Diary of A Modern Gran | Things Can Happen So Fast…
Oh my goodness. Isn’t it scary how things can happen so fast with children?
Last week, I told you how my four-year-old grandson had split his right eyebrow open after falling off a piece of playground equipment. The doctors glued it together. I wish they’d had that in my day! (I’ve still got a massive scar on my knee from kneeling on scissors when I was five.)
But then, after I’d finished writing my column, George’s forehead went very red and yellow pus began to ooze out.
My daughter rushed him to A & E while I slept overnight with Rose in her room. They didn’t get back until 3.30 in the morning after queuing for hours, surrounded by rather a lot of people who were coughing.
The two of them (no one else was allowed in because of Covid restrictions) had to wait a long time because doctors were
doing emergency surgery on another child. It makes you count your blessings, doesn’t it? So I sent up a little prayer.
The good news was that the doctor cleaned the wound and did some checks to make sure there wasn’t any pressure on the brain. Those very words made me shake when my daughter told me.
But George still wasn’t right all week. So it was back to the GP again, who gave him antibiotics. He seems to be better now. In fact, he’s racing around at what feels like 80mph!
“I wonder if it’s the antibiotics?” asks my daughter.
I’ve no idea but I can tell you that when we took Rose and George out to the local Donkey Sanctuary just before writing
this, he was still running. In fact, if there’d been a race, he’d definitely have beaten them all to the finishing line!
But – oh oh – there’s another shock in store. My grandchildren’s favourite donkey was nowhere to be seen.
“Can you tell us where to find her?” Rose asks one of the helpers.
Pic: Shutterstock
He shakes his head. “I’m afraid not.”
“You mean she’s…” I start, not able to finish my sentence.
He nods. “But she went peacefully and had a good life. She did a lot of brave things. She was even in the army, you know.”
“But where is she now?” persists George.
My daughter quickly takes over. “She’s sadly died,” she explains.
“She’s gone to heaven,” I add. “But she’ll be happy there.”
“Will she have food and a field to run in?” asks Rose.
“Yes,” I say firmly.
They both looked downcast for a bit but then we went onto see other donkeys. When we got home, it was the first thing they told their daddy. But it was in a matter of fact way. Not with tears.
It just goes to show that children don’t always behave or react as you think, doesn’t it? Meanwhile, watch out for George! He’s about to hurtle by….
Check your family passports!
Did you know that a child’s passport has to be renewed every five years and not every ten years? It’s easy to forget. As
you’ve probably heard, there’s a long waiting list for appointments at the moment.
George’s passport needs renewing for a family trip in October. Because of the waiting list, it has to be done now. But there’s no disguising the huge mass of dried blood on his forehead from the playground accident!
“Don’t worry,” said another mum. “One of mine had just got over chicken pox when hers was done. She just has to live with a spotty passport pic for the next five years!”
What a week…
I can’t finish without telling you about something exciting that happened to me during the week in between all these domestic dramas. I went up to London to be interviewed live on Times Radio at the Shard!
The interviewer asked me about my work as a writer in residence of a high-security prison a few years ago, and also about my new Penguin novel We All Have Our Secrets, about a family living by the sea with all kinds of hidden past dramas.
“Why are we so fascinated by secrets?” asked the interviewer.
“Because most families have them,” I replied.
If you have one, do let us know! (We wouldn’t print your name, obviously, because then it wouldn’t be a secret! You can email us at moderngran@dctmedia.co.uk
Ask Agony Gran – I’m Being Cut Out Of His Life
I’ve looked after my grandson every day since my daughter went back to work. She’s on her own and I wanted to help. But
now he’s starting school in September. My daughter has changed jobs and now she’s going to be able to take him to
school and collect him. She’s really excited about this but I feel as though I’m being cut out of my grandson’s life. Am I being selfish?
NAME WITHHELD
[magento sku=”DCS-MWLAW”]
Jane says:
I do feel for you. But life is constantly changing. This is another stage of your life for everyone. Try to see it as an opportunity to do things you might not have been able to do before.
