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GRAND Spring 2021 Vol. IV Ed. I

Victoria Vancouver Island Grandparenting Magazine Spring 2021 10 Ways to Be a Fabulous Grandparent Rock the Podcast: How to create—and launch—an engaging and entertaining podcast Running Your First 10k Close to Home: Comox Valley

Victoria Vancouver Island Grandparenting Magazine Spring 2021
10 Ways to Be a Fabulous Grandparent
Rock the Podcast: How to create—and launch—an engaging and entertaining podcast
Running Your First 10k
Close to Home: Comox Valley

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<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I<br />

<strong>GRAND</strong><br />

grandmag.ca<br />

10<br />

Ways to Be<br />

a Fabulous<br />

Grandparent<br />

Rock the<br />

Podcast<br />

How to create<br />

—and launch—<br />

an engaging<br />

and entertaining<br />

podcast<br />

Running<br />

Your First 10k<br />

Close to Home<br />

Comox Valley


Your donations help Family Services of Greater Victoria<br />

provide the following professional programs<br />

and services to families in the region.<br />

FAMILY SERVICES<br />

OF GREATER VICTORIA<br />

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES<br />

Caught in the Middle<br />

Mediation for Couples<br />

Counselling/Therapy Services<br />

New Ways for Families ®<br />

Art/Play Therapy Techniques<br />

Parent Support & Resources<br />

Facilitated Parent–Child Connection Separation Resource Services<br />

In-Person & Telehealth Services<br />

Support for Grandparents<br />

Learn more about our services and how to donate<br />

250-386-4331 www.fsgv.org<br />

2 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


KEEPING YOU AT HOME<br />

SAFELY & COMFORTABLY<br />

FREE IN-HOME & VIRTUAL<br />

ASSESSMENTS<br />

Locally owned and operated for over 30<br />

years, HME has grown to become one of the<br />

largest independent dealers of Mobility and<br />

Home Medical Equipment in BC, serving<br />

British Columbians every day.<br />

CALL HME VICTORIA TODAY!<br />

(250) 386-0075<br />

101-2657 Wilfert Road<br />

Victoria, BC V9B 5Z3<br />

AUTHORIZED DEALER<br />

www.HMEStairlifts.com<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 3


Build a<br />

legacy<br />

and Help<br />

Transform lives<br />

Consider giving a lasting gift to help<br />

local families build a strong foundation<br />

for a brighter future.<br />

For more information, contact<br />

giving@habitatvictoria.com<br />

250.480.7688 ext.103<br />

habitatvictoria.com<br />

4 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


Having Fun &<br />

Staying Silly<br />

CONTENTS<br />

5<br />

6<br />

8<br />

12<br />

14<br />

18<br />

20<br />

22<br />

24<br />

28<br />

Having Fun & Staying Silly<br />

7 Grand: Ideas + Inspiration<br />

Rock the Podcast:<br />

From Creation to Launch<br />

A Grandmother’s Guide to<br />

Bonding with Grandsons<br />

Running Your First 10k<br />

Dinner & Dessert<br />

Close to Home: Comox Valley<br />

Developing Digital Literacy<br />

10 Ways to Be a<br />

Fabulous Grandparent<br />

The Gift of Giving<br />

ON THE COVER<br />

Mike Priestly &<br />

William (4)<br />

Photo by Chelsea<br />

Warren Photography,<br />

chelseawarren<br />

photography.com<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I<br />

<strong>GRAND</strong><br />

grandmag.ca<br />

Rock the<br />

Podcast<br />

How to create<br />

—and launch—<br />

an engaging<br />

and entertaining<br />

podcast<br />

Ways to Be<br />

a Fabulous<br />

10Grandparent<br />

Running<br />

Your First 10k<br />

Close to Home<br />

Comox Valley<br />

“We don’t stop playing because we<br />

grow old. We grow old because we stop<br />

playing.” – George Bernard Shaw<br />

Keep playing.<br />

What better advice is there as<br />

we get older than to stay joyful, be<br />

silly, have fun and keep playing? And<br />

who benefits more from that advice,<br />

if you’re a grandparent, than your<br />

grandchildren?<br />

Sure it’s wise to get a good night’s<br />

sleep, eat more leafy greens and walk<br />

at least 10,000 steps every day, but<br />

how much fun is that compared to,<br />

say, riding a rollercoaster, starting a<br />

water fight, or playing a practical joke.<br />

“The most important advice we offer<br />

people about longevity is, ‘Throw<br />

away your lists,’” says Howard Friedman,<br />

professor of psychology at the<br />

University of California, Riverside,<br />

and co-author of The Longevity Project.<br />

“We live in a self-help society full of<br />

lists: ‘lose weight, hit the gym.’ So why<br />

aren’t we all healthy? People who live<br />

a long time can work hard and play<br />

hard.”<br />

To help you put more fun into your<br />

role supporting your family, and to<br />

emphasize play, this issue of Grand<br />

features articles on topics ranging<br />

from 10 ways to be a fabulous grandparent,<br />

cooking with your grandkids,<br />

and creating and launching a podcast,<br />

Jim Schneider Publisher<br />

publisher@islandparent.ca<br />

Sue Fast <strong>Ed</strong>itor<br />

editor@islandparent.ca<br />

Kristine Wickheim Account Manager<br />

kristine@islandparent.ca<br />

RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager<br />

raeleigh@islandparent.ca<br />

<strong>GRAND</strong>, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a quarterly<br />

publication that honours and supports grandparents by providing<br />

information on resources and businesses for families and a forum for<br />

the exchange of ideas and opinions. Views expressed are not necessarily<br />

those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without<br />

the permission of the publisher. <strong>GRAND</strong> is distributed digitally and also<br />

