GRAND Magazine Vol V Ed V

Vol. V, Ed. V
GRAND
grandmag.ca
Sunday ‘Crafternoon’
Setting Up a Meal Train
Smart grandmag.ca Kids & Smart Phones
Connecting
with Teenage
Vol. V, Ed. V 1
Grandkids

Technology
Smart Kids & Smart Phones
come to realize (albeit grudgingly) how
valuable cellphones can actually be in
terms of providing quality learning experiences—supervised,
of course.
Years ago, I made the decision to cancel
my landline, so my cellphone is my only
method of contacting someone. Out of necessity,
therefore, I have had to teach my
Susan Gnucci is a local author and a
proud “nonna” to two young grandsons.
She enjoys sharing her experiences as
a grandparent.
My children were probably the last
generation to be raised without
cellphones, so I must admit, I had
absolutely no experience with them as a
parent. In fact, I actually held off buying
one for myself for a long time.
By nature, I tend to resist change,
especially technological change that always
seems so daunting, but eventually,
I did purchase a cellphone when my first
grandchild was born. With his birth, I
felt it was more important than ever to be
able to keep in close touch with my son
and daughter-in-law. Now I can’t imagine
my life without one.
I still have reservations about cellphones,
especially when it comes to
teenagers. As a former teacher, I can
only imagine the issues that arise in the
schools and classrooms with respect to
cellphone usage. When it comes to my
7-year-old grandson, however, I have
grandson how to access the cellphone keypad
in the event of an emergency in which
he would have to call 911. We routinely
practice all the steps involved in calling
for help and I always keep my cellphone in
the same location in my home so he knows
exactly where to find it. This experience
has given him a sense of pride that he
is entrusted with such an important job
and it has led to interesting discussions
between us about the different emergency
services in our community.
My grandson also knows how to access
the text function on my phone in case
2 GRAND grandmag.ca

he wants to send his father or mother a
message while he is away from them. We
have had great fun inserting emojis and
gifs into creative messages that convey
his own unique personality so my son
and daughter-in-law know my grandson
is the sender. If they receive a text
that has oodles of cars and truck emojis
tacked on the end, they can be certain it’s
from him!
One of my grandson’s favourite games
is “Ask the phone a question.” Using the
microphone, he will pose a question and
then we will research the suggested results.
Where is the largest volcano? Who
built the pyramids? What is a fire break?
This not only broadens his knowledge
base but also teaches him to think critically
because I often point out the validity
of a source as we look through it.
Amazingly, the camera function on a
smartphone these days is capable of producing
good quality photos and videos.
Like most children, my young grandson
loves to be videotaped—he pretends to be
a weatherman, a firefighter, an explorer
etc. And then, of course, he enjoys watching
the videos we’ve created together. We
have also experimented with the slowmotion
video function to produce some
hilarious results. Or we will film his hot
wheel car jump in slow motion, leading
to modifications of the set up in order to
achieve desired results.
He often asks for my phone to take his
own photos and videos. He might set up
a detailed Lego scene for instance which
he will then videotape and narrate a tour
through. Admittedly, his first few attempts
shot more footage of the wall or
the floor, but he has gradually gotten the
hang of it, understanding how to hold the
phone to get the best results, even zooming
in on details of his subject. I have also
shown him the editing functions for photos,
so we have played with things like
brightness, tint, shadow effects, etc. We
often discuss which effect we like best
and how these effects change the mood or
message of the photo.
So although I still have reservations
about children and cellphones in general,
I have come to recognize their
value when their use is controlled and
supervised. They have taught me to embrace
new technologies rather than fear
them—yes, you can teach an old dog new
tricks!—and to look for positive ways to
share that technology with the next generation
in order to stay connected.
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grandmag.ca Vol. V, Ed. V 3

