GRAND Summer 2018

Grandparent 

I S L A N D 

S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 

Here & There 

10 Things to 

Do with Your 

Grandkids 

Celebrating 

Family Heritage

Making Meaningful 

Memories 

Grand Gifts Made Easy! 

TOYS • BOOKS • SHOES • CLOTHING • STROLLERS 

CAR SEATS • MATERNITY • CRIBS • HIGH CHAIRS • CARRIERS 

NATURAL SKIN CARE • DIAPER BAGS • PLAYARDS 

Kool Toys & 

Teaching Tools 

Toys, games and 

puzzles for all ages 

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Nanaimo 888.390.1775 

koolandchild.com 

1581 Hillside Ave, Victoria 778•265•5651 

Across the street from Hillside Centre 

SHOP ONLINE AT MOMEASE.CA! 

Aspengrove School 

Grandparents Welcome 

Learn more 

250 390-2201 

AspengroveSchool.ca 

NANAIMO’S JK-12 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE WORLD SCHOOL

IslandParent.ca 

Summer 2018 3

CONTENTS 

Welcome.................................. 5 

The Little Things...................... 6 

This & That.............................. 8 

Grr-and Ventures.................. 10 

Act One, Enter Giggling......... 11 

Keeping Gramma 

Company................................ 12 

Here & There......................... 16 

Summertime Music 

with Grandkids...................... 19 

The Art of Storytelling........... 20 

Supporting Healthy 

Language Development......... 22 

Eye Rolls & Pontification....... 24 

Natural Sun Safety & 

Outdoor Skin Care for Kids.... 26 

Building a Love of Reading.... 28 

Model Grandmas................... 29 

Celebrating 

Family Heritage..................... 30 

FRED PENNER 

Legendary Canadian 

Children’s Performer 

SUN FEB 10 | 2:30 PM 

ONE MAN STAR 

WARS TRILOGY 

performed with permission of 

Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved 

SAT MAY 4 | 7:30 PM 

uvic.ca/farquhar | 250-721-8480 | UVicFarq | @UVicFarquhar 

Island Grandparent, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a biannual 

publication that honours and supports grandparents by providing information 

on resources and businesses for families, and a forum for the exchange of ideas 

and opinions. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. No 

material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the Editor. Island 

Grandparent is distributed free in selected areas. 

Island Parent Magazine 

830–A Pembroke St, Victoria, BC V8T 1H9 

250-388-6905 islandparent.ca 

Sue Fast 

Editor 

RaeLeigh Buchanan 

Advertising Consultant 

Design & Layout 

Eacrett Graphic Design 

ISSN 0838-5505 

Mark Warner 

Publisher/Owner 

Linda Frear 

Office Manager & Sales 

Printed by 

Black Press 

Next Issue: September 2018 

Advertising Booking Deadline: August 15 

On the Cover: Alison Wilensky with Ailinn S, 

Nimiway S and Odin S. Photo by Darshan 

Alexander Photography, darshanphotography.com 

4 Island Grandparent

Welcome to 

Island Grandparent 

Looking for a name more creative than 

Grandma or Grandpa? Then pick up a copy 

of Georgia Witkin’s The Modern Grandparent’s 

Handbook and look no further. 

Along with the standard grandparent 

name variations—Nana, Papa, Granny and 

Pop—Witkin lists over 250 alternatives, dividing 

them by gender into three categories: 

Traditional, Trendy and Playful. 

Not keen on Granny? How about Gitchie, 

Gadget or Jamagramma? Pops not quite playful 

enough? What about UmPaPa, G-Dude 

or Faux Pa? 

According to a poll at Grandparents.com, 

64 per cent of those surveyed agreed that, 

yes, traditional names are too formal; 23 per 

cent “had to” choose a flashy new grandparent 

name because the traditional ones were 

already taken; and 13 per cent answered “Why 

reinvent the wheel? A name is a name.” 

The same survey asked participants if they 

like their grandparent name: 44 per cent said 

“Yes. My grandchild chose it,” 43 per cent said 

“Yes. I chose it myself,” nine per cent said “Yes. 

Even though someone else chose it,” four per 

cent said “Not really, but I’ll live with it,” and 

one per cent said “Not at all.” 

One reason some grandparents might not 

like names such as Grandpop or Granny is 

because they can conjure up “gray hair and 

orthopedic shoes,” writes columnist Paula 

Span in Generation Grandparent for The New 

York Times. We too often won’t use hearing 

aids, even if we need them, she argues. And 

we may not claim the senior discount at the 

movie theatre. So it stands to reason that “We 

don’t want these wonderous new creatures 

calling us names that signify old age either.” 

In this day and age, when children often 

have more than two sets of grandparents and 

all the good names might already be gone, 

it’s wise to have a few back-ups in mind. But 

don’t get too attached to your chosen name. 

Chances are, your new grandbaby will add a 

slight twist of his or her own. Be prepared for 

an array of deviations such as Gander, Dinghy, 

Dud Dud and PooPaw. 

No matter what name you’ve chosen—or 

how your grandchildren pronounce it—we 

Sue Fast 

hope this issue of Island Grandparent adds to 

your stores of hard-won wisdom. You’ll find 

articles on everything from celebrating family 

heritage, the gift of grandchildren, and an old 

man’s advice on communication, to natural 

sun safety and outdoor skin care for kids, 

building a love of reading, and 10 things to 

do on the Island with the grandkids. 

Just like the time you spend with your 

grandchildren, we hope you enjoy every minute—and 

every page—of Island Grandparent. 

Creating 

beautiful smiles 

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be happy to assist you with an appointment 

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Fri: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm 

Sat: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm 

152 – 2945 Jacklin Road • 250-474-2296 • www.westshoredental.com 



The 

Little 

Things 

Years ago, when my daughters were on the edge of adolescence, a 

neglected item of clothing allowed me a moment of time travel. In 

a burst of spring cleaning, I found one of my old jackets wedged 

deep in the back of a closet. When I searched its pockets, I discovered 

a tiny doll. In an instant I was transported back to the season when my 

pockets were perennially full of little toys, bits of driftwood and pretty 

stones. As I held that doll, I tried to remember the last time I’d been 

entrusted with one of my children’s treasures. I couldn’t. An entire 

life stage had somehow slipped through my fingers without notice. 


My daughters are grown women now, and 

the two oldest have children of their own. But 

as I get caught up in the busyness of daily life, 

I still find it too easy to take the little things 

for granted. A friend of mine inadvertently 

reminded me how fortunate I am. Her own 

children are both in their thirties, but there 

are no grandchildren on the immediate horizon. 

My friend is dating a man who does have 

grandkids, however, and the youngest one 

recently presented her with a lovely drawing. 

My friend gave the drawing pride of place on 

the front of her refrigerator and drew attention 

to it at our last visit. “Do you have any idea 

how long it’s been since I received a piece 

of children’s art?” she asked. Point taken. I 

returned home that evening with a new appreciation 

for the knee-level handprints on 

my sliding glass door and the plastic dinosaurs 

lurking behind the couch—evidence of the 

three-year-old in my life. 

Gratitude is the perfect antidote for taking 

life’s little gifts for granted. I first turned to 

gratitude as a conscious practice following 

my mother’s premature death from cancer 

five years ago. It was initially a way to cope 

with grief, but it became much more. Through 

the lens of gratitude—a discipline that can 

be cultivated—I discovered that I was surrounded 

with gifts, both big and small. Some 

were obvious, while some required more 

intentional observation. 

Our grandchildren are certainly gifts, simply 

by their existence. What could be more 

primally fulfilling than knowing that life goes 

on into the next generation? But our children’s 

children bring smaller gifts to our lives as well, 

gifts that can be missed if we aren’t paying attention. 

The impossible softness of newborn 

skin. The trusting grip of little fingers. The 

proud grin that follows a soccer goal or a 

well-executed gymnastics routine. 

Gratitude and the practice of mindfulness 

seem to go hand-in-hand. When practiced 

formally, mindfulness is also known as 

meditation—time set aside to clear the mind 

of distraction, to get quiet and centred while 

anchored in an awareness of the breath. 

Practiced informally, mindfulness is about 

fully entering the present moment, focusing 

the attention on one thing, at one time, 

without judgement. While mindfulness is 

rooted in Buddhist tradition, western medical 

professionals are increasingly recognizing its 

benefits to mental and physical well-being. 

Health benefits aside, as a grandparent I’m 

interested in how mindfulness can enrich 

my relationship with my grandkids. Life is 

busy and our grandchildren don’t always live 

nearby. Mindfulness won’t give us more time 

together, but it will help us make the most of 

each moment we do get. 

How do we practice mindfulness with our 

grandkids? We put aside our phones in their 

company. We focus on one thing at a time. 

We invite them to join us in our work in the 

garden or at the kitchen counter. We explain 

what we’re doing in words they understand. 

