They call me Nini
I enjoy crafting, gardening, playing, creating, being with the family and blogging about it all. The blogging began a months before I retired and has become my passion.
Page 1
Spoil your grandchildren every chance you get. Your time here is short - make the most of it.
When your children ask why you spoil their kids, quote "It's in the grandmother handbook."
Page 2
When your grands ask for ice cream for breakfast, put it on pancakes.
Page 3
If your grand breaks something fragile left whithin their reach - assure them things are expendable, they are not.
Page 4
When grand asks "is chocolate healthy?" Answer, yes if it's served with oatmeal.
Page 5
Save putting out the holiday decoratins until the grandchildren can do it with you. Make a particular decoration activity specific for each child an annual tradition.
Page 6
When grand asks to help you cook, give them a spoon and go for it!
Keep cookie dough in the freezer for a moments notice.
Leave enough cake batter on the beaters and in the bowl for them to lick.
Page 7
When grand calls and says they really miss you, can you come to their house? Go. Right now. Really! Get in you car and go.
When grand calls and says she performs in a competition in two hours, are you coming? Go! Get in your car and go!
Page 8
Put a grandkid "allowance" in your monthly budget. When grand says they want $50 jeans for Christmas buy them - because you prepared for it!
Keep little treasures in the car or in your bag.
Page 9
When grand asks for everything in the store, pull out pen and paper and start a list "Stuff I Like". Assure them it's okay to like it and write it down. It's almost as good as getting it. Some day when you can't think of what to get for their birthday, pull out the list.
Page 10
Take time with the grand to smell the flowers and admire shiny rocks, marvel at found feathers, chase butterflies, splash in rain puddles, make mud pies, sip imaginary tea from tiny china cups, try on old jewelry, crawl under a blanket teepee.
Page 11
Buy a cheap digital camera or upgrade to a better one for yourself. When grand wants to use your camera to take pictures give them the "special grand camera". Digital cameras are the best invention ever. Keep and print a few good ones for them to keep, delete the ones of your feet and hiney.
Make a story book with some of the photos and some grand art.
Page 12
When grand says he wants to go fishing, get out a pole, fishing hat and lawn chair and head out to the backyard wading pool. It's not about the fish.
Page 13
Keep a bucket handy for those rock collections. Use them to spell out their name and take a photo.
Make a fairy garden trail with rocks.
Paint rocks together.
Throw rocks in a pond.
Do NOT throw away their rocks. They WILL notice!
Page 14
Save that first pair of little boy cowboy boots in the original box and mark with his name and the year. The pleasure of finding them 20 years later and giving to his little kid is very rewarding for all three of you.
Page 15
When your grand doesn't want to eat lunch before he/she has the mini m&m's you gave him/her earlier, let the child sprinkle them over their spaghetti.
Page 16
Make chalk angels on the sidewalk. Trace their shape and let them draw the wings. Now, lay down on the sidewalk and let them trace your chalk angel shape.
Page 17
When grand doesn't want to stop playing and come in to eat. Make a picnic, sit in the wagon or on the bench or in the grass and enjoy the moments together.
Page 18
When grand doesn't want to sleep alone in "that scary bedroom", take your pillow to their room, read a book, turn the lights down low, sing soft songs, and slumber together.
Page 19
Talk about angels and God. It's okay to tell them that when you get to heaven before them, you will save a place for them so when they are very very old you can make drawings on heaven's sidewalks.
Page 20
When you discover your grand has drawn a sweet portrait of you with her depicting you with a smile on your face and a long lean body that is life size from a 5 year old perspective - on the wall right next to the light switch in her mommy's home office....take a photo to preserve it and blog about it on Face Book.
Page 21
When one of the grands gets injured right before the big Easter Egg Hunt, save some eggs back to have a special hunt just for him when he gets back from the ER. Have every one count down as he pulls out each egg he found. Clap and shout "YEAH".
There's always one more page to add one more rule... just write it down.
Want to know how to spend quality time with your kids? Read here.
