megram - Index

megram - 55JulGTA - Index

Truly Great
Great-grandparents
strengthen families
respond,”says Joan.“But otherwise, I keep my mouth shut.
They are the parents now and they are doing a wonderful
job under a lot of pressure.”
Daphne, age 87, has 6 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren
in her extended family. They are spread
across Canada from coast to coast to coast but “Muma”
stays in touch through telephone calls, e-mails, cards, letters
and visits. She makes a point of getting out to
Vancouver at least once a year to see her 5 great-grandchildren
who live there.
“Tradition and finding a place to get together is important,”
says Daphne.“I love having my children, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and other relatives get together
at our cottage at Round Lake.But you have to plan to make
it happen.”
Daphne now has a little trouble picking up a heavy
three-year-old,but she can still play games with them,read
to them and share the wonder of the garden, the lake and
feeding the ducks.
“I genuinely like being around children,”says Daphne.
“And they keep you feeling young.”
Lois feels the same way. Nothing makes her laugh like
the antics of young children.Grandmother to 14 and greatgrandmother
to 20, Lois still remembers every birthday.
She admires the younger generation as parents and loves
the way young fathers are so involved in family life.While
she can no longer babysit her great-grandchildren, she is
July/August 2008 • 79 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
still engaged and interested. Grandma Lois is always the
first stop when family come to the city!
Daphne, Joan, Lois and Antonia all believe that one of
the roles of a great-grandmother is to model and pass on
the values they hold so dear.
“I hope that my great-grandchildren will grow up to
be loving and kind people,” says Daphne.“That they learn
to share and get along. Life is too short for criticism and
quarrelling.”
Daphne, Joan, Lois and Antonia are cherished by their
families.They continue to adjust, and to give and receive,
well into their eighth decade of life.What is their secret of
success?
Joan laughs and says,“Just keep going as long as you
can. Be optimistic and enjoy the next generations.”
“Be a good listener,” says Lois.
“Stay in touch,” says Daphne.
“And remember,” says Antonia,“You are only as old as
you think you are!”
Mary Jane Sterne and Peggy Edwards are the authors of
Intentional Grandparenting:A Boomer’s Guide (McClelland
and Stewart, 2005).The authors live in Ottawa and have
19 grandchildren between them.
What are your chances of
becoming a great-grandparent?
If you are over age 60, it is highly likely that
you are already a grandparent. Due to progress in
longevity over the last 90 years, your chances of
becoming a great-grandparent are high:
• In 1920, the average life expectancy at birth
for Canadian men was 59 years; it was 61
for women.
• In 2008, the average life expectancy at birth
for Canadian men is 78 years; it is 83
for women.
On the other hand, young people are marrying
later and having their children at an older age
than in the past.Today, the majority of first babies
are born to moms in their late 20s and over the
age of 30.