We choose to see them, to look into their eyes 

when they’re speaking—whether in person or 

on Skype. We choose to hear them, to really 

listen to what they’re saying. We savour the 

little things: the dimples in an infant’s arm, 

the dusky smell of a toddler’s hair, the bangs 

that fall into a teenager’s eyes. We put aside 

judgement about what they’re wearing or how 

they’re behaving in a given moment, surrendering 

those responsibilities to their parents. 

We learn to respond rather than to react. 

This kind of moment-by-moment presence 

should be easier to practice with our 

grandkids than it was when we were parenting 

their moms and dads. In theory we’re older 

and wiser this time around, and more aware 

of the calendar turning. Most of us have less 

responsibility as grandparents, less need to 

multitask or to control outcomes. We can afford 

to slow down, to appreciate each life stage 

before it slips past. But it does take intention. 

I’ll be babysitting my three-month-old 

granddaughter this evening. She knows how 

to take a bottle, but this will be the first time 

her mother hasn’t nursed her to sleep. There 

may be some tears, but I’m confident we’ll get 

Rachel 

Dunstan 

Muller 

through them. I’ll bounce her gently, croon 

soft lullabies near her ear, feel the warm, 

squirming weight of her against my chest. And 

when at last she falls asleep, I’ll listen to her 

breathe for a while before tiptoeing gratefully 

from her room. 

We can’t stop time or even slow it down, 

but we can learn to be more present in the 

moments we’re given. Being mindful of even 

the little things can help us to see our grandchildren 

fully and love them unconditionally. 

Isn’t that our job as grandparents? 

Rachel Dunstan Muller is the mother of 

five, and a children’s author. Her previous 

articles can be found at islandparent.ca. 



This 

& That 

Grandparents’ Health & Family Well-Being 

Canada’s 7.1 million grandparents and great-grandparents make unique, 

diverse and valuable contributions to families and society, serving as role 

models, nurturers, historians, sources of experiential knowledge and more. 

As with the general population, the grandparent population in Canada is 

aging rapidly, sparking some concern in the media and public discourse 

about the potential impact of this “grey tsunami.” 

However, despite being older, data show that the health of grandparents 

has improved over the past 30 years. This trend can positively 

impact families, since healthy grandparents can have a higher capacity 

to contribute to family life and help younger generations manage family 

responsibilities such as child care and household finances. 

From the Vanier Institute of the Family at http://vanierinstitute.ca. 

7 Ways Grandparents 

Affect their Families 

From Why Kids Need Their Grandparents by Brett & 

Kate McKay at artofmanliness.com 

Visual Ways of Storytelling 

1. Make a family photo album and share it with your grandkids. 

2. Create a family history picture compendium online. Perhaps you can even get some 

computer tips from your grandchildren for this one. 

3. Fill in a family calendar with important dates for your family and discuss it periodically 

(weekly, monthly, seasonally, etc.) 

4. Create a set of matching cards using pictures of family members and/or events and 

play it with your grandchildren. You can assign bonus points if they recount facts 

about the pictures on the cards. 

From Passing On Your Family History to Your Grandkids by Dave Price at sixtyandme.com. 

Other grandparents tell me how much more 

patient 

“ 

and attentive they’ve become, how 

much less anxious, how willing to be silly. Freed 

of the oppressive conviction that everything we 

do, or fail to do, shapes children’s futures, we 

can simply revel in being with them. 

Paula Span ” at nytimes.com 

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN SUPPORT GROUP 

Are you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren? You are not alone. To talk with someone about resources and programs that you may not be 

aware of, call the province-wide GRG Information Line toll free at 1-855-474-9777. You can also find out about programs on the Island that provide 

opportunities to meet with other grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, along with information, support and activities. Find out more by 

visiting parentsupportbc.ca. 

Dr. James S. Bates, who studies the effects of grandfathers on their 

families, divides the kind of activities they do with their grandchildren into 

seven categories (which apply to grandmas too): 

1. Lineage. The effort to help grandchildren learn about and interpret the 

family’s history. 

2. Mentoring. Efforts to teach and pass on practical skills and knowledge. 

3. Spiritual. Offering comfort, encouragement and advice. 

4. Character. Efforts to nurture and shape grandchildren’s character and personality 

as they become ethical and responsible members of society. 

5. Recreation. Efforts to organize, facilitate, and participate in leisure activities 

with grandchildren. 

6. Family identity. Efforts to encourage strong family relationships and 

appropriate interpersonal behaviors among family members. 

7. Investment work. Assisting grandchildren in becoming 

financially self-reliant in adulthood. 

Top 5 Grandparent Rules 

1. Remember you are the grandparent, and not the parent. You 

must earn the parents’ trust. The responsibility feels even greater 

than when you were a parent. When you were younger and driving 

your kids from place to place, you did not think twice about it. But 

now, these are not your own kids. They are your children’s children, 

and that is a bigger and more intense responsibility. 

2. Learn to zip your mouth. This is a hard and steadfast rule that 

must be followed. If you are the parent of a son, you learn this rule 

right away. But, as the mother of a daughter, the boundaries may be 

less stringent. There are times when you want to step in and express 

your opinion. Wait until you are asked! And then, tread lightly. More 

importantly, practice self-control even when you know the answer. 

3. Pay attention to the parents’ rules. Yes, they have their own 

set of rules that are established in the dynamics of their family. 

Again, it’s their child and their home and their life. And the child 

rearing guidelines are always evolving. We had our chance to be 

the parents. Now it’s their turn! 

4. Make your own life a priority. It’s so easy to plan your life around 

your children and your grandchildren. Do not sit and wait all the 

time to be directed and contacted. You need to continue to create 

your own daily fulfillment and if you are not…well, we suggest you 

start. Yes, we agree, it’s even easier to worry about them—and obsess 

over the worrying, but, it’s your life too. Take care of you. Enjoy 

your time, your spouse, and all the life experiences you can create. 

5. It’s not necessary to buy love. Okay, here’s where it gets sticky. 

This is a hard one. We like to do, and go, and buy. But, what you can’t 

buy is quality time. Enjoy the moments. Be present. Be mindful of 

what you are doing now. Playing a game together, reading a book, 

taking a walk, singing your favourite songs—these are all memories 

that money can’t buy. It’s best for you and for them not to create 

the association that you come bearing gifts all the time. This is not 

a good example any child will benefit from. 

From Are there Grandparent Rules? by Leslie Zinberg & Kay Ziplow at huffingtonpost.com. 


— Advertising Feature — 

Three Priceless Gifts of Grandparents 

That Schools Need to Hack 

By Michele Worth, educator and parent 

Reflecting on grandparents, my own and my children’s, I felt nostalgic, tender-hearted, and then 

frustrated knowing that the gifts grandparents give aren’t being valued as they ought to be. 

This age-old role offers an innovative ideal from which schools need to learn. 

As an educator and parent, I often wonder why schools do 

not draw inspiration from the authentic relationship of 

grandparent-grandchild. While some schools welcome 

grandparent volunteers, few, if any, ask, “What are the 

components of learning with one’s grandparents that facilitate 

success, and how can schools adopt these principles as the 

underpinnings of learning?” 

Grandparents as Educators 

My children’s grandparents have watched as childhood has 

been made smaller by anxiety and fear. Children no longer 

roam and discover the world away from adults. Honouring the 

quality of wonder that comes from looking at the sky or listening 

to summer cicadas, especially when an iPhone or tablet is 

at-hand, are pleasures many children, my own included, don’t 

know in the way that their grandparents did as children. 

Cultivating curiosity is the gift that grandparents give their 

grandchildren; whereas, schools are often focused on “delivery 

of curriculum,” instead of exploration and experimentation. 

The roaming that does occur for kids today is walking from 

class to class waiting for the teacher to ‘download’ information. 

What if learners were free to ‘roam’ with their ideas and 

questions? What if school time was spent cultivating that 

ready-made desire to learn that lights up the faces of children? 

Creative and critical thinking, essential skills for the 21st 

century, require a school culture where mistake-making is 

encouraged. Mistake-making is how we learn. Grandparents 

know the power of trying and failing and intuitively supporting 

this. 

Grandparents as Seers 

Grandparents ‘see’ their grandchildren separate from the 

hurriedness and domestic juggle of daily living. Perhaps the 

greatest gift given to a child is that of being witnessed— 

seen, heard, validated. This is one of the super-powers that 

grandparents possess. 

Observing my parents with my children allowed me to integrate 

the connections between my personal and professional 

worlds. The mentoring role is essential for ensuring kids thrive. 

The reality is, this is not doable in traditional school settings 

where most kids wait hours, days or weeks to get a fraction of 

the one-on-one time they need. Learning communities need 

to be environments in which, as psychologist Gordon Neufeld 

asserts, “a child can realise his or her full human potential.” 

Grandparents as Advocates 

Where and how grandchildren spend their time away from 

family is crucial, and often we default to having children 

split their time with a school, without doing a fact-check. 

Kids spend an average of 11,700 hours in classrooms from 

K-12. One thing that grandparents know in spades—time is 

irreplaceable, and often the most exceptional lessons take 

place outside the four walls of the school. 

