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They feed the kids hot fudge sundaes for dinner. They bounce them on their knees and tell them about what it was like back when they were young. They have photos of the kids from the day they were born through yesterday on the wall. They’re grandparents, and we love to love them.
“Even the non-gift-giving holidays are gift-giving holidays,” said Josie Below, Nana to 8-year-old Victoria and 3-year-old Nathan of Columbus. “The best part is spoiling them and having all the fun, then sending them back to the parents for discipline and things like that.”
Victoria and Nathan spent half of their summer at Nana and Opa’s house in Comfort, Texas, and the other half with Grammie and BobBob in Austin, Texas.
“When the kids are with me they get ice cream and soda every day,” said Julie Cervantes, Grammie to Victoria and Nathan, with a little giggle in her voice.
Victoria and Nathan got to play in the waterfalls, enjoy July 4th fireworks and swimming and went to a Pioneer Town with Grammie and BobBob during the summer. “I taught Nathan how to swim with his floaties, and by the end of the day he was swimming all over the place!” Cervantes said proudly.
The two had fun at Six Flags, playing with the horses and cattle, feeding the fish in the creek and planting flowers with Nana and Opa. “We do something special with them every weekend we have them,” Cervantes said. “There’s never a dull moment, and they’re always saying something cute.”
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LOCAL CELEBRATIONS |
Victoria’s school, Dimon Elementary Magnet Academy, had all the grandparents write letters to the kids about what school was like when they were there. The letters were sent to the school with the kids’ names on them, so the kids were getting mail, which was neat for them. Also, my kids make cards and mail them to their grandparents every year. –Brandi Below |
Parents Brandi and Justin Below realize they are lucky and are appreciative for the extra hands. “We’re enjoying our free summer,” Below said. “It’s really nice to have some help.”
Savannah Dent of Columbus, known to her grandchildren Brianna, Serena and DJ as Granny, has the pleasure of living with 12-year-old Brianna and 11-year-old Serena. Dent describes their family as “old-fashioned.”
“We eat dinner together every night, and no one touches a bite of food without giving thanks,” Dent said. “It’s nice to have instilled thesemanners and values in the girls. As grandparents, we want to be sure the kids know they are individuals but are all connected in the family and they are thankful for the unity and support of a family.”
Dent is teaching Brianna and Serena to cook, and everyone is having a good time with it. “We both cook dinner one night a week and Granny helps,” Serena said.
“It’s so cute to watch them,” Dent said. “I try to stay out of the way, but I find myself saying, ‘add a little of this or that’ from the sidelines.”
Robert Dent Sr., known to his grandkids as Granddaddy, enjoys athletic activities, such as swimming, with the girls. He even coached Serena’s co-ed basketball team. Both Brianna and Serena are black belts in Taekwondo, and Granddaddy took them to their classes every week, multiple times a week.
The Dents also enjoy family movie nights, family game nights and playing cards together.
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LOCAL CELEBRATIONS |
The girls’ elementary school, Cusseta Road Elementary, has an annual celebration for Grandparents Day. All of the grandparents gather in the auditorium, and the kids find them and give them a pin they’ve made for them to wear. Then the kids take the grandparents around the school and show them what they do each day. The grandparents and kids have lunch together and the grandparents read to the kids. –Savannah Dent |
Carolyn Caul, or Ammie as her 2-year-old grandson, Holden, calls her, lives only five minutes from her daughter and son-inlaw, Jessica and Christopher Weber and Holden in Phenix City. “It’s nice because I get to stop by their house on my way home from work,” Caul said.
Holden is excited to see his Ammie and calls for her each time she is around. “Right when I get in the house he pulls me to the window to show me that my truck is parked in the driveway,” Caul said.
Holden’s Pops, Jim Caul, is Holden’s playmate. They have been watching “Bonanza” and eating personal-sized pizzas together since Holden was five months old. “Pops acts like he’s a big 2-year-old, so he can relate to Holden,”Weber joked.
Marsha and Pete Weber, or Mee Mee and Pop Pop, have desert every Sunday night with Jessica, Christopher and Holden. “Holden will go around the table with his mouth open for a bite of everyone’s dessert,”Weber said. “Pop Pop lets him get away with everything and get into some trouble.”
Holden is the only grandchild on the Weber side, so there is no lack of eyes on him—Mee Mee takes Holden for wagon rides and shopping, and Pop Pop takes him for haircuts and swimming.
“Each of the grandparents has pictures of himall over the house. Holden just has so much fun with them,”Weber said.
Grandparents Day falls on September 13 this year. It’s the perfect day to roll up those sleeves, put on your aprons and make a little mess in the kitchen baking a cake with the kids to show Grandma and Grandpa how much they mean to the whole family.
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