Grand Magazine - September/October 2008 - (Page 12)

2008 GRANDparent of the Year full-time, the triangular connection of community requires constant, full, open communication. “I say to the others, if there’s something I need to know about the children, you need to let me know—and vice versa. I’ll share everything right away with you,” Selia says. Because she sees Nathan and Nic in the quiet “afterbath” before bedtime, Selia often learns more about their daily experiences than their mother. “Yvette gets off work at 3:30 and picks up the children from the afterschool daycare center, and the younger children from her mother-inlaw’s house. Then, they all have dinner together as a family. After dinner, Yvette helps them with their homework—but she has to get up very early for work, so then she brings them to our house, about 8. I help them finish their homework, bathe them, get them ready for bed. And then we read out of the Bible. Both boys are at an age where they read well, so they split verses; and we read a whole chapter before they go to bed, and discuss it and try to apply it to their lives. Of course, we pray before every meal; and in the morning, before they go off to school, we pray that they have a successful day and try to do their best. “That’s my role, to teach them spiritually. I will pass away, all money and materialistic things will pass away, but their faith in the Lord will always remain with them. That’s what’s going to help them through life.” Selia is also a believer in the family dinner. “Even if they’ve had dinner before they get here, I always prepare a snack, even if it’s just graham crackers and milk, and we sit down together and laugh and talk. If they seem a little uptight, I ask them, ‘What did you do on the playground? What happened at school today?’ Maybe someone pushed them; now they’re relaxed, they feel safe, they’ll talk about it. I think they open up with me because I share things from when I was a little girl; they listen, they relate to my stories, to my opening up and sharing.” What are the challenges? Selia laughs—she has a quick, hearty, warm laugh—and answers, “Well, their dad is hyper, and so are they! They run all over the house. Nathan builds things; he’s good—Thomas trains and tracks, and Lego ships with radar, very creative.” When Selia’s sister, Bertha, nominated her for the GRANDparent of the Year, she wrote that her sister’s house is full of toys, that everywhere you look you can see that children are the priority in her life. Selia acknowledges this is true. “Books are all over the house, educational toys, Thomas tracks; the living room is full.” The house has changed in other ways, too. “The master bedroom used to be really nice; but to accommodate the children, we had to push our bed to one side and bring in another full bed for them. It’s starting to look like a hotel room!” She laughs again. “I believe the Lord blesses us with grandchildren only to keep us moving. I have osteopenia in my legs—sometimes my legs hurt—but with the kids, I have to keep moving; and when I’m moving, the pain goes away. So instead of sitting, feeling sorry for myself, weekends I’m at the park, going up on the slides, coming down, chasing them around, bike riding.” We asked, “When do you rest?” “At work. During my lunch hour. I make sure the first 15 or 20 minutes, I eat; and then I take a 40-minute nap.” “Wow,” we said, “the hospital has a quiet, private room for sleeping! How wonderful.” Selia laughed one more time. “No. I sit on a chair and close my eyes.” G 12 GRAND SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2008 Runners-up nominated by his granddaughter, Gabby nero, age 11, who wrote: “My Grandpa is simply the best. He retired and moved from the state where he had spent his whole life, and he used most of his retirement money to help my mom start a business so she could make a better life for us. He’s always there with a hammer or a hug—whatever is needed. Any holiday is an excuse for him to invite anybody who doesn’t have a home or family to come to our house. Grandpa does everything he can to make sure we feel safe and loved. He’s simply the best!” Frank nicosia, Fort Worth, Texas nominated by her daughter, stacy conroy, who wrote: “My son, Justin, who is 4 1/2, was diagnosed with mosaic Down syndrome when he was 2. My mom was there to give me support from day one. Justin doesn’t talk, but he loves when my mom sings him songs that he can dance to, count on his fingers, and act out. He loves to give his Grandma “yum-yum” kisses, as she calls them, and he tries to imitate the sound she makes when he gives her the kisses. Justin and Grandma love to listen to stories together on the computer. They are the best of friends.” carole UnGer, Patterson, new Jersey nominated by their granddaughter, kelsi Fowler, 10, who wrote: “My grandparents are always there for me. They give me all the things I need. My Grandma encourages me to read; we both love reading. She always brags about me—so now, I’m bragging about her! My Grandpa has been handicapped for 25 years, but he doesn’t ever give up. He’s playful and active, and comes to all my sporting events. He is special in my heart.” (continued on page 15) JUne and Gary Taylor, Ukiah, california

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grand Magazine - September/October 2008

Grand Magazine- September/October 2008 Grand View:�Priceless Contents Isn't it Grand?: Picture Perfect Winners!: GRANDparent of the Year Grand Central Toddler Town:�Grand-proofing Ask Grand:�Two Tired Tips on Teens: The Bar Mitzvah Trips Just So We Know:�BPA Not Our BFF Full House-Full Heart-Full Time:�Confessions of a Backyard Grand Grandbloggers: It Takes a Village Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Family + Food = Fun On the Cover: Nora Roberts A Fine Romance Everything Was Fine Until You Showed Up Happy Big Sister Day Looking Grand:�Elementary, My Dear All in the Family:�Pasta, Present and Future Reunions:�Doubleheader Inspirations:�Grandpa's Violin Grand Bazaar More to the Story Grand Finale:�Long Ago Under the Sun

Grand Magazine - September/October 2008

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