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Spring and summer get all the press. Autumn and winter are left behind and forgotten. That’s what it can feel like as you advance through the seasons of your life, where yesterday you were the one doing all the living and today you are the one who has lived. Life can feel all the more hemmed in if you are aging alongside any one of a number of common medical conditions such as bladder and bowel issues, hearing and sight loss, and diminishing motor function (click the link for more information about getting long-term disability (LTD) benefits for Parkinson’s disease).
Finding ways to spend quality time with the grandchildren can be difficult. Children need entertainment as fast as the wifi signal can send it, meaning the old-timey go-to pastimes like fishing or needlepoint or baking aren’t going to cut it with a generation that got up today and uploaded three videos to social media before breakfast. So, what is there to do that will keep the little ones entertained for an entire afternoon, without them begging to take at least one selfie before they implode with tech’ withdrawal symptoms?
Exploring Nature
Getting out and about for a walk in nature is a really enjoyable thing for all ages. Everyone, no matter how young or old, will always stop to pay attention to the bees as they buzz from flower to flower or to listen to the music of the birds.
Puling on the wellies and going for a good old stomp about is often seen as something for the children, but really it’s for anyone and everyone – even the most sullen of side-fringed teenagers are likely to smile and make remarks when presented with a chance to go for a walk, grab an ice cream and just being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air. There’s plenty of activites to enjoy together and the National Trust has plenty of ideas for children and families to do.
Shopping and movie theatres
Kids need two things. First, they need new stuff. Second, they need to stay ahead of the curve with pop culture. Only with new stuff and a first hand knowledge of what’s hot can they expect to be considered a valuable human being by their peers – and that’s where grandparents come in.
A new hoodie or a new pair of trainers and a cinema ticket to watch that new film that everyone’s talking about won’t be cheap, so, you can’t expect to pull this kind of treat out of the bag two or three times a week. But once per month is certainly doable and guaranteed to win you a few brownie points.
This plays into giving them what they want while all the time getting to spend weekend days with them, getting to know each other and creating memories. Children may think they want the stuff, but in reality it’s the memories that they really want and need, and the time spent with loved ones. really is what it’s all about.