a free special edition throughout Vancouver Island. ISSN 0838-5505.<br />

to running your first 10k, the gift of<br />

giving, and developing digital literacy.<br />

There’s 7 Grand, a compilation<br />

of ideas and inspiration to help keep<br />

you in-the-know and connected to<br />

community, there’s a grandmother’s<br />

guide to bonding with grandsons,<br />

and there’s an article to help get you<br />

out and about while still staying close<br />

to home. Have fun, and remember:<br />

you’re as young as you feel!<br />

<strong>GRAND</strong> is as diverse and engaged<br />

as you are. Together, we’re a powerful<br />

and positive force—in our grandchildren’s<br />

lives and in our communities.<br />

250-388-6905 grandmag.ca<br />

518 Caselton Place, Victoria BC V8Z 7Y5<br />

A proud member of<br />

BC<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 5


Ideas + Inspiration<br />

7Grand<br />

A Culinary<br />

Adventure<br />

Before catching Disney’s Raya<br />

and the Last Dragon, families<br />

can take a culinary adventure to<br />

Raya’s homeland Kumandra—a<br />

magical land inspired by Southeast<br />

Asia—with kids leading the<br />

recipe creation.<br />

Disney has collaborated with<br />

Raddish Kids to help families<br />

create their own “Dinner & a<br />

Movie” night with a free printable<br />

digital Raddish cooking kit<br />

created in celebration of the<br />

film that includes three recipes:<br />

Shrimp Noodles, Pork Lettuce<br />

Cups and Mango Sticky Rice,<br />

inspired by the cuisine of Southeast<br />

Asia.<br />

Kids can take charge in the<br />

kitchen—with help from their<br />

grandparents—with the easyto-follow<br />

recipe guides, and a<br />

step-by-step cook-along video<br />

with an appearance from a Disney<br />

chef. The free, flavour-filled<br />

kit created in celebration of Disney’s<br />

Raya and the Last Dragon<br />

can be found at raddishkids.<br />

com/pages/disneyraya.<br />

New Field<br />

Guide<br />

Saanich Parks released a new<br />

field guide to inspire a passion<br />

for nature discoveries in parks<br />

close to home. This illustrated<br />

field guide highlights some of<br />

the plants and animals found<br />

in Saanich parks and the different<br />

types of ecosystems where<br />

they live. It is a visual learning<br />

tool aimed at youth, but the<br />

intent is to encourage learning<br />

and enjoyment for all park visitors.<br />

Illustrated by local artist<br />

Kristi Bridgman, the field guide<br />

captures the spirit and beauty<br />

of the unique nature that exists<br />

around us. Saanich Parks will<br />

develop resources for families<br />

and educators to use with the<br />

field guide so they can broaden<br />

their learning while experiencing<br />

these lovely places. The field<br />

guide is available at saanich.ca.<br />

What the F*ck<br />

Is My Password?<br />

How often have you uttered a<br />

variation of those words? What<br />

the flip is my password? Here’s<br />

a simple no frills journal to keep<br />

track of important information<br />

for online accounts and websites.<br />

Keep track of your sh*t<br />

at last. Forgotten your internet<br />

password again? This logbook<br />

has enough space to store<br />

the website name, username,<br />

password, and notes for 1,000 of<br />

your internet passwords.<br />

And here’s a bonus: according<br />

to Amazon “The print is quite<br />

large so is suitable for seniors<br />

and people with bad eye sight.”<br />

6 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


Tools to Connect<br />

Online<br />

Grandma/<br />

Grandpa & Me<br />

Grandparents’ Class<br />

at Mothering Touch<br />

A is for<br />

Anemone<br />

These apps offer some other<br />

worthwhile activities for grandparents<br />

and grandkids:<br />

Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com.<br />

Ancestry websites<br />

are a great way for grandparents<br />

and older grandchildren<br />

to explore their family’s history<br />

together.<br />

Keepy. Share artwork, school<br />

projects and photos grandparents<br />

love to put on their fridge<br />

but might not have room for.<br />

Hoot. Draw, play, or read together<br />

in real time.<br />

Redeo. Read together while<br />

your young grandchild turns the<br />

pages.<br />

ooVoo and Voxer. These<br />

apps allow you to send photos<br />

and videos or to talk and text—<br />

all in real time.<br />

Wheel of Fortune. This app<br />

version of the popular TV show<br />

allows grandparents and grandchildren<br />

to spin the wheel together,<br />

no matter the distance.<br />

From aplaceformom.com<br />

Pinhole Press’s Grandma & Me<br />

and Grandpa & Me Board Book<br />

is perfectly sized for little hands,<br />

with thick, rigid pages and a<br />

glossy finish. Use the starting<br />

template or any available<br />

templates to personalize the<br />

perfect keepsake. Each book<br />

can hold 20–40 pages featuring<br />

11–21 photos. A Grandma &<br />

Me or a Grandpa & Me Board<br />

Book is a great way to foster<br />

relationships with long-distance<br />

Grandmas and Grandpas, and to<br />

celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s<br />

Day, Grandparent’s Day, or the<br />

holidays. pinholepress.com<br />

This class teaches the latest on<br />

newborn care, and now includes<br />

infant first aid. Learn up-to-date<br />

information on breastfeeding,<br />

safe sleeping practices, car-seat<br />

regulations, and how to play<br />

with baby. Grandparents will<br />

also have a chance to explore<br />

new ideas about parenting and<br />

how they can support their<br />

adult children in their new role<br />

as parents.<br />

For information and class<br />

times, visit motheringtouch.ca.<br />

With crisp, luminous illustrations<br />

by celebrated Indigenous artist<br />

Roy Henry Vickers and a simple<br />

rythmic text, this sturdy board<br />

book introduces the alphabet<br />

using iconic imagery of the West<br />

Coast, creating a book that will<br />

be cherished by young readers<br />

and their families. Starting with<br />

colourful sea anemones waving<br />

in the ocean current and closing<br />

with a snoozing grizzly bear<br />

(Zzz), this board book supports<br />

both early literacy and children’s<br />

awareness of the natural world.<br />

Release date: June 19, <strong>2021</strong>. By<br />

Roy Henry Vickers and Robert<br />

Budd. harbourpublishing.com<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 7