With 25 years teaching experience, I know that meaningful 

learning is dynamic and hands-on and shouldn’t be limited 

by logistics; logistics need to shift for learning. 

Explore chemistry by setting up and monitoring an 

aquarium; understand watersheds by exploring one; make 

a bow by first walking in a forest, exploring properties of 

different woods and selecting the just-right shape that will 

convert itself into the physics of an arrow’s flight. 

— Michele Worth, Director of Inquiry, Arc Academy of Inquiry (www.arcacademy.ca) 

Check our website for parent info sessions. 

Arc Academy of Inquiry 

Victoria’s inquiry-based, 

interdisciplinary middle school 

www.arcacademy.ca 



Grr-and 

Ventures 

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From alpacas to miniature goats, tropical birds and 

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creatures, including a goat petting area and the famous 

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us for dates and hours. Don’t forget your camera! 

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Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse 

National Historic Sites 

March or run; spy or signal your position; climb or go underground 

at Fort Rodd Hill, a 100-year-old coast artillery fort. Then steer a 

ship; sound the fog horn; master the games inside Fisgard, the 

oldest lighthouse on the west coast. Participate in spectacular 

special events planned for the summer, pick-up an Xplorer activity 

book and stay overnight in one of our new oTENTik tents. These 

special places, only 15 minutes west of downtown Victoria, are 

so cool. Admission is FREE for youth age 17 and under. 

250-478-5849 pc.gc.ca/fortroddhill 

Facebook.com/FortRoddFisgardNHS 

Twitter.com/FortRoddFisgard

Act One, 

Enter Giggling 

Mom!” 

Natasha, sweet 16 this month, is 

“Hairbrush 

trying to get rid of knots before she 

leaves for school, but her mom won’t lend 

her brush. 

“Use your own!” 

“But mine’s not working properly. The 

bristles are worn.” 

Thirty seconds of dead silence. I check 

the phone’s volume, thinking I’ve caused 

the pause. 

“I came to you for sympathy but I see I’m 

not getting any!” My eldest granddaughter 

gently scolds on her way out of my daughter’s 

bedroom. (Exit hurriedly) 

“There’s a comb on the floor in my bathroom,” 

my daughter shouts. 

They moved away in the summer. A career 

opportunity for Dad. I’ve gone from spending 

time with them every few days to intruding on 

their antics as they get ready for school each 

day. It’s a fair trade I guess. Their mom calls 

me upon waking and they fly, traipse, bounce 

and barge into her room. 

(Exit, Far Right) Dad goes downstairs to 

start the porridge. Dashiell yells “Bonjour 

Grandma” as his eyes dart about the room, 

looking, my daughter tells me, for electronic 

devices that were confiscated the evening 

prior. Chess club after school today; he always 

wins, even against the teacher. But his clothes 

are on inside out and backwards today, just 

like most of the time. 

Fraser, the youngest, (Enter to Centre Stage, 

bouncing) comes in to ask for a drive to school. 

“It’s Dad’s turn and anyway, it’s w-a-aay 

too early! And you need to brush your teeth 

and…do you even have underwear on? Close 

my door!” 

Five grandchildren, aged 18 down through 

six, in three schools. Two bus stops. None 

of them have cottoned onto the concept of 

matching socks. Some pack balanced lunches. 

Nine-year-old Dash eats three full sandwiches 

before recess and leaves wrappings around his 

desk. Gabe is in his final year and when off 

duty from Student Council, appears to live 

in his “office” under the stairs. 

“Jac walk the dogs! Feed the birds! Rabbit! 

Guinea pig! Cat! And what time is your game?” 

The other cat didn’t come home. Gabe flies 

by. “Have a good day Gabe!” 

“Thanks Mum!” (Exit, laughing) 

They all shout at each other. I brought that 

up once and daughter told me the volume’s 

Elizabeth 

Olson 

absolutely necessary. It’s like listening to an 

old-fashioned radio play. Then all of a sudden 

there’s a lull and my daughter launches into 

whatever topic comes to mind. She touches 

on the news, injustices. She relates the events 

of the day before, laments on the weather and 

brings me up-to-date on the kids’ grades. 

Saturday morning daughter stays in bed 

even longer and chats with me while awaiting 

her waffles. Ditto Sunday. It’s taking a 

awhile. “Fraser, what’s Dad doing? Oh here 

comes my orange juice. My fork’s dropped, 

somebody.” Munching noises. “Go and ask 

Dad to help you and close my door. Sorry. 

Mum what were you saying? It’s like Grand 

Central Station in here. Out! I finished knitting 

the baby sweater and sent it off. I said out you 

little monkey! (Exit doing cartwheels) Did you 

say something Mom?” 

As soon as the Coquihalla is passable, I’ll 

be flying along the highway to get up there. 

For now, packages fly up with books and 

magazines and must-reads from Tanners, 

cushioned with balls of yarn and knitted 

scarves. And then there are the phone calls 

back and forth several times a day. There is 

always catching up to do and my daughter’s 

beyond proficient at multitasking. 

Son #1 just moved away in the other direction 

to live/ski in Whistler, work in Vancouver. 

They’ve finished the adoption course and 

are awaiting home visitations. They tell me a 

baby is on the way. (Enter screaming) I’ll be 

ready for Act One, Scene One, maybe even 

graduating to Skype this time around. 

Elizabeth Olson recently retired from 

Galiano Island Books and spends a lot of 

time these days in bookstores in Sidney. 

Her own grandfather was a pirate who 

spent his retirement searching for Inca 

gold on Cocos Island. 



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Keeping Gramma 

Company 

Freshly home from hospital following day surgery, I am nestled in bed 

surrounded by pillows and tissues and cups of tea, and just dozing off 

when the doorbell rings. 

“Hallooooo…????” It is my daughter, dropping by to prepare dinner for 

my husband and me. And look—she has brought her six-year old daughter 

to keep me company! 

“Gwamma, is your body sore?” she 

inquires as she scrambles up onto 

Jacqui 

the bed. (Yes. Ouch! No bouncing!) Graham 

“Don’t worry, I am here to cheer you 

up. What would you like to do first, 

Gwamma?” (Ummm… Nap…??? I think, wistfully.) 

She is full of ideas. I rule out the ones that involve moving, talking, and 

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Space may be limited in some grades. 

She scrambles off the bed (ouch!) and 

returns with my white board and the four 

markers that have survived the ravages of her 

male cousins: red, orange, blue, and brown. 

I generously insist she go first, hoping for a 

few moments of shut-eye during the creative 

process. Unfortunately, the creative process is 

not silent. There are questions. Where are my 

pink and yellow and green and purple markers? 

Was my doctor the same one who fixed 

her daddy’s knees a few weeks ago? Which 

do I like better, cats or dogs? And could I not 

possibly BELIEVE what happened to her at 

kindergarten this morning…? 

I pretend to answer while she draws an 

orange cat and a brown cat with word balloons 

coming out of their mouths. The cats 

are saying “I love you” to each other. She 

tells me that I am the orange cat, and she is 

the brown cat. In the margin she has printed 

the words “To you. Love from Maysa.” (She 

explains that there wasn’t room to write “To 

Gramma” without running into a cat.) 

While I am admiring the picture, she is 

called away to eat her snack. I have just settled 

into a somnolent state when I hear a small 

sigh at my bedside. It is my granddaughter, 

looking quite subdued. She has been thinking 

deep thoughts. 

“Gwamma, I am not sure what happened, 

but this is what I fink happened. I fink the 

doctor made a little hole in your body, and 

reached in and pulled out all the bad stuff, and 

sewed up the hole. Is dat what happened?” 

“Close enough, my dear.” 

She vaults back onto the bed (ouch) and 

snuggles beside me, while I draw a picture of 

a brown-haired little girl in a red dress holding 

a blue-and-orange striped balloon. 

Her mommy says it’s time to go. 

“Gwamma, is your body still sore?” 

“Yes, my dear.” 

She considers this. “Well, I want to give you 

a hug. Are there any parts of you that are safe 

for me to hug?” 

We find one. 

It is the next afternoon, and I am cozily arranged 

on the family room couch, surrounded 

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y pillows and tissues, indulging in chocolate 

therapy, and binge-watching “Outlander” on 

Netflix, when the doorbell rings. 

“Hallooooo…????” It is my daughter, who 

has come to clean my house, fold my laundry, 

and make sure her father and I don’t starve 

to death. Somehow our roles have been 

reversed and my 38-year old darling is calling 

me “young lady,” and plumping up my 

pillows, and bringing me food I don’t want, 

and proffering painkillers I don’t need. Finally 

satisfied, she leaves the room, exhorting me 

to “rest.” Fat chance. Maysa has come along 

to keep me company. 

So we snuggle side by side on the family 

room couch, and eat my snack, and talk about 

this and that. She sighs deeply. Her cute little 

nose wrinkles, indicating deep thought. She 

has more questions about my surgery, and her 

daddy’s recent knee operation. 

