A fun craft idea to do with the kids/grandkids as summer ends and those kids return to school!

Here is another fairly easy craft to do that takes advantage of your kids' creativity and imagination. The items needed (besides art supplies) are your cell phone camera and a printer. 

You'll need to ask them to name all the jobs they'd like to have when they grow up. Or take advantage of the pretend time and your observations of that time--what are they always pretending they want to be? My grandson LOVES dinosaurs, so I was pretty sure he'd want to be a paleontologist or a dinosaur hunter. He also loves sharks, so I knew he would be up for a "pretend" encounter with sharks. We brainstormed some other ideas and then we were set to go!

Take some fun photos!

We got his boogie board and pretended it was a surf board. We tried to make it an action shot, like he was actually on the water. Then we printed that picture out, cut it out, and glued it on the drawing paper. He then filled in all the details of surf and sea and those dreaded sharks.

We did the same with some poses of him pretending to hunt dinosaurs. We had the photo of him in an astronaut's suit that we had made at the museum last year, so we just went with that. He still had to draw the rocket, moonscape, and the view of Earth, the "Big Blue Marble."

Another variation of this theme:

An added idea is to take a portrait shot of your child or grandchild. Then just use this headshot. Enlarge it quite a bit. Glue that on the art paper, and then your child has to create a headpiece around it. Again, we brainstormed: Indian chief, Roman gladiator, king, or action hero.

Just have FUN! And let your imaginations run wild!

His grandfather and I actually participated in this last assignment. His poppa took his headshot and became a native American chieftain. I drew Cleopatra's wig, headpiece and jewelry around my headshot. We had a laughing good time!

I know many of you are not having close contact with your grandchildren at this time because of Covid-19. And many of you do not live in the same town as your grands. Simply send them an art box with details for this project. How fun to mail them an art box as a fun summertime surprise. Include crayons, paints and craft paper. It can still happen. And then when everyone finishes their masterpieces, you can share on FaceTime. 

As my sister always says, "Life is what you make it!" Life with your kids and grandkids should be fun--even during a pandemic!

One way to deal with stress--A BRAIN DUMP!

I've had this idea for a blog for a while. Originally it was before the pandemic, when we were so busy with life and a myriad of activities. Then Covid-19 hit, and we were sheltering-in-place, and I thought I didn't need to write such a blog--we weren't going anywhere. But of late, I've realized that during this pandemic, our stress levels have heightened. Probably more than ever, people need some tips on how to deal with all this. So I've decided to proceed. . . 

One way to deal with this time is a "Brain Dump." It's basically what it sounds like--just pour out your thoughts and worries in your journal or on a piece of paper. The seed of this idea started with a gal I taught with years ago. She taught fifth grade, and when her students would come in the classroom stewing over something that happened either last night or during their morning, she would encourage them to write it down on a piece of paper. She called them, "Stinkin' Thinkin' Thoughts." After they had written what was bothering them, she asked them to wad them up and throw them in the wastebasket. Actually she might have even had a basket specifically for this purpose with the label, "Stinkin' Thinkin' Thoughts".

Another way to deal? A "Brain Dump" worksheet!

My friend simply had her students throw the paper away, but another way to do it, is write down all those things that are bothering you, or else all those "to-do" items that are nagging at you. Write it all down and take a look at your list. Are there some items that you can deal with? Make a plan for them. Are there some things simply out of your control? Put them in your prayer box or journal, and leave them to God, and get on with your life. 

And as always happens when I'm researching ways to deal with stress and those thoughts that are racing through one's mind, I discovered a technique called a brain dump worksheet.  There are tons of articles on line about this, and lots of examples of brain dump worksheets. I'll give you some links at the end of this blog. But I've also included my own worksheet above. 

​This way, you can organize those chores, worries, and concerns in an organized manner and make a plan to deal with them. What could be better?

Find a cozy spot for writing.

I like my little recliner in my den. I keep my ink gel pens at the ready and my basket of journals. You can tuck your brain-dump worksheet in your journal so it's always handy. Writing your thoughts down in a comfortable retreat is all a part of bringing down your stress level. Add some easy listening music from Pandora and you're set. 