Media &<br />

Technology<br />

Rock the Podcast<br />

How to create—and launch—an engaging<br />

and entertaining podcast<br />

Like other grandmothers everywhere, I grieved not being<br />

able to be with my grandchildren over this last holiday season.<br />

I needed a project to distract me, so I took the plunge<br />

into podcasting—with not one podcast, but two. I figured if I<br />

was going to take on such a daunting project, I might as well<br />

make it worthwhile. And it has been worthwhile, providing me<br />

with a limitless outlet for my creativity. I am my own producer<br />

and publisher, and my stories and ideas can now travel the<br />

world.<br />

If you’re interested in podcasting yourself, be warned: the<br />

learning curve is steep. But don’t be overwhelmed; if you take<br />

it one step at a time and access the right resources, it is doable.<br />

And it gets significantly easier with practice.<br />

Rachel Dunstan Muller is a children’s<br />

author, storyteller, podcaster, and<br />

grandmother. You can find her two podcasts<br />

Hintertales: Stories from the Margins<br />

of History and Sticks and Stones<br />

and Stories through her website at<br />

racheldunstanmuller.com, or wherever<br />

you normally get your podcasts.<br />

1. Choose a theme.<br />

What will your podcast be about?<br />

Who is your target audience? My first<br />

podcast, Hintertales: Stories from<br />

the Margins of History, tells true stories<br />

of ordinary people caught up in<br />

extraordinary events, and is aimed<br />

at adults who love good storytelling.<br />

Sticks and Stones and Stories is more<br />

personal, consisting of fun, original<br />

tales told initially to my three young<br />

grandchildren. Your podcast might be<br />

about cooking, or poetry, or the interesting<br />

places you’ve travelled. If you<br />

aren’t already listening to podcasts in<br />

your chosen genre, start listening now<br />

for ideas and inspiration.<br />

2. Give it a name.<br />

A good title should capture the<br />

theme of your podcast, be simple to<br />

remember, and be easily searchable.<br />

The word Hintertales was my own<br />

invention and is therefore easy to find<br />

via Google. In contrast, the combination<br />

of words in my children’s title<br />

proved to be too generic for good<br />

search results.<br />

3. Create podcast artwork.<br />

You will need a square image to<br />

accompany your podcast when it’s<br />

uploaded to sites like Apple Podcasts.<br />

I used the tools at Canva.com to create<br />

my own artwork, but if that feels<br />

daunting, you can hire someone affordably<br />

at Fiverr.com or 99Designs.<br />

com. The finished image should be<br />

3000 x 3000 pixels, 72 dpi, and saved<br />

as a PNG.<br />

4. Decide on a format.<br />

My episodes are scripted stories<br />

(non-fiction and fiction respectively),<br />

8 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


Perfect<br />

Podcasts<br />

from local to far-flung<br />

but you may choose to go with an interview<br />

format or solo commentary.<br />

As your own producer, you also get to<br />

choose the length of your podcasts,<br />

and how frequently you upload new<br />

episodes. Having a consistent publishing<br />

schedule is ideal, whether it’s daily,<br />

weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly.<br />

5. Choose a microphone.<br />

You could start by recording with<br />

your smartphone, but for the best<br />

audio quality you’ll want to invest<br />

in a microphone that plugs directly<br />

into your laptop or recording device.<br />

Search online for reviews of the most<br />

popular podcast mics. This will likely<br />

be your biggest initial investment,<br />

with a good mic costing between $60<br />

and $180.<br />

6. Download editing software.<br />

This is a must for podcasters. GarageBand<br />

is free for Mac users, while<br />

Audacity is free for Mac, PC and Linux<br />

users. Learning to use this software<br />

was my biggest hurdle, but I found<br />

helpful tutorials on YouTube and other<br />

sites. I highly recommend the indepth<br />

video tutorials on Lynda.com,<br />

which are accessible for free for both<br />

VIRL and GVLP library users.<br />

7. Record your first episode.<br />

Prepare either a bulleted outline or<br />

a full script, practice until the material<br />

flows easily, then choose a quiet<br />

place to record. A basement storage<br />

room has been an ideal space for me,<br />

but for you it may be a walk-in closet,<br />

or even your car parked somewhere<br />

quiet. It should have few reflective<br />

Hintertales: Stories from the Margins<br />

of History. Author and storyteller Rachel<br />

Dunstan Muller combs the dusty<br />

corners of history in pursuit of some<br />

of the world’s most fascinating true<br />

stories. Check back every second<br />

Friday for stories of ordinary people<br />

caught up in extraordinary circumstances.<br />

hintertales.buzzsprout.com<br />

Sticks and Stones and Stories. Add<br />

a little wonder to bed time, car time,<br />

or anytime with these fun original<br />

stories. Sticks and Stones and Stories<br />

features engaging tales written and<br />

narrated by children’s author Rachel<br />

Dunstan Muller. sticksandstonesandstories.buzzsprout.com<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 9


surfaces (bare walls or floors), and/<br />

or lots of soft materials like furnishings,<br />

carpets, or clothes to absorb and<br />

diffuse sound. Temporarily turn off<br />

any background noise like heaters or<br />

humming appliances. Use headphones<br />

to hear yourself clearly as you record,<br />

and experiment with different distances<br />

from your microphone to find<br />

the “sweet spot”—often about 2 to 4<br />

inches from the mic. I invested in a<br />

microphone pop filter (about $18) to<br />

take some of the “hiss” out of my s’s.<br />

Don’t worry about mistakes or interruptions<br />

as you’re recording, since<br />

you’ll be editing those out in the next<br />

step. Just pause for a few seconds, then<br />

repeat the botched sentence and carry<br />

on.<br />

8. <strong>Ed</strong>it and optimize your episode.<br />

This is by far the most technical<br />

step of podcasting, but if you follow<br />

the step-by-step tutorials mentioned<br />

in Step 7 you’ll find your way—including<br />

mixing in music or sound effects if<br />

you choose. Most podcasts include an<br />

intro, the body of the episode, and an<br />

outro. Refer to other podcasts for examples.<br />

For royalty-free theme music,<br />

look to Audio Jungle or other similar<br />

websites. Be sure the music is available<br />

for commercial use, and credit<br />

the artist as required. Once your episode<br />

is edited, upload it to Auphonic.<br />

com for optimization. (Free for the<br />

first 2 hours of processed material per<br />

month.)<br />

9. Upload your episode to a podcast<br />

host.<br />

To “publish” your podcast, you’ll<br />

need an RSS feed or podcast host like<br />

Buzzsprout, Podbean or Libsyn—all<br />

user-friendly and affordable (from<br />

free versions, to $15 US a month).<br />

Once you’ve uploaded your first episode,<br />

a show description, and your<br />

podcast artwork, you’ll use your<br />

account to submit your podcast to<br />

the most popular podcast apps. At a<br />

minimum you’ll want to link to Apple<br />

Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify,<br />

and Stitcher. It may take from a day to<br />

a few weeks for your podcast to be approved<br />

and go live on individual apps.<br />

10. Let the world know!<br />

Once your new creation is out there,<br />

it’s time to spread the word. Use email,<br />

social media, or even press releases to<br />

let your prospective audience know<br />

your first podcast is live. Tap into all<br />

your connections, especially those<br />

with an interest in your podcast subject.<br />

It’s a lot of work, but it does get easier<br />

with each episode. And if nothing<br />

else, it gives you bragging rights—this<br />

grandparent is a podcaster!<br />

10 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


This podcast entertains, educates, and<br />

enlightens grandparents who want to<br />

become the best they can be. Author Emily<br />

Morgan hosts an exploration of grandparenting.<br />

thegrandlife.libsyn.com<br />

Non-fiction Podcast. A conversation between<br />

University of Victoria writing professors<br />

David Leach and Deborah Campbell<br />

(plus guest authors and experts) about the<br />

art, craft and ethics of researching, writing<br />

and revising creative nonfiction, literary<br />

journalism and other forms of nonfiction<br />

prose. Fresh episodes (almost) every Monday<br />

morning. anchor.fm/uvicwriting<br />

Being Grandparents. Deanne and Stevie<br />

Fernandez are on a mission to learn how<br />

to become the best grandparents they can<br />

for today’s generation by working with all<br />

who listen and participate to join generations<br />

through family fun, stories of grandparents<br />

before us and plenty of laughter.<br />

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beinggrandparents<br />

Stuff You Should Know. If you’ve ever<br />

wanted to know about champagne, satanism,<br />

the Stonewall Uprising, chaos<br />

theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa<br />

Parks, then look no further. Hosts Josh<br />

and Chuck have you covered. podcasts.<br />

apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-shouldknow/id278981407<br />

Check the Program. Arts and culture in<br />

Victoria. Hosted by Sarah Petrescu, John<br />

Threlfall, Melanie Tromp Hoover, Amanda<br />

Farrell-Low, Brianna Bock and Tim Ford.<br />

anchor.fm/check-the-program<br />

The Grand Life. Grandparenting with our<br />

whole hearts takes time and intention.<br />

TheDaily Pep. For inspiration, The Daily<br />

Pep! podcast provides short (four minutes<br />

or under) bursts of support from host Meg<br />

Kissack. All of her mini-casts are supportive.<br />

Take a listen and feel better in four<br />

minutes or less. therebelrousers.com/<br />

dailypep<br />

Born & Raised. “Where are you really<br />

from?” is a loaded question for children of<br />

immigrants. Part reflection, part storytelling,<br />

“Born & Raised” digs into our experiences<br />

and connections with identity,<br />

family, and culture. podcasts.apple.com/<br />

ca/podcast/born-and-raised<br />

The Afterglow. This podcast gives you<br />

the permission and tools to create your<br />

courageous second act. It’s for you who<br />

has spent your past, living life according<br />

to the historic societal expectations of<br />

women. And it’s for you if you’re committed<br />

to a future, beyond limits, of passion,<br />

self-expression and fulfilment. theafterglowpodcast.ca<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 11