“Okay Gwamma, dis is what bothers me. I 

don’t get it. I just don’t get it. How do doctors 

KNOW how to fix people? I mean, when doctors 

look at you, dey can’t see inside you. So 

just how do dey KNOW what to do?” 

My mind—still wauchlin’ hame wi’ Jamie 

Fraser o’er the misty hills of 1743 Scotland— 

snaps back to the present. “Um… x-rays. They 

take pictures of people’s insides. You remember 

when you were little and broke your leg?” 

She considers this. “But I still don’t get 

it. How…” 

“Scientists.” I am paddling madly away from 

the murky waters of vivisection. “Scientists, 

um, figure things out. And…try things to see 

if they work.” 

More considering. The light dawns. “And 

den the scientists fix the people?” 

“Er… Yes. Well, no. See, there are not 

nearly enough scientists to go around, so the 

scientists, um, teach people to be doctors. 

In special doctor schools. In fact, because 

there is so much to learn about fixing people, 

they have to go to doctor school for SEVEN 

WHOLE YEARS!” 

She is impressed. I’m on a roll. 

“And that’s not all! You see, scientists are 

always finding out NEW ways to fix people, 

so doctors have to keep on learning THEIR 

WHOLE LIVES!” I pause for breath, and wait 

for the next question, but she seems satisfied. 

We finish our snack and resume our drawing 

contest. She colours the entire white board 

blue and draws two little fish with word 

bubbles coming out of their mouths. The fish 

are saying “I love you” to each other. I am the 

brown fish and she is the orange fish. Now it’s 

my turn to draw, and I am racking my brain 

for a subject when her mommy rescues me. 

It’s time for them to go. 

“Gwamma, is your body still sore?” 

“Yes, my dear.” 

“Is that one part still safe to hug?” 

“Why don’t we find out?” 

It is. 

Jacqui Graham has six grown kids and 

eight delightful grandkids age 6 months 

to 11 years. If she had known how much 

fun grandkids would be, she would have 

had them first! 


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Here... 

Butchart Gardens 

…offers 55 acres of sunken gardens, rose gardens, Japanese 

gardens, Italian gardens along with a Children’s Pavillion & 

Rose Carousel. There’s a Living Fossils Walk, a Family Walk, 

a boat tour, Night Illuminations and, on Saturday nights 

throughout the summer, a spectacular fireworks display. 

You’ll also find acres of garden paths, perfect for exploring 

and expending some of your grandkids’ endless energy. Stop 

by the coffee shop after to re-fuel. butchartgardens.com 

Victoria Butterfly Gardens 

…invites you enjoy the beauty of thousands of tropical butterflies 

flying free in their own tropical rainforest—the size of almost three 

basketball courts. Wander through tropical flowers and carnivorous 

plants. You’ll also see colourful fish and birds. The on-site naturalists 

are full of fascinating facts and will answer your questions. 1461 

Benvenuto Avenue in Brentwood Bay. Open daily 9:30am-5pm 

( July 1-Aug 31). butterflygardens.com. 

Royal BC Museum & IMAX 

…are featuring Egypt: The Time of the Pharaohs. 

Experience a time when civilization 

grew along the Nile, pyramids dotted the skyline 

and people believed gods walked among 

us. With more than 300 original artifacts, some 

an astounding 4,500 years old, this exhibition 

covers all aspects of ancient Egyptian life, from 

the emergence of ancient Egyptian civilization 

along the Nile to the Ptolemaic and Roman 

eras. Open 10am-5pm (Sunday to Thursday) 

and from 10am-10pm on Fridays and Saturdays 

throughout the summer. At the IMAX Theatre, 

catch Rocky Mountain Express, Amazon Adventure, 

Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric 

Planet, Dream Big and more. royalbcmuseum. 

bc.ca or 250-356-7226. 

Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf 

…is located at Oceanside Village Resort, and is an easy 

walk from Rathtrevor Beach and other nearby resorts. 

Come and experience mini golf at its finest. Young and 

old alike can enjoy themselves for a fun and challenging 

game on the 18-hole course. Open from 9:30am-9:30pm, 

7 days a week during the summer months. 

10 

16 Island Grandparent 

Parksville Sandcastle 

Competition 

…draws world class master sand 

sculptors who create incredible 

works of art. This year’s competition 

runs July 13-15 and then the exhibition 

continues from July 16-August 

19. Once the masterpieces have been 

completed (from just sand and water, 

and a lot of ingenuity!) and judged, 

the site is open to the public. Wander 

through starting on July 13 at 2pm 

(then open 9am-9pm daily, starting 

July 14). parksvillebeachfest.ca 

Things to Do With Your Grandkids 

For more ideas and a fun map of the Island, pick up a copy of the Kids Guide to 

Vancouver Island at Tourist Info Centres or at your local recreation centre.

Bug Zoo 

…Victoria Bug Zoo lets visitors get up close and personal with live 

giant walkingsticks, alien-eyed praying mantids, hairy tarantulas and 

glow-in-the-dark scorpions, to name a few. Discover roughly 50 fascinating 

species including Canada’s largest ant farm. If you’re feeling 

adventurous, you can hold some of the residents, an array of arachnids 

and friends. 631 Courtney Street, one block north of the Empress Hotel. 

victoriabugzoo.ca or 250-384-BUGS(2847). 

Centre of the Universe 

…is hosting Saturday Summer Star Parties on July 7, 14, 

21, and 28, August 4, 11, 18, and 25, and September 1, 

from 7:15-10:45pm at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, 

5071 West Saanich Road. During the summer 

stargazing nights, both the Centre and the Observatory 

will be open, with planetarium shows, lectures in the 

auditorium and displays. Entry gates close at 10pm and 

attendance is limited and admission is by ticket only. 

Tickets are free and will be available during the week preceding 

each Saturday at summerstarparties.eventbrite.ca. 

Miniature World 

…has been called The Greatest Little Show On 

Earth, with over 85 miniature scenes. See the 

world’s smallest operational sawmill, marvel at two 

of the world’s largest doll houses, experience one of 

the world’s largest model railroads, visit the wonderful 

world of the circus, take a spaceship to the 

stars, travel through the Enchanted Valley of Castles 

and more. 649 Humboldt Street. For more details, 

visit miniatureworld.com, or phone 250-385-9731. 

BC Forest Discovery Centre 

…is where you can ride the rails, walk the 

trails, see the exhibits ina 100-acre living museum. 

Spend the day riding the train and experience 

BC’s forest heritage. Get a glimpse into 

the past by visiting the 1930’s logging camp. 

Enjoy the playground, picnic area and snack 

bar. This site is also home to many community 

festivals and events. bcforesdiscoverycentre. 

com or 250-715-1113 

Ucluelet Aquarium 

…is Canada’s first catch-and-release 

aquarium, where you’ll get an up-closeand-personal 

encounter with a diversity of 

local marine life. The touch tanks provide 

an interactive and fun, hands-on learning 

environment, and the displays are full of 

beautiful, interesting creatures and are 

always changing. Learn about the local marine 

ecosystems at the mini aquarium, and 

help raise awareness about local marine 

biodiversity and promote respect for the 

ocean environment. Open daily, 

including holidays, from 10am- 

5pm. uclueletaquarium.org 

or 250-726-2782. 

& 

There 



Together 

we are 

Family 

The Cridge Centre for the Family is about people: children, adults, seniors, survivors of brain injury, 

women leaving abuse, refugees and immigrants, families with children with special needs and young parents. 

The Cridge Centre for the Family is about connection, about building community and partnerships, 

and about belonging and being valued. 

The Cridge Centre for the Family is about being at home and feeling safe, 

about achieving goals and reaching potential. 

The Cridge Centre for the Family is about all of us, working together to care for the vulnerable. 

Won’t you join our family? 

www.cridge.org 

or 250 384 8058 

1307 Hillside Ave, Victoria BC V8T 0A2 


Summertime Music 

with Grandkids 

Summer is here, which means school is 

over and the grandkids will be looking 

for activities to keep them busy— 

maybe hiking, biking, swimming, 

and playing at the beach, as well 

as spending more time with 

Grandma and Grandpa. This is 

an excellent time to take them to 

summer concerts and performances 

and introduce them to a variety of 

music styles; the more the better. Research 

shows that music can have 

numerous positive effects for 

children, including memory 

development, creativity, and 

self-expression. 

All summer, Victoria 

and surrounding municipalities 

will be staging 

family-friendly outdoor 

music concerts and performances. 

And the best news 

is that many are free! Children 

love the outdoors so a trip to the park 

or the beach is always a good idea. You’ll 

be tapping your feet and snapping your 

fingers with your grandkids, making it 

lots of fun for everyone in the family. 

Whether you like jazz and blues, classical, 

folk or swing, there’s something for everyone 

at the free afternoon concerts at Beacon 

Hill Park as well as the Folk Music evening 

series. These free concerts take place Friday to 

Monday afternoons from June to September, 

and on Tuesday evenings in July and August at 

the Cameron Bandshell. Bring a blanket and 

a picnic for an enjoyable time for all. 