If I'm really trying to be serious about my organization, I might sit at my dining room table. That spot (at the dining room table) has been a favorite since I was a kid, and sat at my mother's table to do homework. I like my dining table as it affords me a view of our front flower garden. Sorry that the morning sun was streaming through that window today. You can't see the flowers in this photo. Oh well, another blog perhaps. :)

One more item to share!

Again, as always happens, I saw an item this week in the Houston Chronicle from one of my favorite columns by Marci Sharif. I'll include a link to her column, "Feeling Matters," at the end of this blog. One of her tips for dealing with an item on that nagging to-do list is to "JUST DO IT." That can clear up a lot of stress in your life and calm your racing mind if you'll simply get it done!

Here's what she said in her column this week mostly addressed to busy moms (But hey! We grandmothers are busy too! And for sure we have stress.) If this doesn't inspire you to get a handle on stress and those racing thoughts in your head, I don't know what will: "If you tend to carry a lot in your mind or do multiple things at once, you're probably used to feeling stressed and overwhelmed. It's exhausting, I know. This way of operating is a recipe for being less effective all around. It eats away at spontaneity, creativity, and availability to the people around us... So, I've done some reflection and research."

Ms. Sharif goes on to say that she wanted to know the best ways to clear out mental clutter. "I'm less interested in tips like meditation, and getting more sleep and minding my diet. These are good pieces of advice, but I've yearned for practical strategies on how to orient and and action steps for a clearer head." You've got to read her article. Here's the link: 

​www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/renew-houston/wellness/article/Feeling-Matters-Tips-for-a-clear-head-15420699.php

​

​famleeoffour.com/organized-working-mom-brain-dump/

Go forth and conquer those racing thoughts in your head. These are trying times what with the pandemic and political unrest. We all need some tips on how to deal. Hope this blog has helped.

I'll close with a quote from George Burns:

"If you ask what is the single most important key for longevity, I'd have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it."

Hello! I've been gone a while!! No, I didn't have Covid-19, but I did homeschool my grandson when the schools closed. That kept me really busy. Besides, during this difficult time, I didn't think my readers would want to read a blog about. . . Fun with Gramma. We had other things on our mind, didn't we?

How about some summer crafts with the grands? I would often do arts and crafts with my grandson during homeschooling. Makes the day go faster, and hey! Who doesn't like art? Seriously, as we all know creative arts and music are just as important as the core subjects, often enhancing those subjects. I visited other blogs and good ol' Pinterest to find ideas. Today I share some of them with you that you might do them with your grandkids when they visit. And if your grandkids are not in town, or still not visiting because of the coronavirus, put some art supplies in a box and mail to them. You can tell them about it during phone calls and FaceTime. Do whatever you can to have some share time with your beloved grandkids or great-grandkids.

I picked out these art and craft activities as they mostly just involve markers and color books or drawing paper. Things you probably have on hand when they visit.

​Now that most of the states are open again, perhaps you can visit a craft store to get any other supplies you might need.

​Can't get into the public swimming pools or the parks? All the more reason to do some crafts at home. Kids need to have some fun this summer. Arts and crafts with parents or grandparents seem the way to go. So let's get started.

Yes, the old standby--tracing the child's hand and coloring. I saw this on Pinterest. Have them trace their hands in black marker on one page of those design color books. And then all they have to do is color within the black line. Fun for the kids and a very striking piece to put on your refrigerator or their parents' refrigerator. We just put on some favorite songs, relaxed, and colored away. Very nice activity for a hot summer afternoon when they can't go outside anyway.

Another super easy one! Just trace the shape several times on the paper being sure to overlap the shapes. Then color with markers, crayons or colored pencils. Another project that turned out so pretty.

We just gathered up cookie cutters, and cutters from the Playdoh set, as well as some of our craft sticks. Another easy project, but also very zen-like. It will get grandmother and the child in a very relaxed state. (Insert chuckle here.)

Watercolors seem to be in every grandparent's craft box for when the grandkids come. But if you're like me, you've probably discovered that watercolors can be frustrating for the younger kids. Watercolors go all over the page, and not where the child wants it. Drawing your picture in crayon first eliminates this frustration. Another idea I found on a teacher's blog. I drew the small rectangle first and then all my grandson had to do was draw (in black crayon) the grid-like lines and then put a shape in the middle. My six-year-old grandson happens to be very adept at drawing hearts. But the child colors the heart first, and then uses different watercolors on the outside of that shape. This enables the center shape (in this case, a heart) to show up.