Relationships<br />

A Grandmother’s Guide to<br />

Bonding with Grandsons<br />

Jacqui Graham has six grown kids and<br />

eight delightful grandkids. If she had<br />

known how much fun grandkids would<br />

be, she would have had them first!<br />

It’s easy to bond with granddaughters.<br />

You bake cookies together, and then<br />

you have a tea party. You read Harry<br />

Potter or Alice, I Think. You let them<br />

style your hair until it’s dripping with<br />

barrettes and scrunchies. You make<br />

crafts with beads and sequins and<br />

smelly felts and the glitter glue that<br />

will NEVER come out of the carpet. On<br />

a sunny day, you might play hopscotch<br />

in the driveway. On a rainy day, you<br />

might explore the contents of your<br />

jewel box.<br />

Bonding with grandsons can be a<br />

harder proposition for a grandma.<br />

Raising four boys, however, has given<br />

me useful insights into the psyche of<br />

the young human male. They like food.<br />

They need to move. They love showing<br />

off to an appreciative audience. (Did I<br />

mention food?)<br />

One rainy afternoon my 11-yearold<br />

grandson Levi came to my house<br />

for a couple of hours while his dad<br />

attended a meeting. Rainy weather<br />

ruled out yard chores or a visit to the<br />

playground, so we decided to watch a<br />

movie.<br />

Popcorn was duly popped and soft<br />

drinks selected. We were browsing<br />

through Netflix offerings when Levi<br />

cried: “Wait! I watched this movie at<br />

my friend Zach’s house and it’s sooooo<br />

good but I didn’t get to see the ending.<br />

Can we watch it, Grandma? Please?<br />

Please? Please?”<br />

What had caught his eye was “Journey<br />

2: The Mysterious Island,” a 2012<br />

followup to the 2008 film version of<br />

Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of<br />

the Earth.” The more recent movie is<br />

based loosely on another Verne classic,<br />

“The Mysterious Island.” It soon<br />

became apparent that the only resemblance<br />

to the original story was the title<br />

and the fact that it did, indeed, take<br />

place on an island.<br />

The mysterious aspect was how this<br />

stinker ever got made.<br />

But who cares? It had everything an<br />

11-year-old boy could possibly want:<br />

the lost island of Atlantis and huge<br />

lizards and Dwayne Johnson (aka “The<br />

Rock”) and miniature elephants and<br />

Vanessa Hudgens and the mummified<br />

body of Captain Nemo and generational<br />

angst and a volcano that spit<br />

out boulders of solid gold. (And, for<br />

Grandma, an aging but still foxy Michael<br />

Caine, camping it up in his final<br />

movie role.)<br />

Our brave adventurers got lost in<br />

the jungle, were swept over waterfalls,<br />

rode on giant bees, discovered ancient<br />

12 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


uins, and (in a nod to the original<br />

story) realized that the island would<br />

be sinking back into the sea in JUST!!!<br />

THREE!!! HOURS!!!<br />

A frantic search ensued for the<br />

Nautilus, Captain Nemo’s 120-year-old<br />

submarine, duly located in a skeletonfilled<br />

cave. Not surprisingly, the ancient<br />

batteries were out of juice. But no<br />

worries, folks! The Rock, resplendent<br />

in a 120-year-old diving suit, lured<br />

a supersized electric eel to the sub.<br />

An epic underwater wrestling match<br />

ensued. Guess who won? After using<br />

the energy of the subdued beast to recharge<br />

the batteries, our valiant heroes<br />

emerged from the sea as the island<br />

slowly disappeared under the waves.<br />

Levi’s dad arrived during this final<br />

scene, impatient to get home. His<br />

suggestion that we finish the movie<br />

another time was greeted by general<br />

hysteria, whereupon he retreated to<br />

his van, leaving us to wallow in the 11<br />

remaining minutes of angst.<br />

After they left, Grandma spent<br />

considerably more than 11 minutes<br />

vacuuming bits of popcorn from the<br />

floor on Levi’s side of the couch. She<br />

then brewed a pot of strong coffee,<br />

raided her secret stash of chocolate,<br />

chose a nice romantic comedy from her<br />

DVD collection, and spent two blissful,<br />

angst-free hours recovering from<br />

bonding with an 11-year-old boy.<br />

flexibility<br />

for<br />

different<br />

learning<br />

styles<br />

optional<br />

hands-on<br />

learning<br />

activities<br />

support<br />

from a<br />

certified<br />

teacher<br />

gentle and<br />

constructive<br />

feedback<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 13


Health &<br />

Wellness<br />

Running Your First 10k<br />

Starting to run can be daunting,<br />

but it’s one of the most rewarding<br />

activities you can do. Not<br />

only that, but it’s low cost and easy to<br />

do anywhere you are. Just lace up your<br />

shoes and head out the door!<br />

When starting any rigorous exercise<br />

its important to consult with your<br />

adapt to the impact of running. One<br />

of the limitations to running is being<br />

prone to injuries or stress on knees and<br />

back, but if a plan is built and followed<br />

correctly, you can alleviate many of<br />

these misconceptions that running is<br />

too hard on the body.<br />

As you start your running journey,<br />

For information and training clinics,<br />

visit frontrunners.ca.<br />

health care provider to ensure you are<br />

clear for exercise.<br />

When taking the next steps to progress<br />

from a walking regime to running,<br />

it’s always best to consult with a coach<br />

or personal trainer to build a program<br />

that suits you. This will help ensure<br />

you follow a program that builds up<br />

slowly and allows the body time to<br />

it’s a good idea to start and finish each<br />

session with a 10-minute brisk walk to<br />

warm up (or cool down) the muscles.<br />

It’s also recommended to do light<br />

stretches after each session to flush<br />

out the muscles and keep them moving<br />

freely. These two simple tasks can<br />

greatly reduce your chance of injury.<br />

As you look to build your running<br />

14 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


program, some things to consider are<br />

starting with a walk and run program.<br />

You should follow a timed walk/run<br />

interval, which allows the body to<br />

build up the strength and adapt to the<br />

muscle strain caused by the increased<br />

impact from running.<br />

The walk portion allows the muscles<br />

to have a short break and recovery<br />

before the next run interval. It is also<br />

a good idea to space out your exercise<br />

days out throughout the week to ensure<br />

you give your body time to rest<br />

and recover before the next session<br />

and to follow a three week build program,<br />

followed by one-week recovery<br />

session.<br />

Starting your journey to running<br />

should be pain free and fun. By following<br />

a few of these suggestions you<br />

should be able develop a passion for<br />

running.<br />

Some other helpful tips are finding<br />

a friend or a group to run with to help<br />

keep you honest and motivated. We<br />

all know how hard it is to get out the<br />

door some days, so having a support<br />

network can really help.<br />

There are many helpful resources<br />

online or with your local specialty<br />

running retailers.<br />

In-Person &<br />

On-Line Options<br />

STAGES<br />

Performing Arts School<br />

since 1980<br />

Come Dance With Us<br />

• Offering classes for Teens & Pre-Teens in Jazz,<br />

Ballet, Lyrical, Tap. Musical Theatre, Acrobatics &<br />

Hip Hop, in a non-competitive atmosphere.<br />

• Not sure which class to take?<br />

- Try a Drop-In: No hassle, No Obligation.<br />

Daytime Pre-School Classes<br />

for the little angels...<br />

STAGES Performing Arts School<br />

#301 1551 Cedar Hill X Rd<br />

Call 250-384-3267 Email us at: stagesdance@shaw.ca<br />

Or visit our website: www.stagesdance.com<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 15