Grab your shades and sunhats and attend 

the Memorial Park Music Fest in Esquimalt 

on Tuesday nights from June 26 to August 7. 

There is a fantastic lineup of performances 

such as The Bobby Dazzler Band, Soul Shakers, 

Stephanie Greaves and Bijoux du Bayou. 

Bring your chairs and a picnic, and also 

plan on visiting one of the onsite local food 

vendors for a variety of multicultural snacks 

and beverages. 

Oak Bay Parks and Recreation is offering 

free concerts on the beach throughout the 

summer. The musical line-up features local 

talent with many musical styles. Audiences 

can expect something different each time 

and a chance to enjoy music outdoors. Bring 

a blanket and picnic. All concerts in this 

summertime series will take place at Willows 

Beach Park, starting at 6:30 p.m. 

The ultimate summertime musical event 

is the Symphony Splash, which is fast approaching 

on August 5. Splash is an annual 

Victoria event that takes place on a floating 

stage anchored in the Inner Harbour. 

The Victoria Symphony performs on the 

stage and the event has become one of the 

largest symphony events in North America, 

attracting close to 40,000 people. A selection 

of classical and popular music is performed 

with the culminating performance of Tchaikovsky’s 

1812 Overture accompanied 

with carillon bells, navy field 

guns and a spectacular firework 

display. The Symphony Splash 

is an outdoor event so it’s best 

to bring folding lawn chairs or 

a blanket for your family to sit 

on the Legislature lawn. The Inner 

Harbour can be breezy and chilly in 

the evening, so bring extra sweaters 

and blankets. Another good idea is 

to pack a picnic basket or cooler 

with water and snacks. 

Make sure you have your grandkids’ 

favourite music in the car or at 

home for when they visit and encourage 

them to sing along. Research shows that 

children whose grandparents sing with 

them show better vocabulary and emotional 

development. When you sing songs, you are 

facilitating language acquisition and speech 

development in children. For very young 

children, sing simple nursery rhymes such 

as “Twinkle Twinkle little Star,” “Baa Baa 

Black Sheep,” or “Row Row Your Boat.” A 

fun activity is to have your grandchild sing 

the missing lyrics from nursery rhyme songs. 

For example, you sing “Mary had a little____” 

and encourage her to sing “lamb” or sing “Hot 

Cross _____” or “Merrily we roll ______.” An 

Jerri 

Carson 

excellent book to read with your grandchild 

is Singing Bee! by Jane Hart. It is a collection 

of lullabies, nursery rhymes, finger plays 

and action songs. Songs in the book include 

“Hush Little Baby,” “Pat-a-Cake” and “Where 

is Thumbkin.” Toddlers love these rhymes as 

you’ll see from their laughter and smiles while 

doing these activities together. 

Singing lullabies is another wonderful 

music activity with your young grandchild. 

A soft lullaby gives a child a sense of peace 

and comfort. Lullabies have soothing lyrics 

and if you have a rocking chair you can rock 

your grandchild to sleep. Choose easy lullabies 

with simple lyrics that your child can sing 

along with, such as “Rock a Bye Baby,” “Are 

you Sleeping,” or “Lavenders Blue.” 

Music is an enjoyable and wonderful way to 

spend time with your grandkids this summer, 

especially when it is presented in an outdoor 

venue. By taking the time to explore music, 

you will be expanding your grandchild’s music 

appreciation and creating memories for your 

whole family. 

Jerri Carson is a retired music teacher. 

She now spends her time playing the 

piano and cello. 



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The Art of 

Storytelling 

Despite the fact that I read to my own 

children from the time they were babies, I 

never thought to tell them stories. I must 

admit that storytelling seemed almost oldfashioned, 

something my grandparents may 

have done, like a lost art. Not only that but I 

am not the least bit dramatic or creative—two 

qualities I assumed you had to possess in order 

to be a good storyteller. 

What I didn’t understand is that all you 

have to have is a love for the spoken word, just 

as I have always had a passionate love of the 

written word. And of course, an appreciative 

audience never hurts! 

Reading has always been part of my threeyear-old 

grandson’s bedtime routine whenever 

he stays overnight with me, but I have 

only just started to incorporate storytelling as 

well. For one thing, I find it is a great motivator 

to get a reluctant child into bed. I only have to 

mention telling a story and my little grandson 

hops up onto my bed and buries himself under 

the covers, squealing “Which story, Nonna? 

Which story?” Or if he has a current favourite, 

he’ll demand that one. 

Admittedly, my repertoire was rather limited 

at first—I fell back on a few tried-and-true 

fairy tales—but I have since branched out into 

many others and I’ve even taken a stab at a 

few made-up stories based on my grandson’s 

interests. 

Delving into storytelling has allowed me 

to revisit an interest in fairy tales, folktales, 

myths, legends and fables, many of which I 

remember from my own childhood. Of course, 

I have to consider what is age-appropriate 

for a three-year-old, but other than that, the 

choices are endless. The themes of many of 

these stories are universal and they are inherently 

relatable; that’s part of their appeal. 

They not only entertain, but they are also 

often informative, providing a springboard 

of sorts from which my grandson can learn 

about other places and cultures. And often in a 

subtle way, many of them illustrate and instill 

important lessons and values. Still further, 

some of them effectively model basic problem 

solving strategies. 

Like reading, storytelling has a multitude 

of other benefits. It not only nurtures good 

listening skills, it allows a child to tap into their 

own creativity and imagination because they 


have to come up with their own images of the 

characters and settings. Storytelling develops 

a child’s ability to pay attention without the 

benefit of a visual aid, and it expands their 

vocabulary. 

Memory is also strengthened; because my 

grandson is engaged, he remembers. I am 

sure he could tell many of my stories off by 

Susan 

Gnucci 

heart. In fact, I have often heard him quoting 

from a story I have told him. And he’s quick to 

correct me if I skip over something or forget a 

particular scene: “But Nonna, you forgot the 

part where the…” 

What I love most about storytelling though 

is that it allows me to physically connect with 

my grandson; I am able to give him gentle back 

rubs, stroke his hair, or simply hold his hand 

in mine. We are able to connect face-to-face 

and eye-to-eye in a cozy, quiet setting so that 

he is able to see all of the facial expressions and 

gestures that go along with the telling of a good 

story; these effectively add another dimension 

to the tale being told. Not only that, but I am 

also able to gauge his reaction as to which 

parts of the story are his favourite (and are 

therefore worthy of a little embellishment). 

In short, storytelling is an effective means to 

foster our connection with one another. 

Storytelling also has the added bonus of 

preparing my grandson for going to sleep. 

Not surprisingly, our sessions never fail to 

relax him; two or three stories later and his 

eyelids are usually droopy. Even on nights 

when our stories spark questions and conversation, 

these are carried out under the covers 

with his favourite stuffed animal as our only 

companion. Free from distractions, there have 

been times when he has fallen asleep literally 

in mid-conversation. 

I consider storytelling to be a wonderful 

addition to my grandson’s bedtime routine 

on our sleepover nights. In fact, I wish I’d 

thought of it sooner. I hope it becomes a 

memorable part of his upbringing that he 

will want to share with his own children one 

day. After all, I’ve come to believe there is a 

storyteller in all of us. 

Susan Gnucci is a local author and a 

proud “nonna” to an adorable two-yearold 

grandson. She enjoys sharing her 

experiences as a first-time grandparent. 

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Healthy Families, Happy Families 

Child, Youth 

& Family 

Public Health 

South Island Health Units 

Esquimalt 250-519-5311 

Gulf Islands 250-539-3099 

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton) 

Peninsula 250-544-2400 

Saanich 250-519-5100 

Saltspring Island 250-538-4880 

Sooke 250-642-5464 

Victoria 250-388-2200 

West Shore 250-519-3490 

Central Island Health Units 

Duncan 250-709-3050 

Ladysmith 250-755-3342 

Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878 

Nanaimo 250-755-3342 

Nanaimo 250-755-3342 

Princess Royal 

Parksville/ 250-947-8242 

Qualicum 

Port Alberni 250-731-1315 

Tofino 250-725-4020 

North Island Health Units 

Campbell River 250-850-2110 

Courtenay 250-331-8520 

Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289 

‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522 

Port Hardy 250-902-6071 

viha.ca/prevention_services/ 

Supporting 

Healthy Language 

Development 

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I 

work alongside many kinds of caregivers 

to help support the healthy language 

development of children of all ages. Most 

frequently, this means I am working closely 

with the parents of children who have communication 

delays, but I always love when 

parents wish to include other people who are 

important to their child’s development. This 

generally means I am privileged/fortunate to 

meet the grandparents! 

You are a trusted influence in your grandchild’s 

life, and as such you have the opportunity 

to make positive impact on their overall 

development. 

To help support healthy language development 

in your grandchildren, ditch the technology. 

Put down the phone or tablet—yours and 

theirs—and turn off the TV. 

Both the Canadian Pediatric Society and 

the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend 

that children under the age of two have 

no screen time, and that children between 

the ages of two and five have under one hour 

of screen time per day, if any. An increasing 

amount of research shows the link between 

screen time and language delays, specifically, 

more screen time equals higher likelihood of 

an expressive language delay (for example, 

a delay in a child’s ability to use words and 

sentences). 