This is another one that turns out so well. My grandson was very pleased with his creation. I even found an old frame, and we framed one for his dad and one for his Poppa.

I also made photo-copies of his hearts as they are the perfect size to send notes to his great-grandmothers.

My grandson loves to string beads. I think perhaps he developed his interest from watching his big sister make bracelets.   Nevertheless, before this coronavirus even hit, he asked me for some beads. So this is something we had on hand, and when I saw this idea on Pinterest, I knew we had to give it a try. We found the small branch on our morning walk, and his Poppa drilled some holes for the strings, but I don't think that would even be necessary. Just wrap the string around the branch, and you're good to go. It doesn't even require a long string of beads. We just knotted the string after five or six beads and skipped a space. Another one that's fun, relaxing, and you've got a great sun catcher for your patio when you're finished.

And there you have it--four fun and relatively easy craft projects with the kids or grandkids. Such a fun summertime activity with our grandchildren. If they come to visit, and your time is limited, each of these tasks took only one hour to complete. Honest. And if you're lucky enough to have those grandkids visit, it's a nice memento to take home in remembrance of your time together.

Please feel free to share my blog with your grandparent friends. But of course, these ideas are for any kid, parent, grandparent or great-grandparent. So share! Thank goodness others shared with me. Until next week, as they always said on "Hill Street Blues," let's be careful out there.

Calling all grandparents! Are your grandchildren visiting for spring break? It's a good time to embrace the principles of hygge!*

I always think of hygge as a winter time occupation. Something the Danish people came up with to get through those dark, cold winter months up north. But it's a year-long philosophy and to me, it's about embracing whatever season you're in. And in doing my research for this blog, I've come to realize it's what we're all told to do time and time again--live in the moment. Enjoy "the NOW." 

Actually when you see the list of hygge suggestions for spring, you'll realize that you've been observing most of the items in the list for a long time. Things like spring cleaning, planting flowers in your garden, getting outside more, and so on. My mother was a whirling dervish in the spring, throwing open those windows, cleaning house, and putting away our winter clothes. I'm betting we all continue those traditions. But I've culled the internet and found a few more spring time things to add to our lists.

​Spring is almost here! Hope this week's blog has inspired you to get ready for it. I know when I visited some of the websites posted here, I was inspired. And you can't walk into most big box grocery stores without being confronted with bedding plants and beautiful flowers in the floral section. Grab a bouquet for your house--it will really lift your spirits and get you out of the winter doldrums! 

Great spring hygge websites and blogs:

​lifegoalsmag.com/hygge-for-spring/

​www.hyggelife.com/blogs/news/springtime-hygge

​montanahappy.com/31-spring-hygge-ideas-to-rejuvenate-your-soul/

*Definition of hygge (pronounced hue-guh)-A Danish word used to describe the feeling of coziness whether alone or with friends, that one tries to create and capture. Components include decor to embrace this feeling, as well as foods and anything that will enhance relationships with friends and family.

Every generation has witnessed some unique and historic events in this world. We should tell those stories to our children and grandchildren.

It happened again. I was talking to a friend and they said something like. . .I wished I'd asked my dad about Vietnam and his time in the army. We all lament not asking our parents, grandparents and other relatives about BIG world events. Don't wait for someone to ask you. Tell your stories and eyewitness accounts now.

In a previous blog, I suggested to my readers to brainstorm a list of world events you have lived through. Write down all the things that pierce your brain as far as historical events you have witnessed--everything from the JFK assassination to the one I'm writing about today, Beatlemania and the British invasion. I think that was truly unique to our culture and one worth sharing. And besides, all the stories you record do not have to be serious. Writing about this one is a fun one! And it will give your children and grandchildren a glimpse into your teen years.

I started by going to the library to do some research. I got this picture from a great book on the subject by Bob Spitz--Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music That Changed the World.