Join us for our<br />

Caregivers Out Loud<br />

podcast!<br />

A space to connect, listen and learn<br />

with other caregivers. You won’t want<br />

to miss these insightful, authentic and<br />

heart-centred conversations with caregivers<br />

that highlight the joys, trials and<br />

self-discoveries that come along with<br />

this rewarding and taxing role.<br />

familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast


Open a door…<br />

to a brighter<br />

future<br />

Online<br />

Art<br />

Auction<br />

May 28 to<br />

June 13,<br />

<strong>2021</strong><br />

A unique opportunity to own an original<br />

artwork and help Habitat for Humanity Victoria<br />

to Open a Door for families, as local artists<br />

imagine a brighter future for us all.<br />

habitatvictoria.com<br />

In support of Habitat Humanity Victoria, presented by Pemberton Holmes


Cooking with<br />

Grandkids<br />

Dinner & Dessert<br />

Most children love helping out in the kitchen, particularly if it involves the<br />

devoted attention of a grandparent. Asking your grandchildren to help<br />

cook a meal not only teaches them lifelong cooking skills, it is a perfect<br />

way to bond and share. Food has always been a source of connection. A way to<br />

share your culture and heritage. And children enjoy the sense of responsibility,<br />

confidence and self-reliance that comes with serving a dinner they helped to<br />

prepare.<br />

When getting children to help with meal prep, figure out a few age-appropriate<br />

tasks:<br />

• Young children can help with measuring and stirring. They like to wash<br />

vegetables and can use a butter knife to slice soft foods like mushrooms.<br />

• Older children are ready to learn new skills. They can slice with small paring<br />

knives, grate cheese, read and follow simple recipes.<br />

Here are two simple recipes that are perfect for children of all ages to help out<br />

with. Older children, ’tweens and teens can even take the lead, with you helping<br />

them instead!<br />

Emillie Parrish writes from Victoria<br />

and Saturna Island. She is the author<br />

of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle blog:<br />

BerriesAndBarnacles.com.<br />

Cinnamon<br />

Cookies<br />

Making cut-out cookies is probably one of<br />

my daughter’s favourite activities. While eating<br />

cookies is nice, she really likes looking<br />

through our collection of cookie cutters and<br />

choosing which shapes to make. After we’ve<br />

rolled out the dough twice, she gets to make<br />

a few free-formed cookie shapes. It’s like<br />

edible playdough.<br />

This cookie dough is strong and reliable.<br />

I’ve added a bit of cinnamon for flavour, but<br />

you could leave them plain and decorate afterwards<br />

instead.<br />

½ cup of white or brown sugar<br />

½ cup of butter, softened<br />

2 eggs<br />

1 tsp vanilla extract<br />

2½ cups of flour<br />

2 tsp ground cinnamon<br />

2 tsp baking powder<br />

¼ tsp salt<br />

1. Cream the butter and sugar together in<br />

a large bowl.<br />

2. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract,<br />

until smooth.<br />

3. Add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder<br />

and salt. Stir to combine. The dough will be a<br />

bit stiff, so knead gently to bring everything<br />

together.<br />

4. Place the dough in a plastic bag and<br />

refrigerate for at least 2 hours before baking.<br />

5. When ready to bake, start by preheating<br />

the oven to 375˚F and grease two cookie<br />

sheets.<br />

6. Divide the dough in half and only work<br />

with half at a time, leaving the other half in<br />

the fridge.<br />

7. Lightly dust the counter and rolling pin<br />

with flour, then roll out the dough until it’s ½<br />

cm thick.<br />

8. Cut out as many cookies as possible and<br />

transfer to the cookie sheets. Place the remaining<br />

dough back in the fridge, then work<br />

with the second ball of dough.<br />

9. After both balls have finished a first<br />

round of cookie cutting, roll both balls out<br />

together for a final round of cookie cutting.<br />

The remaining scraps can be turned into<br />

hand-formed “playdough” cookies. They won’t<br />

be as soft as the cut cookies, but they’ll still<br />

taste good.<br />

10. Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes.<br />

Cool slightly before removing from the cookie<br />

sheets. Store in an air-tight container for up<br />

to a week.<br />

18 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


Stuffed<br />

Quesadillas<br />

Quesadillas are a fun and easy dinner. And<br />

a perfect way to get children helping out in<br />

the kitchen. They can chop vegetables, grate<br />

cheese and put together their own quesadillas.<br />

If you’re only going to make 2 or 3 quesadillas,<br />

then it’s probably easiest to cook them<br />

in a frying pan. Whereas baking quesadillas<br />

allows you to make a whole bunch at once.<br />

If you want to fry the quesadillas instead<br />

of baking, heat a pan on medium, then toast<br />

the quesadillas for 3 to 5 minutes on each<br />

side.<br />

8 large flour tortillas or 16 small corn tortillas<br />

1 can refried beans<br />

1 tin of sliced black olives<br />

1 large red bell pepper<br />

6 spring onions<br />

4 Roma tomatoes<br />

2 avocados<br />

¼ cup cilantro<br />

1 cup grated cheese<br />

Salsa, sour cream and hot sauce for serving.<br />

1. Each quesadilla is prepared individually,<br />

allowing everyone to pick their favourite<br />

ingredients. Start by preheating the oven to<br />

400˚F. Lightly grease two baking sheets with<br />

vegetable oil.<br />

2. Next prepare all of the fillings. Drain the<br />

olives. Chop the red pepper, spring onions<br />

and tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Slice the<br />

avocado. Wash and chop the cilantro. Grate<br />

the cheese.<br />

3. To put together a quesadilla, start by<br />

spreading a layer of refried beans over one<br />

tortilla. Have each person decorate the tortilla<br />

with their choice of fillings. Top with a ¼ cup<br />

of grated cheese, then put a second tortilla<br />

on top.<br />

4. Place the quesadillas on the baking<br />

sheets. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the<br />

oven. Press down on each quesadilla with<br />

a spatula to stick the layers together, then<br />

carefully flip the quesadilla over. Bake for<br />

another 8 minutes, until the cheese is melted<br />

and the tortillas have started to brown.<br />

5. Slice into quarters and serve with salsa<br />

and sour cream.<br />

Calling all nature lovers!<br />

Join the CRD’s<br />

Biodiversity Challenge!<br />

Friday, May 21 - 24, <strong>2021</strong><br />

How many plants, animals and fungi can you find? Join us on May<br />

long weekend and get outside with your family to explore the diversity<br />

of life around us! Enter your observations into the free and simple<br />

iNaturalist app and check out what other people have found too!<br />

Learn more at www.crd.bc.ca/biodiversity<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 19


