Simon Fraser Society for Community Living

September 19, 2013

Boys and Girls Club

September 13, 2013

Westcoast Childcare Resource Centre

August 24, 2013

Richmond Christian School

June 13, 2013

Homeschool Convention

June 8, 2013

Child Care Resource and Referral

May 2, 2013

Grandparents have a very unique place in their grandchildren’s lives – somewhere just between this world of adults and the rainbow over the doorway into the wonderful world of fairies, leprechauns and magic unicorns. As I stand at the entrance to a land of make believe and wishes that come true, I shake at the knees, quiver on the inside, and then square my shoulders with the responsibility of keeping the fun in a visit to Grandma’s without squashing their belief in Neverland. In his renowned book, Peter and Wendy, J.M.Barrie says that “a map of a child’s mind would resemble a map of Neverland, with no boundaries at all. No boundaries indeed!

That fine line between managing the chaos and having crazy fun jumps around every visit but I have found that magic happens when I get it right! Being a grandparent, I no longer have to deal with the day to day stresses associated with taking care of a family – worry about money and education and what’s for supper that doesn’t come in a box. Instead, I can focus my energy on building character, keeping everyone safe, sharing memories and, yes, the most important one of all, focused, child-like fun!

It doesn’t seem to matter what it is my grandchildren and I do. We can be sewing doll clothes, playing Chinese checkers (the real game and not on the internet!) or shooting baskets with a four year old – the big difference is that grandparents do not have to do anything else but be in the moment. As a parent, my eye was always on the bathroom that needed to be cleaned or the toy box that needed to be sorted or the chicken that needed to be roasted. Grandmas get to just be! and if my grandchildren can hold that door open into that wonderful land just a crack so I can peak into that magical world again, I will never grow old! I will always be able to slide down that rainbow, swing off the pot of gold and play tag with the clouds – the rocking chair by the fire will have to wait!

This blog posting is not a form of psychological counselling, advice, therapy, or assessment and should not be used as such by any individual. This blog posting is provided only as an article intended to encourage thought and discourse. For specific psychology related services, please contact an appropriate healthcare provider.

Thank goodness for angels and shepherds. Have you ever noticed that in most Christmas pageants the littlest ones are costumed as shepherds or angels and every year they sprinkle their childlike glow on the rest of us and our Christmas joy bubbles up inside and spills over and fills our hearts and homes with – laughter? That’s right, real belly laughs that start deep down and gurgle their way into our chests and then into our eyes and then, there it is, spilling out all over.

Mary and Joseph are usually solemn and serious children who gaze at the baby Jesus doll in the manger and only sneak an occasional glance at the audience. The wise men walk regally down the aisle and across the stage with only a few whispers as they straighten their crown or scratch their bearded chins. But the shepherds and angels – now there you see joy. Shepherds who can turn candy canes into guns, shooting each other and members of the grinning audience as they giggle between licks of their red and white striped weapons. Or others, who follow their leader on to the stage, full of wonder that their moms aren’t waiting for them. They gaze into the camera flashes, blinking, waving, and some even stripping off the offending costume that covered their new Christmas shirt and pants.

But the angels, with glittering halos slipping down over one bright blue eye gaze in wonder at the Sunday school teacher singing Away in the Manger with all the actions. Some angels have dark brown eyes with curls framing their faces while others have long blonde ringlets tangled in their net covered wings. While three little angels line up smiling on the one bleacher ready to pretend they are cradling a little Baby Jesus in their arms, one with sparkles in her eyes and tiny gold wings wobbling on her back walks along the top bleacher and then bounces step by step down to her camera-toting Dad while Mom runs to catch her before she reaches the end of the stage.
Yep, what would Christmas be without shepherds and angels. We saw them once through our parent eyes, smiling at their happy, chubby little faces never even dreaming that such a few short years later we would be the grandparents of a new generation of shepherds and angels jumping and smiling and waving and laughing and yes, even crying, on the stage of Christmas.

Anyway you can, strive to see this season through the eyes of a child – it will never cease to amaze you and the warmth and joy will stay with you over the months to come. Joy to the World!

This blog posting is not a form of psychological counselling, advice, therapy, or assessment and should not be used as such by any individual. This blog posting is provided only as an article intended to encourage thought and discourse. For specific psychology related services, please contact an appropriate healthcare provider.
 

