At Pirate Camp the grandkids don eye patches and bandannas and make their own newspaper hats. At Grandma Land they feast on funnel cakes and learn to operate a concession. At Outdoor Adventure Camp they collect and identify specimens.
If you're going to host Grandma Camp this summer, the countdown is on! But Denise Hooper has ideas for you. All of these are taken from her book, Grandma Camp on a Budget. And, as you can tell from the title, none of Denise's themed Grandma Camps will break the bank. She recommends keeping costs low by buying items from a dollar store or party supply. Another strategy is recycling; plastic bottles are good for a myriad of projects. Denise also suggests borrowing needed items from friends, family and neighbors.
If you are a Grandma Camp novice, Denise suggests keeping it simple. In a TV interview she did in 2009, she remembers her inaugural Grandma Camp: "The first one we just hunted bugs and stayed overnight."
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I had a wonderful email exchange with Bonnie and Stephen Simon, who are behind the Maestro Classics CD series for children. When the Simons speak, I listen. The former executive director and music director of the Washington Chamber Symphony at the Kennedy Center, these two know music. (They also have four grandchildren.) Here's what they had to say.
About the role of grandparents in increasing musical appreciation: "The great luxury that many grandparents have is time. Unlike a painting where you can look at it for two minutes and then move on, music travels through time. It is linear. You cannot take in a piece of music without actually taking the time to sit and listen to it. One of the beauties of classical music is that it forces you to slow down and listen, and that is something that almost all of our grandchildren need." (from Bonnie)
About whether we should be concerned about changing musical tastes: "Composers have always pulled from different musical styles. Brahms was inspired by Hungarian folk music in his 'Hungarian Dances' and Tchaikovsky included the Polish dance form, the polonaise, in his ballets. When the world was smaller, and all music was live, composers borrowed from neighboring countries. As travel and recorded music have expanded our listening possibilities, the influences have become broader." (from Stephen)
And my favorite bit of advice, from Bonnie: "If you listen to classical music in the car or at home, don't turn it off when the grandchildren arrive just because you fear they may not be interested. Grandparents are wrapped in memories of delicious treats, favorite stories, house smells. If you leave the music on, every time they hear classical music, they will think of you."
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A pink cosplay wig plus a classic anime/manga pose make for a striking photo. If you don't know what the preceding sentence means, you just may need some help understanding your grandchild's interest in anime.
I'm actually interested in anime, but I have excused myself from having to play or learn about video games. What enthusiasms of the younger generation do you have trouble understanding, or have you excused yourself from learning about?
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A recent article in the AARP magazine backs up what I've observed. Estrangements between parents and adult children are becoming more common. No one keeps statistics on such family disputes, so it's difficult to prove. Still, psychologists and therapists say that they are seeing more cases.
What I know about this topic comes primarily from the accounts of grandparents who have been cut off from contact with grandchildren. While it's true that their accounts may not be totally reliable, it's possible to draw some conclusions from their stories.
The experts interviewed for the article posit several theories for the increase in estrangement.
- Modern conveniences make family assistance unnecessary. My sense is that this explanation couldn't be more wrong, especially when there are children involved. Two-career families need grandparents more than ever, to fill in child care gaps. Grandparents still help out during family illnesses and financial emergencies, just as they always have.
- Electronic communication causes misunderstandings. I don't agree with this one, either. With electronic communication, there's no uncertainty about what was said, although differences in interpretation are still possible. The long life of emails and texts can be a drawback, however. Overall, I call it a wash.
- People in general are looking for relationships that make them feel good and are quick to ditch those that don't. I think this one has some merit.
Do you believe that family estrangements are more common today than in the past? If so, do you have a theory about why? Leave a comment below.
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