There’s no denying it is possible for technology 

to be an effective learning tool for 

older children if it is used in the right way, 

however as it stands, I see the use of technology 

by both caregivers and children as one 

of the biggest barriers to supporting healthy 

early language development at this time. For 

caregivers scrolling through their phones/ 

tablets, technology is a barrier to tuned-in 

interactions where we can match our child’s 

experiences and interests to language; for 

children playing games on tablets or watching 

TV, technology monopolizes attention so that 

they have difficulty attending to anything but 

the flashy lights and sounds. 

If you are a grandparent who relies on technology 

to connect with your grandchild on a 

regular basis due to distance, video chatting 

platforms such as Skype and FaceTime are 

likely safe exceptions. This is because these 

platforms are used for the sole purpose of 

conversation and connection. 

Talk with your infants, talk with your 

toddlers—language quantity is important. 

Infants are learning language long before they 

start using words. Since children first learn 

through experience, talking to your infants 

and toddlers about what is happening in the 

moment can help support the development of 

their understanding of language. Try to really 

“tune-in” to your grandchild and pay attention 

to what they are interested in. You can then 

match words to their experience, highlighting 

key words as you speak. 

Infants love repetition, and repeating 

those important words will really help them 

link meaning to words. I also encourage all 

caregivers to play like a child—be silly and 

creative. This playfulness and fun will keep 

children engaged longer, which will result in 

more opportunities for learning. Remember 

that language learning happens any time, 

any place, so try to take advantage of all of 

the one-on-one time, even while doing the 

mundane, such as grocery shopping, or even 

washing your hands together. 

Conversation is a two-way street—quality 

interactions are also important! 

Remember, developing good communication 

skills is not simply a matter of hearing lots 

of words—children need the opportunity to 

practice using those words with adults. 

Children naturally receive feedback on their 

language use when speaking with others, and 

this feedback is very important. When children 

say a word incorrectly or use words in an 

incorrect way, caregivers can gently provide 

the correct substitution. If, for example, a child 

says, “I falled down” a parent might say, “You 

fell down? Oh no!” Feedback may also involve 

building on the child’s sentences to make it 


longer or more grammatically correct. For 

example, if a toddler shows you their stuffed 

animal and says, “bunny,” an adult might say, 

“Yes, a bunny. It’s a soft bunny. Hi Bunny!” 

Help support your grandchild’s understanding 

of words and concepts by speaking 

at a pace that is slow but natural, and by using 

simple but grammatically correct sentences. 

Make sure to stress key words by making 

them louder and longer, and use real objects, 

gestures, or pictures whenever possible—you 

can literally help your child see what you mean. 

Then repeat, repeat, repeat—use new words 

often, and in as many different contexts as 

Caitlin 

Bittman 

CHILD YOUTH & FAMILY 

PUBLIC HEALTH 

possible, and try and have your child experience 

the words as you talk about them as well. 

Parents and caregivers love talking about 

colours, numbers and object names. While 

this is an easy fall-back, remember that there 

are many more interesting things to talk about. 

Provide vocabulary-rich language models— 

just think of how limited your child’s words 

and early sentences would be if all they used 

were nouns, colours and numbers. 

It is also good to model a variety of ideas. 

Talk about things that are beyond the hereand-now 

in a way that is accessible to young 

children by linking it to a their experiences. 

For example, if you’re baking a cake with your 

child, you could talk about the past (“last time 

we made a cake for nana’s birthday!”); the future 

(“soon, we get to put candles on the cake 

and sing ‘happy birthday.’”); feelings (“You’re 

sad because there’s no more icing left on the 

spoon”); and we can explain things (“We have 

to put the cake in the oven so it will bake”). 

Using your child’s experiences to talk about 

things other than the here-and-now can help 

them understand and one day use language in 

the same way. 

Remember, frequent, quality caregiverchild 

interactions are critical to developing 

good communicators that are ready to learn at 

school. As a grandparent, you have the power 

to have a strong positive influence on your 

grandchildren’s development when you tune 

in and make the most of your time together. 

Caitlin Bittman, M.Sc., R.SLP., S-LP(C), 

CCC-SLP, is a Registered Speech- 

Language Pathologist. 

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WILDLIFE LEGACIES 

Make a difference. Leave a legacy. Help save Vancouver 

Island Wildlife through planned giving. For more 

information and a copy of our Wildlife Legacies brochure 

and video, please email NIWRA at wildlife@niwra.org. 

We provide care to critically sick, injured and orphaned 

wildlife such as eagles, owls, song birds and black bears. 

Help care for these animals by partnering with us through 

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They depend on us, and we depend on you… 

Thank you for your support! 

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www.glennlindsey.com 

Great Summer 

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Summer 

Fun! 

Night Illuminations 

Firework Saturdays 

Rose Carousel 

Boat Tours 

Family Discovery 

Walk 

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Does your child have 

difficulty reading? 

• can’t read words just read earlier 

• letter reversal 

• symptoms of dyslexia 

• “sounds out” words but can not blend them 

correctly 

• confuses similar sounding words 

• avoids reading/poor speller 

I offer an effective 

program that works! 

Call for more information or 

to arrange your individualized 

one-on-one tutoring solution. 

Brenda Osadchy, BEd, MSp.Ed. 

778-440-0997 

totallearningservices2014@gmail.com 

Eye Rolls & 

Pontification 

An old man’s advice on communication 

I 

spoke to a young mother recently who was 

bemoaning the fact that her daughter, now 

12 years old, had made an early start into 

the eye-rolling teenage years, the ones that 

once prompted Mark Twain to write “When 

a child turns 12, you should put him in a barrel, 

nail down the lid, and feed him through 

the knot hole.” 

Knowing that I had managed to survive my 

own children and was now actively involved 

in the life of my grandchildren, she asked me 

if I had any advice on how to maintain communication 

with children as they enter an part 

of their lives where they mistakenly believe 

that they have all the answers. 

I laughed. 

Then I tried my best to disabuse my friend 

of the belief that grandparents are imbued 

with any special wisdom. Older, I said, did 

not naturally translate into being wiser. In 

my case, I was almost certain that it did not. 

But my friend persisted and I recalled that 

I’d had a similar conversation with my own 

daughter about why my granddaughter never 

seemed to roll her eyes at me, but seemed to 

reserve that particular action for her mother. 

I stopped laughing and thought about it. 

“I don’t know,” I managed. “Over the years I 

guess I’ve learned that there isn’t a person alive 

that doesn’t know something that you don’t. I 

guess I try to let kids know that I believe that 

and I listen to them,” I said. 

But how do you get them to talk in the first 

place?, my friend asked. 

Despite my denying having any special 

wisdom, I was being sucked into the role of 

wise old teacher. 

The answer, I said, is to ask questions that 

are impossible to answer with a monosyllabic 

response. Ask them about their opinion of 

school as opposed to asking if they had a 

good day. 

And when you ask a question, actually listen 

to the answer without allowing your mind to 

think about something else. Letting our minds 

wander is a natural thing to do, of course, and 

we all do it. Someone is talking and you’re 

already thinking about the next thing you’re 

going to say instead of trying to understand 

what the person is saying and how they really 

feel about the topic. 

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I’m not sure my friend was listening any 

more, but, hey, I was on a roll and kept talking. 

“When you do listen—and that’s a lot harder 

than most people think—let the conversation 

flow. Regardless of where your intended road 

map for the talk says you should be heading, if 

your child (or grandchild) wants to steer the 

dialogue toward some esoteric discussion of 

the merits of tattoos or why a teacher always 

smells a little like vanilla extract, let it go there. 

You might be surprised what you find out.” 

By now I was in full Socratic mode. 

Tim 

Collins 

“You know what will turn off a conversation 

with a kid faster than anything?” I asked my 

friend. “Pontificating.” 

No kid wants to hear your opinion of what 

they’ve just said. They sure don’t want to hear 

that what they’re feeling is wrong. You can try 

to steer them in that direction, if it’s important, 

but tell them they have to think a certain way 

and you’ve ended the conversation. 

I went on to say that another big mistake 

was to try to equate your own experience 

with theirs. 

“Never tell a child that you know exactly 

how they feel. You don’t. And don’t tell them 

that you’ve experienced the same thing. You 

haven’t. It’s always going to be different and 

your kid is going to pick up on those differences 

as soon as you start talking,” I advised. 

Finally, I said, admit it when you don’t have 

the answers. Nothing will set eyes to rolling 

faster than a parent or grandparent who tries 

to fake it. Children are not stupid, and if they 

catch you saying something that isn’t right, 

your chances of having them believe the next 

thing you say is pretty well shot. 

I glanced at my friend and I might have 

caught her rolling her eyes. 

I shrugged. Maybe it was genetic. 

“Hell, I don’t know,” I said at last. “Maybe 

it’s just as simple as really liking the kid you’re 

talking to. I guess if you do, and you can make 

them like you, they won’t roll their eyes at you 

quite as much.” 

