Grandparenting Adventures
by Audrey Thomasson
No matter what they call you—Nana or Mimi, Papa or Grandpa—grandparenting really is grand....as in fun, awesome, fulfilling and loving!
As grandparents, you are no doubt always thrilled to see the arrival of those little ones. Who isn’t ready to spoil them to the fullest by letting them stay up late, read favorite books, cook their favorite foods and listen attentively as they recount their dreams and experiences?
Whether you have one grandchild or a dozen, when the whole brood descends for their summer visit, here are ideas from some folks who truly revel in their grandchildren’s presence and vice versa.
Their adventures may help you create memories with your g-kids that will last a lifetime. While some suggestions may need a little bit of advance planning, none require a lot of hoopla or moola to turn everyday events into exciting adventures that could become traditions they eventually share with their own children.
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| From the Braggs’ dock, grandsons Boyd and Lewis pull up enough crabs each day to hold a feast at the end of the week. |
The first rule of Camp Willowfield for the Braggs’ grandparenting adventure is: No Parents Allowed. Since 2008, the Braggs have turned their home into a camp retreat for the g-kids from sun-up to about 10 p.m. for up to 10 days.
“Papa (Bob) is involved in our camp the whole time,” says Barbara. The couple like to wrap up the week by presenting each child with a commemorative cup, engraved with their initials, date and the “camp insignia”—a crab, “...so they can reminisce about our camp when they are adults. It’s all about creating memories,” she adds.
Adventure #1: Gone crabbing
The boys, 9 and 10, love to go chicken-neckin’ off the pier. An old local tradition, they tie a long string around raw chicken necks, dangle them from the pier into the water and stand ready with fish nets to scoop up any crabs that come nibbling. They also put crab pots in the river and check them daily. At the end of the week, the Braggs hold a “grand crab finale.” This year they steamed some 100 crabs to share with family and friends.
Adventure #2: Crafts that bedazzle (or dress up the yard)
Kids love crafts, and the Braggs’ granddaughters love drawing designs on tank tops and T-shirts and applying studs and stones from inexpensive kits available at Walmart or craft shops. What mom wouldn’t be proud to wear a jeweled neckline top created by her child?
Also available in the craft section are looms for weaving potholders—a great daily reminder of their visit to G-ma’s.
Wooden birdhouses make a great afternoon painting project for both boys and girls. Hang them on the fence and add to the collection each year.
Stepping stones for your garden are easy to make and a lovely memory of their visit, says Barbara. Bob mixes up the cement, which can be poured into a form purchased from your hardware store, or use paper plates. Before the stones harden, set the g-kids footprints in them or decorate them with whatever is on hand—little stones, jewels left over from the kits, leaves, or let the g-kids draw a design with a stick.
Adventure #3: Cutting Garden/Flower stand
Here’s a twist on the old favorite lemonade stand. Start a flower garden (obviously way before the g-kids visit). Teach them the importance of cleaning out the buckets with bleach before cutting flowers and placing them in the buckets of water with a little plant food, says G-ma Bragg. The g-kids then set up a flower stand on their road and sell to neighbors passing by.
Adventure #4: Tree swing
Even the old folks will enjoy an old fashioned swing crafted from a tire or board rigged to a rope and hanging from a big tree. If it swings out over the water, all the more exciting!
Adventure #5: Painting toenails
While the boys are out sailing, the Braggs’ granddaughters, ages 6 and 8, are thrilled to visit a nail salon and get daisies painted on their toenails.
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| There’s nothing like a little face paint to make Tyler Wren into a pirate feared on land and sea. |
It’s not just a boat ride, it’s a trip to Treasure Island for the Estes clan during this year’s themed event: “Pirates of the Chesapeake.”
About a dozen grandkids, g-nieces and g-nephews, plus all the parents raid the place over a long July 4th weekend. Below deck (the basement) is rigged to bed dozens of little pirates (and parents).
Peggy goes overboard plundering the community library prior to the weekend to find age-appropriate books for the kids to enjoy together. This year she picked up Blackbeard, Dirty Joe and Stinky Annie, and The Gingerbread Pirate (a big hit with the four-year-old.) Not only do they get a kick out of the names, they like to draw pictures of the characters, she says.
Peggy also pre-ordered stick-on pirate tattoos, coins and “Doubloons” as hidden treasure which she found on the internet at Oriental Trading Company. She also recommends the dollar stores for hats and dress-up regalia.
“It doesn’t have to be comprehensive to be meaningful,” she says. “It’s the image, dreaming and imagination that are important.”
Ben dons his pirate hat and the “crew” of kids boards the family boat for a day’s adventure to Treasure Island (it’s not an actual island but a sandy spit). But the kids don’t care. They attack the shore with their buckets and shovels for a day of fun.
At the end of the visit, everyone gathers to put together a book of memories and start plans for next year’s grandparenting adventure.
Adventure #6: Name the streets
Everyone gets to pick the street they want to venture down. Will it be Devil’s Bottom Road? Merry Point? Good Luck? Crab Point? or White Stone beach? It’s an opportunity for them to learn their way around.
Adventure #7: Community Library/State Park
You’d be amazed at the number of planned activities for children at the library or state park. Summer reading, movies, craft programs, tales of Native Americans and silly adventures, puppet shows, magic shows and ice cream parties.
Adventure #8: Collectibles
Grandchildren love to see collections. And collectors love showing off their collections. Check around the neighborhood or community—private collections abound. Little girls who love dolls will be delighted to meet a collector who might even offer to hold a doll tea party. There are also a number of artifact collectors, amateur and professional boat builders, and antique car collectors that would fascinate kids. The list is endless.
Adventure #9: Etiquette lessons/art classes
Appalled at your g-kids’ lack of table manners? A four-course fun, fun, fun lesson in table manners will be presented for youngsters 7-11 on August 3, and 12-15-year-olds on August 16. Information and reservations can be obtained for this White Stone Women’s Club event at 435-3046. Art leagues offer a number of art classes for kids.
Adventure #10: Local culture
Let the g-kids experience local culture by shucking corn, picking fruit, picking crabs. There are a number of opportunities in the area.
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| The Blandsford Sousa march is a favorite of the entire clan. |
Three times a summer their gang of children and grandchildren gather at the Blandfords’. There are nine grandkids along with nieces and nephews, ages 3 to 16.
Each evening they offer a surprise theme night—planned and executed by one of the Blandfords’ children and their family. So far this year, the themes have included “Hawaiian Night,” “Mexican Night” and “Survivor.”
The family in charge supplies everything—enough costumes for everyone, plus food and entertainment.
Adventure #11: Everyone loves a parade
The closing day of the July 4th weekend begins when Cameron wakes up the household by blasting a John Philip Sousa march. Everyone falls out of bed, descends the staircase where Mickey hands each an American flag, each grabs a band instrument and lines up for the march...around the house, down through the basement, out the door, across the property, through the forest...well, it goes on for some time to everyone’s delight. And it ends at a point of land surrounded by water where they enjoy an outdoor breakfast.
Adventure #12: Grandkidnapping
The Blandfords take a g-child out of school for a day (when the teacher thinks the child has been so good they deserve a day off). The g-kid doesn’t know about it until they show up at school to go on a fun-filled day to the zoo, movie or something special just for that child.
Adventure #13: Evening bonfire
Adventure #14: Adventure walk
Pack snacks and water and go for a long walk through the woods. Or try out the area nature trails or parks.
Adventure #15: Mini-triathlon
Swim, bike, run for the gold! Substitute a sack race, if you dare. A favorite of all ages. (Don’t forget the life jackets for adventures around the water).