Eat
Setting Up a Meal Train
Emillie Parrish loves having adventures
with her two busy children. You can find
more of her recipes in her recently released
cookbook Fermenting Made Simple.
fermentingforfoodies.com
A
meal train is when a group of family
members and friends work
together to deliver meals to someone
who is going through a major life
change. While some of these occasions
are happy, like the birth of a new baby,
it is often set up to assist in sad and
stressful periods.
The general idea is to have a calendar
where everyone chooses a date to drop
off a meal. That way the person or family
in need is well fed while they cope
with their transition.
Meal trains can be organized via
group emails or texts. Setting up a
google spreadsheet that can be shared
around is a simple way to organize a
meal train. There are also apps and services
that can be used for coordination,
for example, mealtrain.com and takethemameal.com.
Even if you aren’t up for coordinating
a meal train, it’s always nice to drop off
a healthy meal to someone who could
use a bit of a hand.
Here are a few tips if you’re planning
on dropping off a meal to someone:
• Use containers that you don’t need
to get back.
• Date the food, because they might
not remember when it was dropped off.
• Provide reheating instructions.
• Ask about dietary restrictions in
advance.
Here are three healthy meals that
are perfect for sharing. They are rich,
warm, and filling. Food that will comfort
and nourish. Make a double-batch
so you can enjoy it as well!
Rich Vegetable
Noodle Soup
This noodle soup is a simple and comforting
dish. It’s the sort of soup that
tastes better the next day, making it
perfect for a meal train.
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 large potatoes, cut into bite-sized
cubes
3 leeks, chopped, white and light green
parts
3 large carrots, diced
1 1 ⁄2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 quarts stock
1 can of tomato paste (156 mL)
1 pinch of saffron threads
1 ⁄2 lb. green beans, ends removed and
cut in half
8 ounces soup pasta or spaghetti, broken
in pieces
1 jar of pesto (200g)
1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup
pot, add the onions, and saute over low
heat for 5 minutes.
2. Add the leeks, potatoes, carrots,
salt, and pepper and saute over medium
heat for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the stock, stir in the tomato
paste, and saffron. Bring to a boil, reduce
the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Add the green beans and pasta and
simmer until the pasta is cooked, about
10 minutes.
5. Serve the soup with a dollop of
pesto in each bowl.
Slow Cooker Kale
& Sausage Stew
This is comfort food at its best! This
sausage stew features a tomato and
mashed potato base that is absolutely
delicious.
1 pound Italian sausage, cut into bitesized
pieces
1 large onion, chopped
1 large-sized can diced tomatoes (28 oz)
2 garlic cloves, finely diced
1 cup of water
3 ⁄4 tsp each salt and pepper, to taste
4 GRAND grandmag.ca

2 large-sized mashing potatoes, peeled
1 small bunch of kale, stems discarded
and leaves torn
Mashed Potatoes
1 ⁄2 cup of milk
1 ⁄2 cup of olive oil, plus more for serving
1 ⁄2 tsp each of salt and pepper
1. Mix the sausage, onion, tomatoes,
and garlic in a slow cooker. Pour in the
water and add the salt and pepper. Push
the potatoes into the liquid so they are
mostly covered.
2. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, or 3 to
4 hours on high, until the potatoes are
fork tender.
3. Remove the potatoes from the slow
cooker. Add the kale to the slow cooker.
Stir and allow it to cook while mashing
the potatoes.
4. Mash the potatoes with the milk,
olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir back into
the stew and serve.
Mediterranean
Quinoa Salad
While casseroles, soups, and stews are
the mainstay of meal trains, sometimes
a fresh salad is just the thing. This
quinoa salad is packed with vegetables
and flavour for a bright dish that will
taste good for several days in the fridge.
Tomatoes and cucumbers are both delicious
additions to this salad, however,
they taste best when served right away.
So stick with the carrot and pepper if
you’re giving the dish to someone else.
1 cup of dried quinoa
2 cups of water
Salad dressing
1 ⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt and pepper, to taste
1 clove of minced garlic (optional)
Toppings
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 red pepper, chopped
2 carrots, grated
1 ⁄3 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 diced spring onions
1 ⁄4 cup dried cranberries
1 ⁄2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1. Place the quinoa and water in a
small pot. Bring to a boil and simmer
until the quinoa is cooked but not soft,
about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk together all the
dressing ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Once the quinoa has finished
cooking, gently toss it in the salad
dressing. Allow it to cool before adding
the toppings. Taste, and adjust the salt
as necessary.
4. After the quinoa has cooled, stir
in the chickpeas, red pepper, carrot,
parsley, and spring onions. Mix well.
5. Top with the cranberries and
crumbled feta and serve.
grandmag.ca Vol. V, Ed. V 5

