Nurse Audrey’s Stress Relief Blog

Hello to all of you who carry the special honor of being grandparents. What a privilege to have the time to positively impact the lives of our grandchildren. Life has flown by and now we are the grandparents of the most lovable and talented grandchildren in the whole world!

Recently I read that the average age of a first time grandparent is 47! Yes, we are the baby boomers and we are “extreme,” but in a good way. We are not satisfied just to be occasional grandparents, but we want to be involved. We want to be hands-on, helping to influence the lives of our grandchildren in a positive way. This is the time when we can do it all over again, without the stress of having to provide the many amenities our own children needed. We will do it right this time!

We realize that times have changed; communication is different, music is different and dressing is different—the entire culture is different. But we want to cross the cultural minefields and give grace as we connect in a real and positive way with our grandchildren. Most of us are no longer embroiled in the daily hassles that accompany the raising of kids, as are their parents. This then gives our grandkids the freedom to express their feelings to an unbiased audience, who are older and wiser, their grandparents.

How can we as grandparents positively influence our grandchildren’s lives?

We can bless our grandkids by building them up with words of affirmation, words that will forever stick in their minds. They need to know that our love does not depend on how smart they are, how strong they are, how they look, or how they perform.  By doing this, we are setting them forth to be conquerors, helping to make sure that they will be successful in life. Simple words, simple gestures and time spent with them in mutually interesting activities will never be forgotten. 

Set a standard

• Sometimes it seems that we live in a valueless world, anything goes as long as we want to do it, and if in our opinion it doesn’t hurt anyone else. However, deciding if it hurts anyone else can be hard to judge. We need to help our grandchildren see the value of respect, forgiveness, admiration, and the spirit of giving even when it is hard to do.

Should you live miles away from your grandkids, there still are some things you can do to bridge the gap.

• In this age of technology, they will probably want to communicate with you by   computer. If you are not yet computer savvy, take the challenge and enter the age of technology; it’s not as hard as you might think!
• Although computers have taken over much of our communication, your grandkids just might enjoy receiving the occasional letter or postcard from the faraway places that you visit. 
• Making a specific time each week to talk with them on the phone is something that they will look forward to.

Grandparents, we do need to remember that there are seasons of our grandkids’ lives when they may seem to draw away from both us and their parents. This is a natural phenomenon, but is the time when it is most important to love and affirm them as they pass through their challenging adolescent years. 

Should you as yet not have been elevated to the status of grandparents, please forward this to those who have!

Parents everywhere will get a much-needed boost from my current CD, Slow Parenting in a Fast Paced World.

Nurse Audrey wishes you Happy Grandparenting!

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I trust that you have enjoyed some well-earned R&R during this past Labor Day and have ceased from your labor for a few days. We all need these breaks throughout the year, as it seems like nowadays there is less and less time in which to do more and more!

As we celebrate this Labor Day how may of us know the history behind it? Here are a few interesting facts to think about:
 
Labor Day holiday is not dedicated to any man, dead or alive, or to any race or sect, but has its history connected to the labor movement in the United States. Since its inception, other countries have jumped on the bandwagon and have taken this day to honor workers. It is the day when we take stock of the achievements and hard work of all men and women in the labor force.

Labor Day was instituted over 100 years ago in the United States on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. Since then, it has been observed on the first Monday of September. Today, there is still some uncertainty as to who first instituted this holiday for workers. Some believe that it was Peter J. McGuire, General Secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Others believe that it was Matthew McGuire, a machinist, not Peter Maguire that founded the holiday.   

While the holiday was first set by Trade Unions as an honor to workers, we today can benefit by having one more day to rest and think about the upcoming fall season. But does a long weekend present enough time for us to rest and rejuvenate before the next one comes, namely Thanksgiving?

Just about the time when things are going smoothly after a long weekend, do we find ourselves getting caught up again in our unhealthy thinking? Do we worry about our finances, become concerned about the future, regret the past, or become overly concerned about our to-do list? All the long weekends in a year are not sufficient enough to restore healthy psychological functioning. We must daily learn to focus our energies on taking control of our lives and overcoming some of the negative thinking that we allow which rob us of our mental well-being.

I invite you to read my newsletter where you will find some strategies that will help you do just that—get back on track!

“Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.”
                                         Unknown, late 1800s

Until next time, Nurse Audrey signing off!