GRAND Magazine - September/October 2013 - (Page 12-13)

Congratulations 2013 GRANDparent of the Year Honorees! c hoosing only one winner and nine runners-up from the many deserving nominees for this special honor was truly a labor of love. Reading about these amazing grandparents inspired and moved us. We gratefully applaud all the nominees, sincerely thank those who sent in nominations, and enthusiastically congratulate the winner and runners-up of GRAND Magazine’s 2013 GRANDparent of the Year award! Meet Paula Kaminski: 2013 GRANDparent of the Year! Nominated by Conni DeLego, director of a program for grandparents raising grandchildren in Massachusetts. Conni had these words to say about Paula: “Paula has been in our program since it began seven years ago. She is a powerful example to all grandparents raising grandchildren. Paula is one of the most loving and compassionate women I have ever met. When her addicted son and his girlfriend were incarcerated, she immediately took action to keep her three grandkids in her protection. 12 GRAND september october 2013 The children had been badly traumatized, and the idea of placing them with strangers was not acceptable to Paula. She had to give up her nursing career to care for them and to fight the ensuing battles with the courts, DCF, her family, and everyone who felt she was too old, too poor, too sick, or whatever other invalid excuse to keep her from maintaining custody. Unfortunately, the youngest child was in need of more clinical care and psychological attention than this new family could manage. She was ultimately placed in a more appropriate situation. Despite the heartache it gave Paula, it was the best option for the little one and for her older twin brother and sister. After months of court appearances, unhelpful case workers, misinformation, lack of resources, and letters to state legislators, Paula eventually adopted the children. It’s been over five years now, and David and Mariah are two of the sweetest, smartest, well-adjusted kids you could meet! Paula also helped to get legislation passed to form a paula with grandtwins mariah & David grandparents commission in Massachusetts and to initiate a successful grandparents’ support group. She is humble and devoted. Her kids love her, as do we. This kind of dedication deserves to be recognized.” 2013 GRANDparent of the Year Runners-Up Helen Szima Blevins Christine Gardiner Shirley Graham Loma Knutt Nancy Radecker Queen Ross Traci Scott Louie Tortorelli Barbara Walton Click here to learn about these amazing grandparents. september october 2013 GRAND 13 http://www.grandmagazine.com/news/?p=16536 http://www.grandmagazine.com/news/?p=16536

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2013

GRAND Magazine - September/October 2013
Contents
Congratulations 2013 GRANDparent of the Year Honorees!
Hooray for Grandparents, Ingenuity, and ICE!
GRAND Magazine Best of the Web Awards
Rockin’ the World
Leaving a Legacy
Don Miguel Ruiz: Our Sacred Agreement to Grandchildren
Keepsakes from the Heart
Do Kids Under 5 Get Too Much Screen Time?
Let the Learning Games Begin!
Falling into the Grandma Zone
A Special Grandmother
Ducky Butt, Not Tucky Butt!
GRAND Sponsor: ClearSounds Communications
Terrific Tech Gadgets for the Whole Family
The ABCs of Grandparenting: Who’s Teaching Whom?
Can Bribery Warm a Cold Shoulder?
Keep Your Marriage from Becoming a Casualty of Caregiving
Hidden Treasures

GRAND Magazine - September/October 2013