Road Trip<br />

Close to Home: Comox Valley<br />

The Comox Valley is Vancouver<br />

Island’s adventure destination.<br />

Where else can you ski, scuba<br />

dive, mountain bike and kayak all<br />

in the same day? If festivals are the<br />

kind of fun you are looking for, the<br />

local Comox Valley festivals take<br />

place throughout the year (check for<br />

Nymph Falls Nature Park<br />

(comoxvalleyrd.ca)<br />

Wildwood Interpretive Forest<br />

(comoxvalleyrd.ca)<br />

Royston Seaside Trail<br />

(comoxvalleyrd.ca)<br />

Comox Marina Park<br />

(comox.ca)<br />

For more information on things to<br />

do, what’s happenning, and where<br />

to stay in the Comox Valley, visit<br />

discovercomoxvalley.com.<br />

COVID-19 health order updates), and<br />

celebrate everything from music and<br />

shellfish, to fine art and aviation. The<br />

Comox Valley offers four seasons of<br />

experiences for visitors to enjoy—<br />

when it’s safe to do so. Here is just a<br />

sampling...<br />

Hiking Trails & Parks<br />

Strathcona Provincial Park<br />

(bcparks.ca)<br />

Seal Bay Nature Park<br />

(comoxvalleyrd.ca)<br />

Beaches & Outdoor<br />

Water Activities<br />

Goose Spit Beach<br />

Kye Bay Beach<br />

Saratoga Beach<br />

Miracle Beach Provincial Park<br />

Tours & Activities<br />

• Charter a fishing or sightseeing tour<br />

• Tour local art studios and galleries<br />

• Take a Mount Washington ZipTour<br />

and see 2.3 km of stunning alpineocean<br />

scenery<br />

• Travel 80 million years back in time<br />

by taking fossil tours with the Courtenay<br />

Museum<br />

• Taste your way through the Comox<br />

Valley by taking culinary tours<br />

• Discover Aboriginal heritage and<br />

learn about the K’òmoks First Nation<br />

(komoks.ca)<br />

• Go golfing. Comox Valley has nine<br />

golf courses that is suitable for golfers<br />

of all skill levels.<br />

Local Farmers’ Market,<br />

Food Producers<br />

• Enjoy local produce at the year round<br />

Comox Valley Farmers’ Market<br />

• Buy off-the-boat salmon, tuna, and<br />

halibut at the Fisherman’s Wharf<br />

• Buy fresh food from various food<br />

trucks at Comox Marina Park<br />

• Download the Taste Comox Valley<br />

App for a full list of Farm Stands,<br />

20 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


Food and Beverage Producers and<br />

then you can make your own farm<br />

tour to taste the best of the Comox<br />

Valley<br />

Other Outdoor Highlights<br />

of the Comox Valley:<br />

Comox Valley Disc Golf<br />

Village Park Disc Golf Course. This<br />

is the place to start if you are just beginning<br />

your journey into disc golf.<br />

Completing the vision of the original<br />

builders of this course, the long version<br />

of the tee pads are now available<br />

to play.<br />

Lake Trail Disc Golf Course. This<br />

collaboration between the Lake Trail<br />

School and the CVDGC is still a work<br />

in progress with some additions and<br />

adjustments to come. This course has<br />

been designed as beginner friendly<br />

but accomodates all levels.<br />

Coal Creek Disc Golf Course and Coal<br />

Shoots Disc Golf Course are in Cumberland.<br />

Miracle Beach Mini Golf<br />

Enjoy 18 holes of exciting Mini Golf.<br />

A hole-in-one at the 18th hole wins<br />

you a free Mini-GolfPass. Located just<br />

north of Hamm Rd on the Old Island<br />

Highway, roughly 25 kilometres north<br />

of Courtney.<br />

Quad Bungee Trampoline<br />

Mount Washington High Flying<br />

Adventure<br />

Bounce high into the air with little<br />

effort while you flip in complete safety.<br />

Quad Bungee Trampoline may not<br />

be in operation during the summer<br />

of <strong>2021</strong>, depending upon COVID-19<br />

restrictions.<br />

Rotary Water Park at Lewis Park<br />

The water park is located at Lewis<br />

Park, next to the Lewis Centre parking<br />

lot at 489 Old Island Highway. Other<br />

nearby features include the outdoor<br />

pool, wading pool, and playground<br />

area at Lewis Park. Rotary Water Park<br />

<strong>2021</strong>, may not be in operation depending<br />

upon COVID-19 restrictions.<br />

Outdoor Skateboard Park<br />

The Comox-Courtenay Outdoor<br />

Skateboard Park measures approximately<br />

24,000 square feet, making it<br />

one of the biggest skate parks in B.C.<br />

The bowl is the biggest on Vancouver<br />

Island, varying from 5 to 11 feet in<br />

height with a large hip in the shallow<br />

end, a vert wall and an over-vert<br />

capsule. The site also includes a huge<br />

street area and flow area. Other features<br />

include brick and rock gaps and<br />

various sized ledges, rails and stairs.<br />

Riverside Fit Park<br />

Riverside Fit Park features 16 pieces<br />

of outdoor fitness equipment with 32<br />

individual stations that include equipment<br />

for cardio, upper body and lower<br />

body workouts. This durable equipment<br />

is available year-round for both<br />

informal drop-in use as well as scheduled<br />

classes.<br />

Bear Creek Ranch<br />

Set in the heart of the Black Creek<br />

countryside, Bear Creek Ranch is one<br />

of the best-loved training and trail<br />

riding centres on Vancouver Island.<br />

Whether you’re a casual trail rider or a<br />

professional horse person, Bear Creek<br />

Ranch has something to offer everyone.<br />

Healthy Families, Happy Families<br />

Child, Youth<br />

& Family<br />

Public Health<br />

South Island Health Units<br />

Esquimalt 250-519-5311<br />

Gulf Islands 250-539-3099<br />

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton)<br />

Peninsula 250-544-2400<br />

Saanich 250-519-5100<br />

Saltspring Island 250-538-4880<br />

Sooke 250-519-3487<br />

Victoria 250-388-2200<br />

West Shore 250-519-3490<br />

Central Island Health Units<br />

Duncan 250-709-3050<br />

Ladysmith 250-755-3342<br />

Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878<br />

Nanaimo 250-755-3342<br />

Nanaimo 250-739-5845<br />

Princess Royal<br />

Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242<br />

Port Alberni 250-731-1315<br />

Tofino 250-725-4020<br />

North Island Health Units<br />

Campbell River 250-850-2110<br />

Courtenay 250-331-8520<br />

Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289<br />

‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522<br />

Port Hardy 250-902-6071<br />

islandhealth.ca/our-locations/<br />

health-unit-locations<br />

Changes with BC Medical Services Plan<br />

premiums mean that families eligible for partial<br />

payment of some medical services and access<br />

to some income-based programs now must<br />

apply for Supplementary Benefits through the<br />

Government of BC. Applications can be done<br />

online and take approximately 15 minutes.<br />

Families who previously qualified for MSP<br />

Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply<br />

if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to<br />

confirm coverage before proceeding with<br />

treatment to avoid paying out of pocket.<br />

For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/<br />

content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/<br />

bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 21


Media &<br />

Technology<br />

Developing Digital Literacy<br />

To access the free resources, visit<br />

YouthTeachingAdults.ca/resources.<br />

Youth Teaching Adults is a collaboration<br />

between ABC Life Literacy Canada<br />

and Youth Empowering Parents and<br />

is partly funded by the Government<br />

of Canada through the Digital Literacy<br />

Exchange Program.<br />

With an end date to the pandemic<br />

still not clear, Canadians<br />

are struggling to cope<br />

with physical distancing after a long<br />

winter. With seniors being the most<br />

vulnerable to COVID-19, they are<br />

likely to spend more time distancing<br />

for longer than the rest of the general<br />

population. Sadly, this isolation can<br />

have major repercussions.<br />

A recent study showed that social<br />

disconnection puts older adults at<br />

greater risk of depression and anxiety,<br />

and can even lead to health problems<br />

such as cognitive decline and heart<br />

disease. People with strong social<br />

bonds are 50 per cent less likely to<br />

suffer negative effects from isolation<br />

than those who have fewer social connections.<br />

While technology can be effective<br />

in connecting isolated seniors<br />

with friends and family, access to<br />

technology is still an issue.<br />

According to Stats Canada, in 2016,<br />

68.2 per cent of seniors had access<br />

to the internet, up from just 32.2 per<br />

cent in 2007. While this growth is positive,<br />

30 per cent of the ageing population<br />

still has no access to the internet.<br />

And of those who do have internet,<br />

many don’t have strong enough digital<br />