I decided to do my essays on historical events of my day, by patterning them after the old (really old) television show of the 1960's called "You Are There." I think there was also a show called "Eyewitness to History." (These were shows wherein the producers recreated events from history, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence.) Both of those titles would work, and I've actually used them interchangeably in my accounts. Of course I changed the name to "I Was There."

I'm making mini-books for my essays about my life and times, but you could certainly simply add your eyewitness accounts to your journal. Or you could have some fun with this subject and go buy a gorgeous new journal from your friendly, neighborhood bookstore and record your eyewitness-to-history stories in there. You might design a pretty cover page and just hand-write your stories in that journal.

Meanwhile, back to the Beatles!

I chose to document this bit of history for my kids and grandkids as I found it (and still find it) truly phenomenal. I witnessed their first American performance on the Ed Sullivan Show just as many of my generation did. I was fascinated by the hysteria that accompanied that group all over the world. I wanted to capture that on paper.

I'm recording my "Eyewitness to History" stories in little 4 1/2 by 6 inch mini-books made from a single sheet of 12x18 inch paper. I've written about these little mini-books before, and you can certainly write me if you'd like those instructions. I'm also adding these little mini-books to a big box that I'm filling with my stories. 

A peek inside my book on the Beatles~

Please understand. I'm not trying to impress you with my creativity. I've never had an original idea in my life. I copy, copy, copy. I've read so many articles about the importance of sharing our stories for our children. I so want to encourage my other grandparent readers to do this. I got the idea for mini-books from friends--one who is a teacher and one who makes the most beautiful greeting cards and mini-books of inspiration. I decided to combine those two ideas and capture my memories in mini-books. I share simply because it might inspire you, my readers, as well. 

Go forth and write your stories! Hey, our winter seems to be hanging on for a bit longer. This is a nice project for those long winter days. And if you are like me, you read where we should be writing our stories for generations to come, but WHERE TO START? Telling our stories is all well and good, but difficult to do. Thinking in terms of historical events seemed to help me. And as I said in my opening paragraph above, we all lament not asking our parents and grandparents about certain events that they witnessed. Let's not let that happen to us.

Spreading good cheer with kindness rocks and do it with your grandkids. I've written about kindness rocks before. I love the concept: leaving a message on a rock for someone to find on their walk. So the purpose of this blog today is twofold--create some kindness rocks and do it with your grandchildren. You can either paint kindness rocks with them or just paint them yourself and have your grandchildren help you hide them around the neighborhood. And we have an extra day this year--it's LEAP YEAR! So celebrate Leap Day this year by hiding messages of goodwill and encouragement for others to find and be cheered.

The concept of Kindness Rocks~

The Kindness Rock Project was started by Megan Murphy. She was missing her deceased parents and on her walks along the beach, she would often look for signs that they were watching over her from above. She would look for seashells, pretty rocks, and sea glass. She felt comforted by what she found. She considered that others probably do the same on their walks. So one day on a lark, before she left the house on her daily walk, she grabbed a marker and wrote some short messages on some rocks she had collected. 

My thoughts on kindness rocks~

I was recently with a family member when he got some bad news. He left the house saying, "I just need to go for a walk." That spurred me to create some kindness rocks once again. Now I realize the odds of someone going for a walk to clear their head and finding one of my kindness rocks might be pretty slim, but you never know. Anytime someone is out in nature and taking a walk might just need that little spark or a word of encouragement. Or they might pass it on to someone who does.

Rocks with a Leap Day/Leap Year theme~

I often paint rocks with a seasonal theme--Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day. This month I painted rocks with a leap year theme--it just might be the time someone needs some extra encouragement, so I painted rocks with the "take a LEAP," idea. Maybe it would encourage someone to try something or change something. Anyway, that's what I did.

We need SPRING!

​While I was in my craft room painting kindness rocks, I also began painting rocks to welcome spring. It's been a long, cold winter, so even though it's not spring yet, people might need to find a sign of spring on their walk. Why not on a rock?