Is there a hobby you’d like take up? A friend of mine whose sixth grandchild recently went to school has started a pottery painting class. Can you meet up with friends whom you haven’t been able to see because of your granny commitments? How about doing some voluntary work? What about doing nothing for a bit?
I wouldn’t mind betting that your daughter will still need you. There will be times when she can’t do that school run. There will also be school events to go to like carol concerts, sports days and PTA events. You’ll take great joy in hearing about your grandson’s time at school and will be there to mop up
tears if necessary.
And what about offering help with reading homework and making tea?… In fact, it rather sounds as though
you’ll be busier than you thought! Good luck.
The Funny Things They Say
Thanks to Louise from Bristol who sent this in.
I love the long summer days. But when my five-year grandson had a sleepover at my place recently, he didn’t want to go to bed.
“It’s still daytime, Nana,” he said. “Look! The sun is still awake!”
I said it would soon get darker in the evenings but he couldn’t understand why. Some things are hard to explain to little ones, aren’t they!
Grandparent Of The Week
Ann has three grandchildren. Two live in the United States and the third is in the UK.
“My two older grandchildren Lauren (20) and Hannah (16) live in the United States. I used to see them once a year but then the virus arrived. Three months ago, my daughter and Lauren came over for a week and it was very emotional.
“My grandson Jake (11) lives about three hours away so it’s easier to see him. He loves cooking with me. In fact, we all love cooking!
“During the virus, I wrote a book about animals as a way of connecting with them all. I called it Finding Grace and it’s
about kittens looking for a home. We’re a pet-loving family.
“I also wanted to write about homelessness. The profits from each book go to charity. My grandchildren loved reading it.
Even though it’s a children’s book, it seems to appeal to all ages.
“We keep in touch by email and phone. They’ll send pictures too. I always ask the girls questions like what is going on in their lives and what they are doing with their various animals.
“The other thing I’d like to mention is that because of our love of books, Jake was the first in his class to achieve his Accelerated Reader target of 1 million words in year 4.
“The Accelerated Reading programme is an online facility
supported by some primary and secondary schools to encourage children to explore different books and enhance
their reading skills.
“Children can read any books they choose and then they complete an online quiz which tests their understanding of the words they have read. Each book is marked out of 10 depending on the size of the book. The first target is to reach 1 million words, which Jake achieved in year 4. He is now working towards 6 million words. Jake also collects Beano annuals.
“I wrote a book for the grandchildren (not published) based on a game we played. The book is called The Odd Socks.
Hallelujah pie, anyone? Pic: Shutterstock
“The girls are fussy eaters. A few years ago, when I was staying with them, I made a pie out of puff pastry, feta cheese and
herbs.
‘What’s that?’ they asked.
I told them it was a dish I’d made for the adults.
‘May we have a piece?’ they asked.
So they did – and they liked it so much that they had a second piece. I thought that was quite funny. Maybe it’s because it was a dish for the grown-ups and they wanted a piece too!
“The pie is called Hallelujah Pie because at last I had found something they both liked!”
If you’d like to order a copy of FINDING GRACE, please email findinggrace76@gmail.com
The cost is £10 including postage and package. £3 from each book goes to Centrepoint (to give homeless people a
future) and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
If you’d like to get in touch with us, please email moderngran@dctmedia.co.uk
Jane’s new book – out now!
Jane Corry is a journalist and author. She’s the author of six Sunday Times bestsellers published by Penguin Viking.
Her latest seaside family mystery is We All Have Our Secrets which is available from supermarkets,
bookshops and online. Also as an audiobook.
Do you have a secret? Emily and Francoise do! So does Harold, Emily’s elderly father. All three live by the sea in a rambling house that is hiding all kinds of memories.
Jane is giving away free bookmarks to celebrate. If you would like a bookmark, please email moderngran@dctmedia.co.uk
If you’d like to be our grandparent of the week, or let us know about the funny things you grandchildren say, please email us at moderngran@dctmedia.co.uk.