literacy skills to use videoconferencing<br />

tools that may help to improve<br />

their mental health.<br />

22 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


A national literacy organization is<br />

hoping to change this by improving<br />

the digital literacy skills of adult Canadians.<br />

Through ABC Life Literacy<br />

Canada’s Youth Teaching Adults<br />

program, seniors can access free<br />

downloadable resources on tools that<br />

help people virtually connect with<br />

friends and family. These “lesson<br />

plans” are written in clear language<br />

and formatted as step-by-step guides<br />

for at-home learning, showing adults<br />

how to use Skype, Zoom, Google Duo<br />

and FaceTime in a way that’s easy to<br />

understand.<br />

These lesson plans come at a<br />

much-needed time as many adults,<br />

particularly those in disadvantaged<br />

communities, face isolation.<br />

Video calling platforms can help<br />

support the development of a stronger<br />

sense of connection and maintain<br />

already existing relationships. In one<br />

study, older adults who used video<br />

chat technology such as Skype had<br />

significantly lower risks of depression<br />

than those who did not video chat.<br />

“We know that digital literacy is an<br />

important skill that Canadians need,<br />

especially with 84 per cent of jobs<br />

currently requiring computer and<br />

technical skills,” says Mack Rogers,<br />

executive director of ABC Life Literacy<br />

Canada. “We are pleased to offer<br />

programming to help our Canadian<br />

seniors, who need these skills now<br />

more than ever. Digital literacy plays<br />

a huge role in maintaining social relationships,<br />

and our hope is that seniors<br />

will access these free lesson plans on<br />

our website and equip themselves<br />

with the know-how to use these important<br />

tools.”<br />

While accessing technology can<br />

seem overwhelming, Rogers advises<br />

seniors start out with a small goal to<br />

set themselves up for success.<br />

“Don’t set yourself up for failure<br />

and frustration by wanting to do it<br />

all at once. If you’re just starting out,<br />

set yourself a small achievable goal,<br />

like sending your kids or grandkids<br />

an email,” he says. “If you’re more advanced,<br />

aim to master a new software<br />

program or platform, like InDesign or<br />

WordPress. Depending on your goal<br />

and level of expertise, you can find<br />

resources online or among friends and<br />

family.”<br />

For more advanced users, he cautions<br />

them to not skip over learning<br />

the basics, as it’s important to make<br />

sure you have a solid foundation on<br />

which to build. For example, learning<br />

best practices for staying safe online,<br />

such as never opening an email from<br />

an unknown sender and looking for<br />

secure “https” sites when entering<br />

personal or financial information,<br />

are important for those who will be<br />

spending a lot of time online.<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 23


<strong>GRAND</strong>parenting<br />

10 Ways to Be a<br />

Fabulous Grandparent<br />

Being a knock-your-socks-off<br />

grandma or grandpa is fun,<br />

sure—but it also takes time<br />

and effort. Here’s how to be the best<br />

grandparent you can be.<br />

Instead, turn the equation around and<br />

let your curiosity lead the way.<br />

Ask them about your grandchild’s<br />

likes and dislikes, latest accomplishments,<br />

and funny tricks. Tread lightly<br />

when asking about feeding, health<br />

issues, or sleep habits—you don’t want<br />

to be intrusive. Gentle, nonjudgmental<br />

inquiries show you care and allow<br />

you to support your child through any<br />

challenges.<br />

Melanie Haiken is an award-winning<br />

health and wellness writer and editor.<br />

Reprinted with permission from<br />

babycenter.com. © BabyCenter LLC<br />

Ask rather than answer<br />

As a grandparent, you have years of<br />

parenting experience. You may feel<br />

like an expert and see your child—the<br />

new parent—as needing your guidance.<br />

But in that direction lies disaster.<br />

“Hard as it is, you have to realize<br />

it’s their turn to make parenting decisions.<br />

Grandparents shouldn’t get in<br />

the way,” says family therapist Sharon<br />

O’Neill.<br />

When you offer advice and opinions,<br />

no matter how well-meaning, you<br />

risk making already nervous new parents<br />

feel like you don’t trust them or<br />

respect their judgment, says O’Neill.<br />

Get silly<br />

Grandparenting can mean all the<br />

fun of kids without all the responsibility.<br />

So enjoy it! Get down on the floor<br />

and play with your new grandbaby.<br />

Act out silly scenes with finger puppets,<br />

invent stories, and make faces.<br />

Save up jokes to tell older kids and<br />

watch funny movies together.<br />

Grandmother Sarah Williams made<br />

up a special language with her granddaughters<br />

when they were young,<br />

substituting words so no one else<br />

could understand what they were<br />

talking about. Now that the girls are<br />

older, they’ve started sharing funny<br />

video clips with her on Facebook.<br />

“It’s a hoot. My friends see these<br />

crazy things that Amelia and Lily post<br />

on my page and just laugh,” says Williams.<br />

Beware grandparent rivalry<br />

Avoid the trap of keeping up with<br />

Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josie—this<br />

will only lead to hard feelings.<br />

“It’s inevitable that one set of grandparents<br />

is going to spend more time<br />

with the child than the others, but that<br />

doesn’t mean anything in terms of the<br />

closeness of the relationships,” says<br />

Amy Goyer, multigenerational fam-<br />

24 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


ily expert and author of Things to Do<br />

Now That You’re a Grandparent.<br />

Keep your grandchild’s needs at<br />

the top of your mind. There’s no such<br />

thing as too much love, after all, and<br />

a close relationship with one set of<br />

grandparents doesn’t detract from<br />

your importance—unless you let it.<br />

Be mellow about mess<br />

Let’s face it, kids are messy. You<br />

may have forgotten just how messy!<br />

Your best bet is to plan ahead so you’re<br />

not dismayed by a piece of toast landing<br />

jam-side-down on your white<br />

couch.<br />

It’s fine to designate some areas<br />

as off-limits and make others childfriendly.<br />

Since you don’t want to have<br />

to follow your grandchildren around<br />

with a sponge, set up a kid eating area<br />

where crumbs can fall as they may.<br />

You can use a wipe-clean tablecloth<br />

and even protect rugs with a floor mat.<br />

You’ll want to keep young grandchildren<br />

safe by blocking off dangerous<br />

areas and moving valuables and<br />

potential poisons out of reach.<br />

Do things, don’t just give things<br />

It’s tempting to buy the latest toy or<br />

game and see your grandchild’s face<br />

light up, and that’s fine. But experiences<br />

you share are often far more<br />

meaningful—and will create memories<br />

that last a lifetime.<br />

Document these experiences so they<br />

stay in your grandchildren’s memories.<br />

Even a day of babysitting is worth<br />

commemorating.<br />

Don’t be a burden<br />

Be careful of the common pitfall of<br />

overenthusiastic grandparents: Making<br />

more work for the new parents<br />

rather than less.<br />

Amy Goyer of the American Association<br />

of Retired Persons (AARP) says<br />

she hears from many disappointed<br />

grandparents who wonder why they<br />

don’t receive more invitations to visit<br />

their adult children and grandchildren,<br />

seemingly unaware of how high<br />

their expectations are and how much<br />

effort and work they’re making for<br />

others.<br />

As your grandchildren get older,<br />

think of ways to spend quality time<br />

with them that are helpful to the parents,<br />

not intrusive or requiring a lot<br />

of organization and planning on their<br />

part.<br />

Avoid playing favorites<br />

Fawning over the dimpled baby<br />

while ignoring—or worse, snapping<br />

at—the rambunctious 3-year-old sibling<br />

is a classic grandparent faux pas.<br />

It’s near impossible not to be struck<br />

by the adorableness of whichever<br />

grandchild happens to be in the cutest<br />

stage. But every child will go through<br />

difficult and angelic times, and your<br />

job is to love them either way.<br />

The best way to combat favouritism<br />

is to make sure your visits include<br />

one-on-one time with each grandchild.<br />

Kids tend to be at their best<br />

when removed from sibling competition,<br />

and it’s much easier to get to<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 25