“And if they do,” I said with a grin, “tell 

them to knock it off.” 

Tim Collins is a writer and freelance 

journalist living and working in Victoria. 

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Natural Sun Safety & 

Outdoor Skin Care for Kids 

The season for fun in the sun is now upon us, and it can be hard to know what the best options 

are for sun safety and outdoor skincare, especially for babies and young children. With recent 

scares surrounding the safety of some mainstream 

sunscreen products and bug repellants, 

it’s even more important to look at natural 

solutions for our tiny humans. The following is 

a brief overview of some great sun and outdoor 

skincare safety products that are ideal for use 

with babies, children, and sensitive adults too! 

Lyra 

McLean 

Mineral Sunblocks 

Unlike traditional sunscreens that use chemical UV absorbers to provide sun protection, 

mineral sunblocks utilize zinc oxide as a natural physical UV blocker. Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen 

is a great example in this category, and is an award-winning sunblock that contains 

non-nano zinc oxide. It is also water-resistant up to 80 minutes, contains no parabens, phthalates, 

PABA or other harmful chemicals, and provides the highest level of broad spectrum 

UVA and UVB protection at an SPF 50+ (as per FDA ratings). Mineral sunblocks are generally 

recommended for use in babies from 6 months of age onwards, and are an ideal form of 

natural sun protection for the entire family. 

Natural Insect Repellents 

Natural bug sprays work by using essential oils to safely repel those pesky outdoor insects 

and help prevent itchy and painful insect bites. Beyond the fact that they are natural and safe 

to use on children and during pregnancy, these bug repellents are effective and smell amazing, 

too. Many even contain gentle moisturizers like Aloe Vera Juice that work to leave the skin 

feeling smooth and soft while deterring insects at the same time. The made-in-Canada Peas 

In A Pod Take A Hike Outdoor Joose is a popular choice for a natural bug repellant. Take A 

Hike Outdoor Joose is crafted from pure essential oils in a Witch Hazel base with 25 per cent 

Aloe Vera Juice, contains no chemicals, and does not come 

in a pressurized container, making it safe for both you 

and the environment. 

Sun Tents, Sun Suits, Sun Hats & 

Sunglasses 

For the youngest of babies, it’s generally recommended 

to avoid using too many products 

on their delicate skin, so physically protecting 

them from the sun’s harmful rays with UVprotectant 

products is a great option instead. 

• Sun Tents. Umbrellas can blow over and 

don’t offer any wind or sand protection, and 

many sun shelters are so large that they can 

impede visibility at busy summer hot spots. 

The Babymoov Anti-UV Pop Up Sun Tent is a 

great alternative for a day in the sun, and features 

a 5-second set up and take down, plus 

mesh door flaps to help protect against 

sand, wind, or insects. The Babymoov 

Anti-UV Tent also includes a convenient 

carry bag for easy portability and folds up

small enough to fit in a standard-size suitcase, making 

it ideal for taking along on that next sunny vacation. 

• UV Protective Sun Hats. UV protective 

sun hats are a great way to protect little 

ones from the sun and minimize the chance of 

sun stroke and burns. As a parent to four kiddos 

myself, I have been using and loving the adjustable 

Grow With Me Sun Hats from Canadian company 

Twinklebelle for many years now. These adjustable 

hats offer UV 50+ sun protection, and their ingenious 

design allows them to be adjusted in size for use as 

your child grows - making them a worthwhile investment 

for multiple seasons in the sun. 

• UV Sun Suits. UV sun suits are 

a convenient way to protect children from 

harmful UV rays. Most sun suits 

feature a one-piece design 

that is comfortable and 

convenient, and offer high 

UV-rated sun protection for 

little sunbathers. Look out 

for designs with back zipper 

closures which make it a breeze to take 

these sun suits on or off, and provide easy 

access for quick diaper changes, too. 

• Sunglasses. The importance of protecting 

young eyes from UV rays cannot be overstated. 

Studies have shown that less than 30 per cent 

of parents protect their children’s eyes with 

sunglasses, and it’s estimated that kids receive 

up to three times more annual sun exposure 

than adults. Young eyes are more susceptible to 

sun damage because they have larger pupils and 

clearer lenses, and continued UV exposure can 

lead to serious eye conditions such as macular degeneration 

and cataracts. Choosing comfortable 

sunglasses can make all the difference in getting 

kids to wear them happily. Brands like Babiators 

come in multiple sizes for an age-appropriate and 

stylish fit, plus they offer 100 per cent UVA/UVB 

protection, and are designed with 

durable and flexible kid-friendly 

frames. The bonus for caregivers? 

Babiators are backed by a 

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against loss or breakage in 

the first year. 

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husband Adam own and operate Momease Baby Boutique, a boutique baby store 

featuring modern baby gear, furniture, and parenting products from newborns to 

toddlers, with a focus on local items and exceptional customer service. Browse instore 

in Victoria at 1581 Hillside Ave, or shop online at momease.ca. 

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Building a Love 

of Reading 

Reading with your grandchildren reinforces the special bond between grandparent and 

grandchild and sets them up for success. These early learning experiences help foster a love 

of reading that, research shows, will affect children’s success in school and life. This summer, 

spend some quality time forming new reading traditions together. The Greater Victoria 

Public Library recommends five ways grandparents and grandchildren can bond with books. 

Family reading time 

BC Summer Reading Club encourages 

kids to read 20 minutes a day during 

the summer. Lead by example and set 

aside time to read together. Seeing their 

grandparents make books and learning part 

of their routine shows kids it’s important to 

prioritize reading and nurturing the mind. 

To sign your grandchild up for BC Summer 

Reading Club, visit a library branch near you. 

Carve out a special place 

for your grandchild to 

read 

Having a room—or a place—of one’s 

own is a point of pride and helps develop 

a sense of ownership. Let your 

grandchildren choose where they’d like to 

read: Grandpa’s recliner, Grandma’s porch 

swing, the kitchen table, the fancy couch. 

This spot will become their special realm for 

spending time with books. 

Bonus: Make room for their books on your 

bookshelf. Having their own space will help 

the kids associate grandma and grandpa’s 

place with reading, comfort and autonomy. 

Get yourself a library card 

An outing to the library is full of 

fun: checking out new books, playing 

with the library’s toys, participating 

in a storytime, and discovering 

educational kids’ games on public 

computers. Do you have a library card, too? 

Checking out your own reading material 

models good habits that kids will remember 

for years to come. 

Get high tech together 

For kids and grandparents, using 

technology together provides new 

opportunities to develop common 

interests and build memories. Challenge 

yourself to use one of the library’s digital 

collections for kids; Tumblebooks is a good 

one to start with. Go to gvpl.ca/read, click on 

and log in to Tumblebooks with your library 

card, then, sit with your grandchild and watch 

books come to life with sound and animations. 

Recommend books they’ll 

love 

Do you remember your favourite 

childhood story? Help your grandchildren 

find theirs. Visit a librarian 

to discover the best books for every age, 

or choose from the books below, selected by 

GVPL librarians to match your child’s interests. 

Decide if your grandchild is curious, 

creative or an epicurean, or take a quiz at gvpl. 

ca/yourbrain to get a personal suggestion. 

Books for an Adventurous Child 

1. The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful 

Escapes by Wade Albert White 

2. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by 

Jennifer Armstrong 

3. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett 

Books for a Creative Child 

1. Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery 

2. Try This!: Extreme 50 Fun and Safe Experiments 

for the Mad Scientist in You by Karen 

Romano Young 

3. Frindle by Andrew Clements 

Books for a Curious Child 

1. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss 

Bertman 

2. History’s Mysteries: Curious Clues, Cold 

Cases, and Puzzles From the Past by Kitson 

Jazynka 

3. Olga and the Smelly Thing From Nowhere 

by Elise Gravel 

Books for a Healthy-Minded Child 

1. I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by 

Susan Verde 

2. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper 

3. Restart by Gordon Korman 

Book for an Epicurean Child 

1. All Four Stars by Tara Dairman 

2. Chef Gino’s Taste Test Challenge by Gino 

Campagna 

3. This Book is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous 

Bosch 

Go create…and celebrate the 

artist in each child 

Looking at books of beautiful artwork 

reveals what is possible when we use our 

imaginations. 

Check out some art books, and then 

borrow one of GVPL’s new plein air easels. 

Gather some paper and crayons, and 

head to your favourite view point with your 

easel in tow. Set up the easel and watch your 

grandchild express their unique creativity 

on paper. Grab your easel, and go create! 

Learn more at gvpl.ca/gocreate. 


Model Grandmas 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “What you 

do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what 

you are saying.” Have you ever thought 

about what your actions are teaching your 

grandchildren? Rumour has it that my maternal 

grandmother was the first woman in 

Winnipeg, Manitoba to drive a car. My mother 

worked full-time starting in the 1960s, long 

before this was the norm. I didn’t run into the 

idea that women were second class citizens 

until I went to university. These amazing role 

models definitely shaped the woman I have 

become. Mrs. McLeod, my Grade 3 teacher, 

Sister Catherine Cecilia who taught me Grade 

9 Math, and Anne of Green Gables were also 

role models who shaped my character, but 

none quite as powerfully as family members. 

