This past Saturday we had a wonderful turnout of enthusiastic grandparents for our first ever Grand-Parenting Workshop at Siloam. Our facilitator, Susan McKane, brought many years of experience as a Parent and Family Educator with Merrymount
Children’s Centre in London, Ontario, as well as a great deal of personal experience as a grandmother of four.
About twenty men and women gathered to share in our workshop. And share they did — excitedly, enthusiastically, and joyfully! One woman told of her widowed friend who announced one day that she had fallen in love. “Who is the new man in your life?”, she asked. “My new three-month-old grandson!”
Much of the morning was spent recounting the joys of grand-parenting. We were even encouraged to write a letter to our grandchildren to tell them how much they mean to us and to share with them things that are important to us. A lot like an Ethical Will or Legacy Letter.
The last part of our session invited folks to share some of the challenges that go with grand-parenting: questions around blended families, boundaries, when and how to offer advice; helping children and grandchildren who have physical, mental, and/or financial problems. This is where we will focus our attention the next time we meet.
If you are interested, we would love to welcome you! Please join us from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 13th at Siloam United Church, London, Ontario. This workshop is being covered by my grant from the McGeachy Senior Scholarship of the United Church of Canada and so is free to workshop participants. Coffee and muffins provided.
Boomerality 