Tag Archives: children

Look for the upcoming National Guard Foundations magazine article-Taking the Reins when grandparents become legal guardians

I have had the pleaser to be interviewed by Rachel Stone writer for the National Guard Foundation magazine a few months ago. She was not only interested in my side of the story, she interviewed my family. The magazine is sent to 400,000 National Guard soldiers. I shared my story of being a working empty nester and caring for my granddaughters while my daughter deployed. For those of you receiving the magazine I understand it is in this month’s issue in Above & Beyond section page 41.

Once I receive the article I will post it for you to read.

A reporter asked me “What was the first night like when your granddaughters came to live with you?”

We were all exhausted from driving from Arizona to California. We unpacked the truck with all the clothes and toys my granddaughters wanted to bring with them. They were excited to have their own rooms, unlike sharing the bedroom at home.

After dinner I gave them a bath and the six year old said to me “Grandma should I call you mommy?” My heart sunk. Was she thinking her mother would not return? Or was she confused since I will be raising her? And that made be think I hope not, I still want to be the grandmother.

My response was “ No, you can still call me grandma even though your mommy is away.” She smiled at me.

This will always stick in my mind.

Making the children’s birthday special

We always made our children feel special when it was their birthday. The birthday person would not have to do their daily chores on their birthday. Such as, not having to make their bed, dump trash or do the dishes. The birthday person would also choose what meals they wanted that day. Not what I had planned for dinner.

My children knew that what meals I prepared was what you got. No complaining, you just had to deal with it. So this was a big deal to to be able to select what you wanted. The birthday person really enjoyed selecting what the entire family was going to have for dinner.

When our granddaughters were living with us I followed the same tradition. Since my granddaughters birthdays were during the school year, they really thought that was special. to celebrate their birthday with their classroom I made cupcakes for the entire classroom. They cold hardly wait to take the cupcakes to school, so they could share the special day with their teacher and classmates.

It’s simple things that made my granddaughter’s birthdays special when their mom was deployed.