytelling isn't one of your gifts, I can recommend an incredible storyteller I heard at last year's Home School Conference. His name is Jim Weiss and his version of the "Hare and the Tortoise" was absolutely mesmerizing. I bought several of his Great Hall CDs for my granddaughters and their favorite is "Uncle Wiggly's Storybook."
Singing
I've enjoyed singing since I was a Girl Scout and learned campfire songs and rounds at summer camp. One of my favorite music resources is Wee Sing CDs and songbooks. The "Wee Sing Sing-Alongs" book has 60 familiar tunes that will definitely bring back memories. It includes simple scores that my granddaughters and I enjoy playing on the piano.
Creative Games
Recently, I came up with a word game both my granddaughters enjoyed. It's a simplified version of Fictionary, also known as the Dictionary Game. I said a word and they had to guess whether it was a real word or made up word. Once they got the hang of it, I introduced another element: I gave them a real word and then gave them two definitions--one real and one made up. They had to guess the real definition. They had so much fun playing that game we continued it at dinner with my 89-year old mom who's a crossword fan. This is a great game for all the generations!
My Favorite Apps
Now, in addition to all my innate skills, I finally have the "tool" that all grandmas can rely on: the iPhone! With permission, I use some fun apps to entertain my granddaughters as rewards for completing their chores and school work.
Scoops is our absolute fav, especially since we all love ice cream. Stack your ice cream cone high into the sky by tilting the phone left and right, catching as many scoops as you can while avoiding the vegetables (veggies ARE great apart from ice cream!) The higher you go, the faster they fall, and the more wobbly your tower! Stack similar colors together for extra points. The game is accompanied by great ice cream truck music and some "whoa's" when you have a near miss with a vegetable.
Warning: It's addictive!
Doodle Buddy is also addictive. We've been playing a paper version of this for a long time. Draw a doodle and then create something from it. Only instead of drawing with a pen, you use your finger as a brush. There are dozens of colors, stamps (which make adorable sounds when you stamp them on your drawing), and backgrounds to help you make your drawing. And the results are really satisfying.
Matching Zoo is an animal version of the memory game with animal sound effects. The added element of sound makes matching even more fun.
Warning: The animal sounds can get a little annoying!
|
GaGa Sisterhood Tours Filoli
Finally ... Filoli! After getting rained out of our scheduled Filoli tour on April 12, we made a second attempt and ten of us had a spectacular visit on April 24.
It was worth the wait to see the fragrant wisteria spilling over everywhere, orange tulips and blue forget-me-nots around the sunken garden, delicate dogwoods, brilliant pink azaleas, and bursting peonies that dazzled us. Our docents Julia and Judith have an impressive knowledge of Filoli history and can rattle off the botanical names of every flower, tree and shrub.
We enjoyed lunch and conversation in the cafe after our tour. At one point I commented on our server's striking white hair. Not everyone agreed with me about how beautiful she looked. I suggested they read my last blog post: Going Grey--A Milestone for Women of a Certain Age. |
Wondrous Child: New Anthology
 I'm thrilled to announce the release of Wondrous Child: The Joys and Challenges of Grandparenting, a new anthology of 29 vivid essays by grandparents and grandchildren from diverse backgrounds. The book is edited by Lindy Hough, co-founder of North Atlantic Books and a grandmother herself.
As one of the contributors to Wondrous Child, I'm proud to say there's a vast array of wisdom and experiences in these stories. They capture an honest yet tender panorama of contemporary grandparenting that will inspire grandparents to persevere when they face the inevitable challenges of navigating multi-generational relationships. The book is also meant to help new parents partner with the grandparents of their children to build a strong extended family.
The essays in this anthology would make a great starting point for grandparents and their adult children to begin a conversation about what they each hope for in this important relationship. |
Programs for Our 2012 Meetings
We now have all of our programs planned for the rest of the year so be sure to mark your calendar for these dates.
May 6, 2012 Who Are You When You're Not Grandma? will be a combination of two of our most popular past meetings--our member mixer and the meeting where we talked about some of the other "hats" we wear. Our planning committee developed some wonderful questions to help us share some things about ourselves.
July 15, 2012
What's A Mother-in-Law to Do? Author Jane Angelich will read from her book and explain why she's called a "mother-in-law expert." She'll also share her perspective as a MIL and answer questions. September 9, 2012 Disposing of Your Sentimental Possessions will be presented by our host Sandi Dolmatch. Sandi will share some tips for downsizing collections and objets d'art, by deciding what to toss, donate or bequeath to family and friends. November 4, 2012 Intergenerational Communication will be presented by Rachel Eryn Kalish. Rachel will discuss how to have dynamic, open, honest conversations across generations about any topic.
|
Grandma Paints and Blogs About Special Needs Granddaughter
Janet Harrold describes the day she became a grandma as "one heck of a roller coaster ride. Emotions were overflowing, questions surpassed the highest mountains, and uncertainty scared the hell out of me!" Janet's granddaughter, Hailey, was born four years ago with athetoid cerebral palsy, which causes involuntary movements that can interfere with speaking, feeding, reaching, grasping, and other skills requiring coordinated movements. Read more ...
|
The GaGa Zone
Please continue sending me pictures and stories of you with your grandchildren for the GaGa Zone. |
Judith celebrated with her twin grandsons, Jake Dolan and Liam Ford on their first birthday, March 10, 2012.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