Leap Day with the grands~

This kindness rock project all started when my grandson and I were looking for ideas on how to celebrate Leap Day. As always, one only has to google something like, "Leap Day activities with the kids. . . " And you can do the same. I found things like:

• Have a leap day party
• Decorate cookies with a frog motif. Or it might be easier to make green cupcakes and decorate with gummy frogs.
• Make a Leap Year time capsule. And open it in four years
• Or. . . as my grandson and I are doing--decorate kindness rocks and hide on Leap Day

One final appeal!

I've written before about all the blessings of painting kindness rocks. It makes you feel good to spread some good cheer and words of inspiration around your town and neighborhood. But it's also fun for the painter when you're involved in the act of painting. As so many of you already know, when you're working on your hobbies and crafts, it makes you forget your troubles and focus on your creation. It's good for us! As our mothers always told us, busy hands are happy hands. So if you're looking for an additional hobby, I recommend painting kindness rocks.

Website about the Kindness Rock Project~

​www.scarymommy.com/the-kindness-rocks-project/

Previous blogs about kindness rocks~
​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/kindness-rocks-project-with-the-grandkids

​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/kindness-rocks-continued

So that your grandkids know their great-grandmother, make a book of remembrance.

You've read articles online and in magazines and newspapers how you should share the stories of your parents, but it seems such a huge ordeal--you don't really know how to tackle that. Where to start?

I thought the same thing, but perhaps we should just break it down into something smaller, something we can tackle. A friend and I came up with these subjects that can make it easier. And what a treasure our children and grandchildren will have when you present it to them.

Here are some areas wherein you could create a book about your mom, and I'm betting you can come up with even more:

• Your mother's advice
• Recipes
• Funny sayings
• Humorous stories about her
• A book with photos of her creations. . .needlepoint, embroidery, knitting
• Photos of her artwork. . .perhaps she was a painter, potter, or watercolorist
• And this simple one. . .memories of my mother

I opted for a book of my mother's advice and folksy sayings. And what's fun about doing this one is you can ask your siblings and various family members about the advice or old adages that your mother shared with them. The whole process is fun!

Once you've collected her bits of advice, then just look for photos of her and add that to your book. The thing about about doing such a book is that it's not overwhelming. It's as easy as putting a piece of her advice on a page and perhaps a picture of her to go with it. But what a treasure your family will have, and they will learn much about her just reading her wisdom.

And that's it! How easy is that?

If you do a book of her recipes, you can still intersperse photos or pieces of advice in the book.

Showing off her crocheting in a book would make her so proud. She worked hard on all those creations. The same is true of her paintings; snap a picture with your cell phone and give some background on the paintings. Makes for a lovely coffee table book, but more importantly, a treasure for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

This is a nice project for these cold winter days. Give it a try. And if you've done a book about your mother or grandmother (or father or grandfather), please share with me, and I promise to share on my blog. We're all looking for ideas.

Here's a blog about a recipe book that my sister-in-law did with recipes from her and her children's grandmother. What a gem she presented to her kids one Christmas.

​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/family-thanksgiving-recipes

Postscript:

Interested in creating a book? Just google online book-making sites. There are numerous ones to choose from, or you can write me for my recommendations. Good luck!

To learn about the Chinese New Year, do a craft with the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids! And what could be more fun than a Chinese paper dragon! That's what we did.

Really no instruction from me. It's so easy to get online and find instructions for Chinese paper dragon masks or instructions for the entire paper dragon that you so often see in the Chinese New Year parades. 

So get out your supplies that you might have around the house (especially for when your grandkids visit) or get yourself to the craft store. We got out crepe paper (for streamers), construction paper, crayons and markers, scissors and paper plates. We also printed up some masks for ideas on how to design our dragon mask.

How about a parade?

I consider that I have two sets of grandkids. I have one set that are now teens and preteens. My youngest is six years old, so now I'm doing a lot of the activities I did when my first set of grandkids were toddlers. When they were little, we did the entire dragon and went to the park to parade around under the cover of our paper dragon. That's fun too. So if you can get a group together, I recommended that. My youngest comes after school, so we just did a mask. He had fun with that too.

And that's it! 

As I always tell you, doing a craft with the young ones is always so rewarding. It's a great one-on-one time when you can really talk. And it's always important to share other cultures and traditions. Makes for a more well-rounded child.

And because the Chinese New Year is in February, it helps alleviate the winter blues! It's just something fun to do with your kids. 