As a teacher and a high school principal 

without children of my own, I loved the 

role that I played for my students, modelling 

choices that were different from some of the 

others in their lives. In helping hundreds of 

young people figure out what kind of adults 

they hoped to become, I came to believe that 

a diversity of role models was one of the most 

wonderful influences a young person could 

have in determining their adult personas. 

Recognizing a wide array of options absolutely 

affects the decision-making process, both 

consciously and unconsciously. 

Since moving to Victoria two years ago, I 

have been cycling with an incredible group 

of women from Victoria Grandmothers For 

Africa (VG4A). We train for one of two cycle 

tours held annually as the main fundraiser for 

this group, supporting the Grandmothers 

to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen 

Lewis Foundation. From September 7 to 9, 

about 30 women over 55 will cycle 275 km, 

from Campbell River to Victoria. On the final 

day, another group of about 30 women will 

do a 50 km ride in Saanich. The two groups 

will meet up for lunch and ride together to 

the Victoria Legislature for their 12th annual 

celebration. 

The dozens of women I have met in this cycling 

group are nothing short of inspirational. 

Rose Mary, Christine, Kay and Lisbie are all 

in their 70s, Jocelyn and Kathe in their 60s. 

Rose Mary is one of the fastest and strongest 

going uphill, passing me and almost everyone 

else in the group regularly on hills. Christine 

has done the 275 km ride 10 out of the past 

11 years. Kay wears shorts almost all the time 

except for a couple of months in the winter! 

Lisbie rushes home from cycle training to 

work with a refugee family and participate 

in the local theatre scene. Jocelyn has helped 

me understand how important our solidarity 

is with the African grandmothers in what we 

do. And Kathe is the strongest cyclist of us all, 

thoroughly and definitely “back” after having 

a serious accident alone on her bike last fall. 

We encourage each other to embrace the 

hills, and support each other through illness 

and injury, of selves and family members. 

We also support our African sisters. Victoria 

Grandmothers For Africa have raised over $1 

million since they began in 2007. 

Lauren 

Wilson 

I think often about the example these 

Vancouver Island women are setting for their 

daughters and granddaughters. Life should be 

lived fully, actively, and generously, with lots of 

fresh air and warm relationships. Women are 

strong and able to tackle difficult challenges 

throughout their lives. 

This aspect of grandmothering might be 

the saving grace for the African grandmothers 

who motivate us to continue cycling and 

being strong. These women are raising their 

grandchildren orphaned by HIV/AIDS, grieving 

their children’s deaths, growing gardens, 

maintaining homes, supporting one another, 

and finding income-generating activities so 

they can feed their grandchildren and send 

them to school. But they worry about what will 

happen when they die, many of them before 

their grandchildren are adults. Margaret, a 

woman in Kenya, lost her husband and five of 

her children to AIDS. She was so devastated 

by grief and by the stigma associated with this 

disease that she wished for her own death. Her 

grandchildren begged for help for her, and 

helped nurse her back to mental and emotional 

health. She found a support group through the 

Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, 

and today she is empowered, consulting with 

other grandmothers, and advocating for their 

rights with local politicians. 

What are you modelling for your grandchildren? 

Is it something you could make more 

intentional, or transparent? Is it something 

you’re proud of? 

Thank you to my beautiful mom who is still 

active and feisty and full of ideas and advice. 

I also feel the presence and the influence of 

my grandmothers, though they are not here 

with us, and more faintly, their mothers and 

grandmothers, with gratitude and awe. 

Lauren Wilson is Victoria Grandmothers 

for Africa’s Media and Communications 

coordinator for Cycle Tour 

2018. For more information, visit 

victoriagrandmothersforafrica.ca. 



Ad Directory 

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Butchart Gardens.............................................23 

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Cridge................................................................18 

Darshan Alexander Photography.....................21 

Flourish Individual Training.............................24 

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Island Circus Space..........................................19 

Kaleidoscope Theatre.......................................25 

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MacDonald Realty............................................27 

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Merit Travel.......................................................20 

Momease........................................................IFC 

Mothering Touch.................................................7 

North Island Wildlife Recovery........................23 

Pacific Christian............................................. BC 

Parksville Beach Festival.................................20 

Queen Margaret’s School.................................13 

Saanich Commonwealth..................................10 

St. Margaret’s School.........................................3 

Swan Lake........................................................15 

Total Learning...................................................24 

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Victoria Academy of Ballet............................ IBC 

Victoria Symphony............................................14 

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Wee Travel.........................................................23 

Westmont Montessori......................................21 

Westshore Dental...............................................5 

Send Us 

Your Stories! 

Island Grandparent is looking for 

articles for upcoming issues. Some 

of our best content comes from 

people just like you—Vancouver 

Island grandparents who are 

passionate about their extended 

families. Share your experiences, 

your thoughts on a particular 

issue, your ideas on places to see 

or projects to do—anything related 

to grandparenting. 

Check our Writer’s Guidelines 

at islandparent.ca for specific 

information on submissions. 

We’d love to hear from you. 

Please email submissions to 

editor@islandparent.ca. 

Celebrating 

Family Heritage 

Hanging on our wall is a large family tree that 

dates back to 1760. It’s fun to count how 

many “Benjamins” there are throughout 

the generations, and sad to see how many 

children died before they were four years 

old. This is a copy of the tree, painstakingly 

compiled by an aunt. The original has little 

notes about individuals such as “died after 

being bitten by a dog,” or “moved to Virginia 

1865” or “died leaving a fortune of $20,000.” 

Family history is so engaging because it is 

always personal, quirky and a wondrous mix 

of characters. Grandparents are ideal people 

to lead the way in exploring this as they are 

uniquely poised and connected between 

generations. Relatives are not only individuals 

but representatives of their own cultures and 

eras. The echoes of these elements build over 

time like rings in a tree, part of who we are 

but not exactly who we are, as we are a blend. 

I find children love hearing family stories as 

they intuitively know this is part of who they 

are. Maybe it’s time to pick an afternoon and 

peruse those photos that have been put aside 

in a box (or boxes!). Another bonus of being 

a grandparent is the availability of copious 

amounts of traditional photos, rather than 

digital. This allows them to be spread about, 

piled up, handed out and passed around. 

Making a basic family tree with children 

is straightforward. One could use a large 

poster and attach photos to the names. I 

knew someone who painted a huge tree on 

her wall and attached the photos there. For 

teens, a family tree can involve going back a lot 

further and researching several generations. 

This brings history to life as one learns about 

the time periods ancestors lived through. Add 

a science component and perhaps consider 

trying a custom genetic test such as “23 and 

Me” which can be fascinating. 

Of course biology is only one aspect of 

who a person is. In the modern, interconnected 

world, we see more cultural blending 

in families. Culture is so much more than the 

obvious food, costumes and dances. It can be 

attitudes, communication styles, traditions, 

humour, and priorities. How many of these 

do we implement daily without being aware? 

It just seems “natural.” 

My family is originally from England and 

when I lived in my parents’ downstairs suite 

when I first returned from travelling, I realized 

that I used the term “bathrobe” downstairs but 

once I walked up to my parents’ part of the 

house I automatically changed it to “dressing 

gown.” I lived on tea and toast and automatically 

held my tongue as the phrase “it’s best 

not to say anything” seemed to be embedded 

in my head. Then I married an Algerian, 

whose loud, chatty, generous, forthright, 

food-centered family threw my own cultural 

standpoint into sharp relief. 

Louise 

Berry 

You would think it tricky to juggle these 

disparate components, and sometimes it was, 

but it resulted in a lively mix that incorporated 

both backgrounds. We have afternoon tea 

and spicy dishes, Christmas and Ramadan, 

the use of expressions that originate in four 

different languages and children that feel 

they are welcome on three continents. Most 

importantly, it provides an example of tolerance, 

love and humour. 

What elements of your heritage would you 

like to share and celebrate with grandchildren? 

It could be a cultural tradition or something 

that is specific to your own particular family. 

It could be creating a scrapbook or collage, or 

compiling a memory book. Cooking together 

or collecting a selection of recipes to keep 

and pass on is common in many families. 

Language, expressions and humour can reflect 

a culture or a region. Exploring your heritage 

could be a simple greeting whenever you 

meet or a special trip to a country of origin. 

Whatever it may be, it is sure to enrich your 

relationship with your grandchildren as well 

as their sense of self. 

Honouring and celebrating family heritage 

provides an appreciation for our own ancestors 

and the unique blend that makes us both 

an individual and a member of a family group. 

It also builds interest and empathy in other 

people in the world and that can only be a 

good thing. 

Louise Berry is a mum of three, an avid 

gardener, writer and lover of chocolate! 


Bleiddyn del Villar Bellis 

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GRAND Summer 2018

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