Grandparenting
Connecting with
Teenage Grandkids
My boys are incredibly blessed to have grandparents who work hard to nurture
a trusting, playful connection with them. Who better to offer advice on
how to connect with teenage grandkids than two grandparents who make
enormous efforts to play an active role in their grandkids’ lives?
My parents live in our city for only two to three months out of the year, which
means they need to consider how to remain present in our lives whether they are
five minutes or five thousand miles away. Experiencing both ends of the spectrum
provides my parents with the added advantage of being able to speak to grandparents
who may be geographically close and can partake in daily activities, and those
who may live further away and wish to remain connected without the privilege of
being physically present.
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WORDS OF ADVICE FROM MIKE AND LINDA (AKA PAPA AND NANA)...
Know what’s important to your grandkids. We make an effort to be a part of activities
which are important to the boys—school, hobbies, sports, friends. Whenever
possible, we show up to their special events but when that’s not feasible, we call
or FaceTime because we want to hear all about it. Be sure to ask lots of questions
and encourage conversation. Show your interest!
Create opportunities to have fun as a family. If you live in the same city, this may
be a family picnic in the park, a Sunday night barbeque, family movie nights or
game nights. If you live in a different city, invite your grandchildren to stay with
you for a long weekend or an extended period over summer break. (Inviting just
the kids without their parents is an excellent way to foster bonding time.) And,
when they come to visit, plan exciting experiences you can share together.
Encourage projects together. In the past, we have helped our older grandson build
a display wall of skateboards in his bedroom. Last summer, we helped the younger
one fashion his own fishing rod. We ask them to cook with us, and we learn new
skills together such as wakesurfing. They help us around the yard or with household
building projects. When we are working towards a common goal, we share
6 GRAND grandmag.ca

failures, successes, and lots of laughter. As grandparents, we
are modelling that we are still learning too. We love to hear
their suggestions and ideas when problems inevitably arise.
We want our grandkids to know we think they are smart and
innovative (and they can learn a lot from us, too).
If you don’t live near your grandchildren, perhaps you can
all take an online course together, watch the same Netflix
show, or help them with their homework over FaceTime.
Let your grandkids know how much you enjoy their company.
We tell our boys they can talk to us about anything—
YouTube, friendships, alcohol, sports, love. We try to be
non-judgmental and create a safe space for them to share.
They can come to us for advice or support even in times when
it’s hard for them to talk with their parents. We appreciate
them as teenagers and love who they are trying to become.
Offer to drive them places. While this seems simple, the best
conversations often happen in the car! It’s also a fantastic opportunity
to get to know their friends, if they come along for
the ride. We often offer to stop for a slice of pizza or a Starbucks,
as this creates more shared time together.
WORDS FROM MY BOYS…
Jackson (aged 16): It’s easy to talk to Nana and Papa because
they take an interest in me. I can talk to Nana about fitness
and Papa loves soccer. Papa is one of my best friends. I talk to
him almost every day. If you don’t share an interest with your
grandkids, you can try to learn a little. Maybe watch a You-
Tube video or watch their favourite TV show. That way you
have something to ask them about.
My grandparents are cool people. They have lots of interesting
friends and they have cool experiences, so I like to ask them
about what’s going on in their lives. They tell great stories and I
like talking to them.
They’re also really fun. They invite me to do cool things with
them, like go on the boat, play soccer-golf or go quadding. I like
hanging out with them.
Chase (aged 13): I know Nana and Papa care about me because
they call regularly. They know my friends’ names and they ask
about them. They know my interests. Nana asks what I’m reading,
and Papa asks about soccer. They’re also fun to be around.
They laugh and smile a lot. I like that.
Connecting with teens isn’t always easy. They can be moody,
unpredictable, and hormonal. The world they live in is very
different from when you were their age, and this may be challenging
to relate to at times. Despite their occasional standoffish-ness,
teens want what everyone else wants: to be seen,
heard and loved. So push through your grandchildren’s prickly
demeanor to show them how much you value and enjoy their
company. When grandparents and teens connect, it brings joy
and vitality to all!
Kelly Cleeve is a best-selling author and an
educator. More importantly, she is the proud
parent of two amazing sons. Visit kellycleeve.
com or follow her on Instagram
@resilient_kel and Facebook – Raising
Resilient Children/Radiant and Resilient.
Where there’s a Will,
there’s a way…
A gift in your Will
is a promise today
of care for tomorrow.
To learn how you can support the future
health of Island children, contact
legacy@islandkidsfirst.com
or scan
Island kid Ephraim
Champions for the health of every Island family since 1926.
grandmag.ca Vol. V, Ed. V 7