Here are some youtube videos you and your grandchild might want to watch together:
​www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVPHdFX9iHY

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYCc9wOfkXk

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=et36Al1C2dc

A follow-up:

Last week's blog was written by a friend who took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to France and the British Isles with her children and grandchildren. Be sure to check out last week's post if you missed it, as it had lots of tips and advice for making such a trip with three generations.

This week I'm including the family's reflections of that trip. Judye had sent me the impressions of various family members of that journey. You can judge for yourselves if such a trip would be worthwhile for you and your family. I'm voting, "YES!"

Burke's observations:

Learning about the many Celtic myths surrounding the Irish countryside was one of the most amazing parts of my trip. 
It’s fascinating how the Irish population explains such phenomena as the natural rock formation, known as the Giant’s Causeway as being the result of an ancient war between the rival giants, where the giant named Finn McCool enraged the other to the point of destroying a stone bridge.
We also beheld a castle where Cuchulain is said to have lived after slaying a vicious hound and earning the honor of the local chieftan.
We saw rock formations said to have been caused by Oisin where he had apparently demonstrated his strength after he fell in love with a spirit of death and became the strongest man in all of Ireland.
In Ireland, the number of people who believe these stories even in the modern day is astounding. 
The abstract knowledge of these stories’ existence would have been marvelous enough, but that awareness was reinforced by many sights witnessed throughout the trip.
Our guide, Allen would explain to us that there were many Hawthorne trees that farmers deliberately left standing in the center of their field, because of their fear of retaliation by the “fey-folk” said to inhabit them.
Every story felt more tangible because it was punctuated by the amazing views we were able to absorb throughout the course of our vacation.
I will always remember The Book of Kells and The Giant’s Causeway and I will always carry stories of Finn McCool, Cuchulain, and Oisin with me wherever I go.

Willa's reflections:


My favorite part of the trip was our boat tour in Cobh, Ireland.  We all went out on a small motorboat through Cobh Harbour and around the little surrounding archipelago.  Our tour guide gave us the historical background of our surroundings and took us around the islands to see the wildlife – he even pulled a moon jellyfish out of the water so we could get a closer look.  He then took us to the nearby village of Crosshaven, where he lived, to get Irish coffees in a local pub.  He was a great tour guide, really convivial and the sights on our boat ride were breathtaking.  It was a perfect intergenerational activity because the boat tour eliminated the difference in physical ability between family members, and we got to spend quality time with one another while also exploring Ireland.

Jahnathan's impressions:

I remember that the paintings all hung like big square eyeballs, and I remember that we looked up at all the ones we recognized and some we didn't and they all looked back down. We stood like broken columns, but they stared at us like we were made of fluted Ionic concrete, or something else that's so old we all might be its grandchildren, and they stared with a gaze like Greek fire, but not as hot, or like Hellenic steel, but not as strong. I remember that there was something archaic amidst us and the paintings, something that we never knew and the paintings had forgotten because it had passed it down to too many generations. Each big square eyelid closed heavier over the painting the more we looked, and it waited long to be revived the way that all art must. I remember thinking I was lucky that whatever museum this is, has so many centuries of these things, from artists whose names you hear your parents say, or their students, or their students' students. That's our reason to be here. But not everyone's, because sometimes the best part of a museum is watching other people, and our grandparents stood quietly like armless statues and looked at us the same way the paintings did.

And lastly, the grandfather's musings:


My experience on this trip can be described with three main elements.  First, there was the raw awe- inspiring experience of seeing in person artistic masterpieces, historical relics and cultural icons that one has read about and studied, but never really expected to be able to see.  

Secondly, there was for me special significance in our day trip to Achnacarry, the historical site of the Cameron Clan and home to the current Lochiel, Donald Cameron, Chief of the Clan, who invited us into his home and gave us a personal tour.  My Mother gave me the name Donald Cameron and always told me is was a special name.  For nearly 300 years, a Donald Cameron has been the Chief of the Cameron Clan.  Standing on that land, visiting the little Cameron Museum, seeing and hearing the sense of history and family pride, I began to really appreciate what that connection to one's family history really means.

