Blogger’s Note: David George is the current President of the statewide California Writers Club.
- Can you give us some highlights from the stories that you’ve written about grandparenting?
I’ve written 14 stories or chapters now of my Modern Day Fables about the Natural World, with a working title of “Granddad’s Place”. The first chapter, entitled “The Acorn” was published recently by GRAND online magazine in their March/April edition which was released on March 9th: http://www.grandmagazine.com/. This is special for me because GRAND magazine reaches out to over 200,000 subscribers, most of whom are grandparents like me.
My hope is that a large proportion of subscribers read my stories to their grandchildren if they are of what I call the “peri-reading” age, or between the ages of 3 and 6. And in turn, I hope their grandchildren read the stories back to their grandparents when they are able. Each story is set in a framework of an interaction or adventure between a granddad and his new grandson exploring the natural world. The fable hides somewhere in the middle of the story and is intended to teach the grandson a lesson about how the natural world works.
So, you see that the stories are not really about “grandparenting”, but rather about the special relationship one granddad has with his grandson, and also about the laws of nature and man’s role in protecting the natural world.
- What is the one experience in the natural world that you think every child should experience?
Well, my favorite is for kids – in a fascinating and controlled environment – to experience the miracle of birth and the renewal of generations of life. As a kid, I was impressed by our family dog giving birth to four fabulous, healthy puppies, and unfortunately one that was not strong enough to make it. I learned a lot from that experience as a 10-year old about the cycle of life.
These miracle-of-birth (and death) experiences are often removed from the sanitized childhood of modern children. The birth and rapid growth of a litter of kittens or the hatching of a chick from an egg. Birth and death and regeneration go on all about us and kids these days just don’t get a chance to experience firsthand this miracle of life.
3. What is the one thing that you hope your grandson will remember about you.
My grandson recently visited. One morning, he threw his arms around my neck and said, “I love you, Granddad. You’re the best granddad in the world.” I still don’t know what I did to deserve that. But the pure unconditional love of an 8-year old is precious and it makes my life feel complete.
Twice each year, near my grandson’s birthday and near Christmas, I present and read to him a new story. These stories use his (and his family’s) real names. Afterward, I revise them into a new chapter for my anthology of modern day fables. The stories are essentially chronicling my grandson’s childhood, not all of it of course, but some of the parts of which I am involved. The times I hope he remembers when he grows up are these tender and special moments when he and his family, his “Oma”, and me gather together to listen to me read him a new story. And the hugs that follow. He won’t be a little boy much longer and so you need to cherish those moments.
4. Describe a perfect playdate.
Well, the perfect play date must occur at Granddad’s Place, our home in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay hills. We are surrounded by nature here, and there is plenty to explore.
A vivid recollection is when we went on a hunt for beneficial snakes – I have never found a dangerous one around here. I thought I had found a gopher snake rustling around in some brush, as they are very common here. It turned out to be just a fence lizard. But my grandson got very excited anyway, and ran around saying, “Snofer nakes, Snofer nakes!” He was just 4-years old at the time and his mispronunciation was charming. I laughed, and the experience ended up as one of my stories. I’d say that day had all the elements for a good adventure: mystery, excitement, discovery, a bit of drama, and pure kid fun.
5. What is the best piece of advice you have for maintaining a long distance relationship with a grandchild?
Take advantage of the long distance communication technologies available today to bring your grandkids into your own living room no matter where they live. Its free and it works! A Skype or Apple Facetime session is a great way to stay in visual as well as audio touch across the miles. My daughter recently let us know that she has accepted a position that requires my grandson’s family to move to Atlanta from their current home in Austin, Texas. But Atlanta is just as close via Skype as Austin is to us. So, the miles really don’t matter as much anymore as they once did. Then, make the most of the few days a year that you are physically together with your grandkids. Everyone benefits.
6. Describe your grandparenting experience in one word?
I CAN’T describe the grandparentling experience in one word! Who can? There are so many facets that we both enjoy. The unconditional love, the little adventures exploring nature, watching an infant grow into a toddler, an inquisitive 5-year old, a chatty and charming 8-year old, an intense teenager, and finally a well-rounded adult. I was fortunate to experience those stages with my kids, and at every turn I see similarities in my grandkid. It truly is a circle-of-life experience to be a grandparent.
7. If you could be any superhero in your grandson’s eyes, what would it be?
My grandson is really into skeletons and zombies right now, but those are NOT what I would want to be seen as! My kids were into Dexter’s Laboratory and Inspector Gadget, and my grandson sees himself as an entrepreneur and engineer when he grows up. So, I guess I would have to choose Tony Stark and his Iron Man invention, although he is a bit dark and conflicted for my taste!
8. What do you think your generation can do better to make the earth a better place for their grandchildren?
Oh, that’s easy! Step up to be an advocate for nature and nature’s creatures. It’s their home, too. But they don’t have a voice of their own, can’t represent themselves in a court of law, or argue their case in front of a board of directors. We and the organizations that we support can.
The 21st century will be a turning point – one way or the other – toward a sustainable coexistence between our grandchildren and nature, or toward a world devastated by the impact of centuries of man’s heavy-handed plundering of nature’s wealth. The goals of sustainability are achievable, but they require much work and dedication from all of us to ensure that the world our grandchildren’s grandchildren inherit is a world that is sustainable and still full of natural wonder.
I hope you’ve about David George. To learn more visit his Facebook Page at: facebook.com/david.george.3958914