know a shy child if you’re the only one<br />

to talk to.<br />

To make the most of your time<br />

together, tailor your activities to<br />

your grandchild’s interests. Bring a<br />

truck-crazed 4-year-old to a nearby<br />

construction site; take a princessy<br />

6-year-old to tea.<br />

Take the lead<br />

It’s your job to stay in touch with<br />

your grandchild or grandchildren. If<br />

you expect them to do it, you’ll be disappointed<br />

and frustrated.<br />

“It’s age-appropriate for kids to be<br />

thoughtless about staying in touch. If<br />

you want the relationship, you have<br />

to be willing to do the work,” says<br />

O’Neill.<br />

Remember birthdays, of course, but<br />

celebrate other special occasions as<br />

well. Send Valentine’s and Halloween<br />

cards, or host a valentine-making or<br />

costume craft day if you live nearby.<br />

parents. Listen and encourage them<br />

to open up to you as much as possible.<br />

Don’t limit telephone calls to specific<br />

events like birthdays and holidays.<br />

Instead, call throughout the year and<br />

keep it light and fun.<br />

The first day of school, a tryout, a<br />

big game, or a playdate with a new<br />

friend are all reason enough to get on<br />

the phone. Use video calling if you<br />

can—it can be more fun when you can<br />

see each other.<br />

Keep track of your grandchild’s interests,<br />

the names they give new dolls<br />

or stuffed animals, books they’ve been<br />

reading—anything you can ask about<br />

in the next conversation so they know<br />

you’ve been paying attention.<br />

Store and share family memories<br />

The stereotype of the boring grandpa<br />

who’s constantly talking about the<br />

good old days has unfairly made many<br />

older folks afraid to talk about family<br />

Document these and other experiences<br />

with photos and videos so your<br />

grandchild remembers them.<br />

Follow your grandchild’s milestones<br />

closely and ask to be included if possible.<br />

(“He just walked? Can I come<br />

over and see?”) Acknowledge achievements,<br />

from learning to ride a tricycle<br />

to the fifth-grade science fair, and<br />

request demonstrations.<br />

Ask if you can bring artwork home<br />

to put on the fridge. Attend sports<br />

games, plays, and dance performances.<br />

Cheer loudly, bring flowers,<br />

and take everyone out for ice cream<br />

afterward.<br />

“As your grandchild grows up, she<br />

will remember you as the grandparent<br />

who was always there to cheer her on,<br />

and that’s priceless,” says O’Neill. Remember,<br />

this is your chance to do it all<br />

over with just the fun parts.<br />

Be your grandchild’s confidante<br />

You’re an important outlet for your<br />

grandchildren because you offer an<br />

alternative perspective from their<br />

26 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


history, and that’s a loss for everyone.<br />

Instead, be proud of your role as<br />

family historian—you’re providing<br />

important continuity between the<br />

past, present, and the future. Pepper<br />

your stories with humor and adventure<br />

and keep them short and to the<br />

point and the grandchildren will be<br />

hooked.<br />

Talk about your own life but talk<br />

about your adult child’s early years as<br />

well. As your grandchild gets older,<br />

he’ll love hearing funny stories about<br />

his mother or father as a kid – including<br />

scrapes, exploits, and what life<br />

was like back then.<br />

“Think about what you can contribute<br />

from your own culture, history,<br />

and personality—what can you pass<br />

along to the next generation?” says<br />

family therapist Christine Lawlor.<br />

And once the grandkids are doing<br />

history projects for school, watch<br />

out— they’ll want to hear all about<br />

your life “way back when” and what it<br />

was like to live through events they’ve<br />

only read about in books.<br />

Sign up for a<br />

<strong>GRAND</strong> Digital<br />

Subscription<br />

and you could win a selection of children’s books sent to<br />

your grandchild every month (3-month subscription)<br />

courtesy of Marmalade Books.<br />

Every month they will receive recently<br />

published books appropriate to their<br />

age. These books have been curated<br />

by a trusted children’s bookseller.<br />

Marmalade Books is a monthly book<br />

subscription company located in<br />

Victoria for children aged 0–12.<br />

Subscribe now at<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 27


Money &<br />

Finances<br />

The Gift of Giving<br />

Why Give?<br />

There are many reasons.<br />

Yours are unique to you.<br />

Some people view it as an opportunity<br />

to give back in return for a<br />

good life. To thank a community that<br />

helped them succeed.<br />

lives, connects family generations, or<br />

memorializes a loved one.<br />

Whatever your reason, a community<br />

foundation can provide convenient,<br />

cost-effective and impactful giving<br />

options that support your specific values,<br />

interests and intentions.<br />

For more information on how<br />

to build your legacy, visit<br />

victoriafoundation.bc.ca.<br />

Others give to ensure that the<br />

things that they care about are looked<br />

after. To support interests that have<br />

meaning to them such as the arts, the<br />

environment, social programs or education.<br />

Still others give to have an impact<br />

that lasts beyond their lifetime. A<br />

legacy that adds meaning to their<br />

Getting Started<br />

Your gift is as individual as you are.<br />

It reflects your values and hopes for<br />

the community. Community foundations<br />

offer a range of giving options<br />

to help you give with confidence. You<br />

can start your own fund dedicated to<br />

a cause of your choice—or you may<br />

choose to give where the needs are<br />

28 <strong>GRAND</strong> grandmag.ca


greatest. You can give now or give<br />

later through your estate plan. It’s all<br />

about making the most of your wishes<br />

while making our community a better<br />

place. Whether you want to support<br />

an organization in your neighbourhood<br />

or a registered charity anywhere<br />

in Canada, a community foundation<br />

can help you.<br />

Here are some questions to consider<br />

to help get you started.<br />

• Do you want to give now, or do<br />

you want to make a gift later, through<br />

your estate?<br />

• If you prefer to give now, would<br />

you like to be involved in granting<br />

decisions, or would you prefer to have<br />

others decide based on your wishes?<br />

• Would you prefer to give to a specific<br />

charity or charities, or would you<br />

rather have your gift used for the most<br />

pressing needs in the community?<br />

• If you prefer to give to specific<br />

charities, do you know the organizations<br />

and causes you want to give to,<br />

or do you need more information to<br />

help you decide?<br />

Growing Your Fund<br />

Your initial gift does not necessarily<br />

mark the end of the endowment<br />

building process. Many fundholders<br />

continue to contribute to their fund on<br />

a regular basis. Your endowment can<br />

provide a simple way to carry out your<br />

annual charitable donations.<br />

• Contribute to the fund at any time<br />

with gifts of cash or publicly listed<br />

securities.<br />

• Contribute later with a gift by a<br />

Will, a life insurance policy, retirement<br />

plan accumulations, tax free<br />

savings accounts or other property.<br />

• Support the causes that are important<br />

to you through the annual<br />

grants from the fund.<br />

• Create a succession plan to ensure<br />

your wishes continue or rely on<br />

the knowledge and experience of the<br />

Victoria Foundation for future discretionary<br />

grants within specific areas of<br />

interest.<br />

F A M I L Y F U N P E R F O R M E R S<br />

UPSTREAM!<br />

with The Kerplunks<br />

Saturday, May 15, <strong>2021</strong> @ 2:30 pm<br />

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Upstream! with The Kerplunks is a high-energy,<br />

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The Kerplunks’ success has garnered the group<br />

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www.thekerplunks.com<br />

If you can’t tune into the livestream event,<br />

the performance is available online for 48 hrs<br />

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PRESENTED BY<br />

Rick Scott<br />

Family Concert<br />

Sunday, April 18, <strong>2021</strong> @ 2:30 pm<br />

Virtual Livestream Performance<br />

$11.50 per household<br />

BUY TICKETS ONLINE<br />

www.porttheatre.com<br />

OR CALL 250-754-8550<br />

Music and laughter for all ages! Rick Scott and<br />

his dulcimer combine songs, storytelling and<br />

humour in warm-hearted concerts for the whole<br />

family. One of Canada’s most beloved children’s<br />

performers. www.rickscott.ca<br />

If you can’t tune into the livestream event,<br />

the performance is available online for 48 hrs<br />

immediately following the performance.<br />

TheatreOne is generously supported by<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>IV</strong>, <strong>Ed</strong>. I 29

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