Grandparenting
Sunday Crafternoon
It’s a blustery West Coast afternoon, but
my three oldest grandchildren and I
aren’t worried about the weather. We’re
warm and snug inside, rolling up our
sleeves in preparation for a few hours
of creative adventure. I’ve supplied the
large table and the craft supplies; they’ve
brought the unfettered enthusiasm and
sky-high imaginations of four-, five- and
seven-year-olds.
The rules are simple: be kind, be safe
and have fun! There are no other expectations
for our afternoon together. I don’t
know how long my grandkids will remain
engaged in this activity, and I have
no preconceived ideas about what our
crafting will produce. We are freestyling,
operating without instructions, plans, or
even Pinterest pictures to guide us. Our
craft materials are our only source of
inspiration.
The craft supplies themselves are rudimentary.
We have three pairs of scissors
of various sizes, rolls of scotch and masking
tape, washable markers, crayons
and sheets of coloured paper. But most
important, we have a laundry hamper
overflowing with materials otherwise
destined for the recycling bin: cardboard
boxes and tubes, plastic lids and containers,
cards and flyers and other miscellaneous
paper goods. In other words, a
creative treasure trove!
Seven-year-old Kieran takes the lead.
He wants to make a model replica of
Ladysmith, our mutual hometown. I
suggest that we might not be able to construct
the entire town in one afternoon,
but we can certainly start with our favourite
buildings. Kieran immediately gets
underway on a very impressive version
of Ladysmith’s post office. His younger
sister Dahlia and cousin Rhea are game to
contribute to the town as well, but need
a little help constructing their buildings.
In four-year-old Rhea’s case, a box
turned inside-out makes an excellent
Aggie Hall—with the addition of a sloped
roof of course. Five-year-old Dahlia has
her heart set on making a “baby house,”
which she decorates with a door, a window
and a pipe cleaner balloon.
While Kieran continues work on the
post office, I contribute a few more buildings
for my granddaughters to decorate:
two six-story apartment complexes
(inspired by the size and shape of the
boxes in our stash, rather than any actual
Ladysmith structures) and a very basic
model of our local grocery store. To jazz
up the grocery store, we turn its roof into
a park. Kieran supplies the bench, water
slide and pool.
It’s hard work building a town from
scratch, and after an hour and a half my
three builders let me know they’re ready
for a tea break. Assuming their interest
is waning, I begin to tidy up our surplus
materials. But no—they aren’t quite finished
after all! Fortified by licorice tea
and homemade applesauce, they’re ready
for their second shift. Again, Kieran leads
the way, suggesting a quick trip outside
to hunt for sticks to turn into trees.
The second shift goes as smoothly as
the first. Kieran adds a tree-house platform
to his stick-tree, and then moves
on to building a church complete with
a steeple and pipe cleaner cross. Dahlia
and Rhea turn their attention to colouring
and cutting out decorations for their
original structures.
Finally, the moment we’ve been working
toward arrives. We position our
structures and trees on a larger sheet of
cardboard, and just like that our little
town is complete. Well, almost complete.
“We need people!” says Kieran. He’s
right, of course. Happily, we have a bag
of Lego people nearby, just waiting to
populate our new community.
My twin daughters arrive to collect
their children three hours after they
dropped them off—and find them still
engrossed in their cardboard town. By
any measure, our first “crafternoon”
together has been a success. Since I had
almost as much fun as my grandkids, I
assure them it won’t be our last.
Crafternoon Tips:
If a completely open-ended crafternoon
seems a little daunting, the internet
is full of great ideas to get your creative
wheels turning. That said, with the right
materials at their disposal, your grandchildren
might surprise and delight you
with their own original ideas.
Beyond the basics like scissors, glue,
tape, paint, markers and/or crayons,
some of the best crafting materials are
the ones you rescue from your recycling
bin or wastebasket. Keep a box or two
for potential materials: cardboard boxes
of various sizes, paper tubes, interesting
plastic packaging, greeting cards, scrap
fabric, extra buttons, etc.!
Finally, experience has taught me that
any activity goes better when I check
my expectations and follow my grandchildren’s
lead as much as possible. Set
parameters for the essentials like safety
and healthy behaviour, of course, but
do your best to surrender the rest. You
never know where your grandchildren’s
creativity will take you, but it’s sure to be
interesting!
Rachel Dunstan Muller is a
children’s author, storyteller,
podcaster and grandmother.
You can find her podcasts
Hintertales: Stories from the
Margins of History and Sticks
and Stones and Stories
through her website at
racheldunstanmuller.com.
8 GRAND grandmag.ca