​And finally, being able to watch my grandchildren and see their interest and excitement as they explored and learned and grew in their appreciation for the unique qualities as well as the commonalities of the different countries and cultures we visited was perhaps my most treasured experience from our trip.  While we each got to choose the day excursions that we wanted that also meant that we had a variety of experiences to share when we returned back to our cruise ship each evening.  And it is the sharing and retelling of our experience that really binds us all together.

I'm so appreciative of this family taking the time to write about their fabulous trip and sharing on this blog. I know I'm inspired to take our grandchildren to my husband's ancestral home in Scotland. Sending much gratitude to Judye and her husband, and their daughter, Arlette, and Judye's three grandchildren. Thanks again!

​Last week's blog with all the great travel tips and planning--

​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/planning-a-multigenerational-trip

Planning a trip abroad for three generations. It can be done!

Last summer a sweet Facebook friend posted pictures of her family's trip to France and England. Because this blog is (mostly) for grandparents, I'm always on the lookout for things exactly like this to share with my readers. How did they go about this? How did they carve out the time? How did they know what excursions to plan? How did they include everyone's wants and needs? My questions were endless. I also wanted to know what they considered the blessings and benefits of such an endeavor because, after all, that's really what it is all about.

I asked Judye if she would write my blog about the experience, and she did me one better. Besides letting me in on the back details, when she got together with her grandkids this Christmas, she asked them to write about their experiences, and they complied!  What a friend! And what a family!

So here it is for you to savor and decide if you want to engage in such a trip with your children and grandchildren. Judye and her daughter Arlette have given us some good tips. I'll start with them:

​

​Tips from Judye's daughter, Arlette: (The middle generation represented here; also called "the mom")

Choosing a trip:
​I started by asking my parents what are their “bucket list” trips. They have lots domestic travel wish trips, but I thought I could help most by planning international travel, as they haven’t done that in a while and one of my kids and my nephew haven’t either.  So planning and implementing an international trip would help both the younger and older generation.   My parents’ wish list included: Alaska, Hawaii, and Scotland/Ireland.  I chose to think about planning Scotland/Ireland, and I started planning a full 18 months ahead of time.  I thought about, since family member has memory and accessibility challenges, ways to travel easily.  I looked at guided tours where they move your luggage, “hopper” tours where you are on your own but they help move you from city to city/country to country and cruises.  We chose a cruise because you return to same the room every night, and can see the most places. We traveled on the Princess Cruises 11-day British Isles cruise as it seemed like the best deal for the most locations.

Getting buy-in from multiple families/generations:
I asked everyone if they were interested.I made sure to accurately describe the type of trip it would be. For example, my daughter, in her late teens, loves live music and nightlife, but we would have to be back on ship most times by 6pm or sometimes 9 pm. I made sure she understood that before she committed. But I suggested she think of it as an “appetizer” or tasting menu--she could experience a bit of many places and decide where to go back. My brother and sister-in-law travel frequently for work and weren’t interested in an 11 day cruise. But they were interested in meeting us at the beginning or end of the trip! So we extended our start of the trip in Paris, and had a fabulous three day weekend with them. Sometimes you can do part of a trip together and some generations can keep traveling or go home.

Communicating to plan:
 I found that teens/20somethings respond to text messages the best.  So once we had our group, we texted to plan the trip.  When we had everyone together for a holiday, we chose excursions on the website. Each family booked their own vacation, but we did it through the same cruise travel agent. We purchased plane tickets through the cruiseline so they would help us get to and from airports and help with missed connections. 

​Leave room for different generations/people to do different things and take time to tailor
your trip:

​ We made people aware of what the excursions were. It is fun to do different things sometimes, and then come back together for dinner and talk about your adventures! In Inverness, we didn’t choose any of the day-trips offered.  I contacted the Visitor’s Center by email and asked for recommendations on tour guides for personalized day trips, and we planned a personalized tour of Cameron Clan lands in Scotland.  I was nervous about a personalized tour, but it turned out to be one of the best days, and was actually less expensive than some of the other excursions! We saw the flag flown by the Cameron clan at Culloden, and saw the house lived in for three generations by our ancestors, and unexpectedly met the Lochiel—the head of the Cameron Clan.  We made amazing memories!