This blog posting is not a form of psychological counselling, advice, therapy, or assessment and should not be used as such by any individual. This blog posting is provided only as an article intended to encourage thought and discourse. For specific psychology related services, please contact an appropriate healthcare provider.

My granddaughter shared one of the objectives in her school this year is to participate in 20 hours of aerobic exercise using different sports and activities. She has decided to include swimming so far. I suggested Zumba would be fun and we could do it together. I got “the face”. You know, that one – “thanks Grandma but really – that is not cool” in her eyes and a little smile/grimace on her lips. Of course, at twelve, she is bouncing between the little girl wanting to spend time with me to the almost teenager who just can’t understand why anyone would listen to Janis Joplin – ever! Now I might actually be able to discuss that one choice with her and even agree to some of her points, but, in the end, there is one very real barrier standing in the way – multiple generation gaps!

I have been on an adventure lately to fulfill my own assignment regarding exercise and that void is starting to look like a thesis in senior activities! I started out with a 100-Day walking challenge – it was free and not only did it meet my physical needs it lifted my spirit and improved my mood. With over 60 days behind me, I was up for something new and indoors, thank you very much! You have read about my Zumba experience and my Spin class journey. Last week I added another new experience to my repertoire – Hatha Yoga.

I have never participated in any kind of yoga. I have heard people talk about Hatha and Hot Yoga, poses and meditation and relaxation – but what really happens behind the yoga room door from the time the quiet music begins until the bells tinkle at the end? Not wanting to be a total fool, I googled “What to Wear for Yoga” to be sure I showed up in respectable attire. That’s important, right? I had to figure out what to put on my feet, what length of leggings to buy (or did I go with yoga pants?) and what kind of top would cover the grandmotherly curves enough without looking too grandmotherly, if you get my drift.

Armed with my new outfit in rather conservative black and white and my new yoga mat under my arm, I headed to the local fitness centre for another new experience. Like a good doobie, I walked all the way down to the official, card scanning entrance in the lower levels of the complex and then waited in line to ask where the yoga class would be conducted. The eyes and eyebrows of the sweet young receptionist both went up along with a smile that is beginning to become familiar – that “sweet senior lady – sure I can help you – do you want me to walk you to class” look I have been running into frequently of late. She pointed behind me, up the ramp and told me I would need to re-trace my footsteps and go to child minding. I did not know that the “child minding” on the schedule was a place – silly me! I found my room, rolled out my mat, and sat down to wait for my hour of gentle movement and meditation.

The lovely master was on time – I appreciate that in an instructor – and in charge – which I appreciate even more – as she sweetly reminded some younger women to gently press their lips together as the class began. I will have to use that for my next staff meeting! The poses started out slowly with emphasis on the breathing. Nothing I wasn’t expecting. As we continued to work on each pose, move fluidly from one to the other (that needs much work!), I started to radiate heat. There were beads of sweat on my upper lip, perspiration shining on my forehead, feet feeling a little slippery on my new mauve mat – all this from slow, methodical movement!

The poses became more demanding and we frequently were on all fours with our derrieres in the air. Pain was building in my knees and shooting out of my shoulders. I imagined a super heroe with rockets flaming from her shoulder caps, grey hair streaming behind her as she sped from mat to table to shelf! I continued to move and put great effort into pushing my feet like roots into the ground or reaching my arms to the sun like a mountain. My legs and arms pointed in so many directions I was not sure anymore if I was on the mountain top or gently curled into the child pose on the ground – which was anything but gentle for my less than child-like knees!.

I discovered my reasons for being there – joint and muscle stiffness, lack of grace, lack of balance – were definitely my areas of need. I found muscles in places that were a mystery and used some muscles that had not been put into play since I was a young mom balancing a toddler on one hip while dragging a bike, doll, doll stroller and groceries home from the store. I also discovered I did not know how to breathe. What I did do well was lay still – body and mind – after 45 minutes of practicing.

So, gone are my misconceptions of soft, gentle, easy yoga. It is a workout that includes all muscles in your body. You will be stiff and sore – as if you had done 45 minutes of aerobics. And, the practice of yoga – well, it will take a lot of practice. Behind my closed office door, I assume my warrior pose in preparation for the next staff meeting – if only my grandchildren could see me now! OHHHHHHHMMMMMM!

 This blog posting is not a form of psychological counselling, advice, therapy, or assessment and should not be used as such by any individual. This blog posting is provided only as an article intended to encourage thought and discourse. For specific psychology related services, please contact an appropriate healthcare provider.