Central Saanich, BC North Saanich, BC North Saanich, BC
every donation
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Saanich, BC
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A legacy gift to Habitat for Humanity Victoria
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By including us in your will or estate plan, you
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visit habitatvictoria.com/donate
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email giving@habitatvictoria.com
phone 250-480-7688 ext 102
grandmag.ca
Vol. V, Ed. V 9

Gone are the days of rocking chairs and
recliners. Today’s grandparents are more
likely to be rock climbing or going for a run
than they are to be rocking or reclining.
Vol. V, Ed. V
GRAND
grandmag.ca
Sunday ‘Crafternoon’
Setting Up a Meal Train
Smart Kids & Smart Phones
Jim Schneider Publisher
publisher@islandparent.ca
Sue Fast Editor
editor@islandparent.ca
Kristine Wickheim Account Manager
kristine@islandparent.ca
RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager
raeleigh@islandparent.ca
GRAND, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a digital
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 publisher.
518 Caselton Place, Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5
250-388-6905 grandmag.ca
A proud member of
Connecting
with Teenage
Grandkids
BC
We’re an active and diverse group—an engaged,
evolving and powerful force. We’re
mentors, nurturers, keepers of secrets.
We’re caregivers, child care providers,
dessert-before-dinner defenders. We’re
historians, spiritual guides and the holders
of family stories.
GRAND celebrates who you are as a grandparent
and who you are as an individual.
You love spending time with your grandchildren
and you’re happy in your other
roles: at work, in the community and on
your own. GRAND acknowledges that you
are not “one or the other”—an “either/or”
version of yourself—you are many different
things to many different people. And to
yourself.
With an Island perspective that speaks
to an international readership, GRAND is
the source for on-the-go grandparents of
up-to-the-minute and thought-provoking
information and ideas—on everything from
having fun, staying fit and things to do to
travel, leisure, health and technology. Think
of GRAND as a trusted friend who happily
shares those “senior moments” (in the
best sense of the words!) and keeps you
informed and connected to the issues and
ideas that really matter. After reading an
issue of GRAND, you should feel inspired,
up-to-date and informed.
We’re here for you: from helping you
figure out where you fit in to tackling your
most perplexing questions, sharing your
greatest discoveries and celebrating your
deepest joys.
GRAND features articles on topics ranging
from the importance of storytelling,
cooking with your grandkids and community
superheroes, to photographing your
grandkids, gift-giving and grandparenting
from afar. There are ideas and inspiration
to help keep you in-the-know and connected,
there’s a guide to investing in your
grandchildren’s future and there’s tech
support that will help you face your fears
and embrace the cloud.
GRAND is as diverse and engaged as you
are. Together, we’re a powerful and positive
force—in our grandchildren’s lives and
in our communities.
10 GRAND grandmag.ca

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Vol. V, Ed. V 11