Grampy of the Week-John Lunn -

Have you ever taken those little shampoo/conditioner/lotion bottles from the hotel home with you? I bring them home with me (I figure I’ve paid for them so I might as well!) and I use them for traveling, or if I run out of something. Last week after I got out of the shower I rubbed hair conditioner all over me. Not once, but two days in a row. In fairness to me, even AFTER I put my glasses on I had to strain to read the label. I might have used the whole bottle but I noticed it felt a little sticky. Oh well, my skin needs conditioning too.

Why am I telling you this? To prevent you from doing the same thing, of course!

Now, without further adieu, please welcome my very first Grampy of the Week! John Lunn, who happens to have an awesome blog called Grampy’s Little Acre.

1. What do your grandchildren call you and did you choose your title or did they?

I’m Grampy. I picked it. It’s traditional in New England (among other places). Someone tried to spring pop-pop on me but I wasn’t having any of that. At times the boys have tried nicknames on me but none of them stuck.

2. How many grandchildren do you have and how old are they?
Three boys aged 6, 11 and 13.

3. What is your favorite thing to do with your grandchildren?
For the past 2 years I’ve been raising them so we’re not having as much fun as we used to. It was easier being “plain old Grampy”‘ but now I’m “parent-grampy” and crossing back and forth over the threshold between ‘lets go out and play!’ and ‘eat your peas or there’s no dessert’ isn’t so easy to do. When I wasn’t on this leash we did everything: I taught them to ride bikes, to read and write, we had wild adventures on the local river, imagined our tree fort was a spaceship and a million other things. Just being with them was a treat. I waited between visits like waiting for Christmas.

4. How do you communicate with your grandchildren?
I yell down the stairs, “Get up here for your supper and don’t forget to wash your hands!”

5.What do you wish you could do with them but haven’t gotten to do yet?
I’m longing to watch them find a thing, a special activity or interest that gets under their skin and inspires them. Something I can nurture and coach and help them to build a dream on. The oldest boy is into sports and he gets inspired but doesn’t yet follow through. The middle boy has interests but that ‘Aha!’ moment has not called him.

6. If you could change one thing about the world your grandchildren live in, what would it be and why?
Their mother is a troubled soul and is still fighting drug addiction. She and their father (our son) have caused serious pain and troubles in these boy’s young lives and while they are starting to slowly heal that with their dad, I wish their mom was more capable of cooperating and being consistent. She and her family don’t see things that way so that makes a recovery from their lousy past that much harder.
Of course, I wouldn’t mind if their dad could afford to support them on his own and we could have our house back :0)

7. What traits or characteristics do your grandchildren have that you recognize from their parents?
The middle boy is the spitting image of his mom in looks and expressions (Although many see his dad in him). He’s also hyperactive like his dad. The other two look just like him. These are completely different boys from each other. The oldest is into sports, the eleven year old cross-dresses and thinks he’s gay, and the youngest exhibits OCD tendencies. We have our hands full.

8. What do you like best about being a grandparent?
Returning to the parenting role was not easy. Although it came naturally it created such a shift in our relationships that I’m so far down in the trenches there isn’t much that pleases me about the role I have. It’s all homework, and meals and cleanup and problem solving. They love and respect me very much because of the years we spent together as genuine friends when they were younger. But we can’t go back. They need me now for who I am, not who I was. I am their rock, their home, and in some respects the only one they know deep down they can count on no matter what. It’s because I’m their grandfather that I got to be so many things for them. So I suppose that is the best thing about the job – their trust and love is bone deep.

9. Where do you live and what do you like best about living there?
We live in western New Hampshire. The winters are long (well, not this year), the summers are cool, and the people are deeply invested in their communities. We may get lots of snow but no hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes or life threatening heat. All in all it’s a peaceful place with beautiful mountains and fresh air. The boys were all born here and this land is in their blood.

10. What’s your grandchildren’s favorite foods (please include a recipe!)
Grammo’s famous mac and cheese. It has crunchy crutons on top and squishy, gooey insides. She keeps the recipe a secret so I guess I can’t share it.