This weekend we have our three grand-daughters for a couple of days. It seems like ages since we have had them to stay due to a number of factors, such as my operation and COVID in their household.
As with any teens and pre-teens, the girls love their smartphones and are frequently on their devices. However, they are very good about putting them aside when we are doing an activity together or watching a family movie.
Yesterday, we had a game of outdoor Jenga and it was lovely to spend time with them outside in the fresh air and interacting with each other. When we get together the house is often filled with laughter as the girls and I share a good – and often wacky – sense of humour. At one stage, one of the girls said something that really tickled my funny bone. I started laughing and it was a full on body shaking, silent cracking up that bought tears to my eyes. The youngest grand-daughter was similarly affected and it took ages to get ourselves under control. It felt good to have such a good laugh together and in the end everyone joined in! The last time I had such a good laugh was the last time they stayed with us. So, I know now, that if I am ever low in mood, a good dose of grandchilden will be just what the doctor ordered. Far and away much better for my health and well-being than any kind of mood enhancing medication could ever be!
My son and daughter-in-law have agreed for us to have their oldest son Oscar to come and stay with us for Easter. They sent us a video of them telling him he is to fly on his own to stay with Nanna and Grampy and he sounded really excited. It will be lovely to have some one-on-one time with him and get to know him a bit more. I haven’t been able to have as much time with him and his brothers as I have with the girls, but hopefully this will give us a stronger connection and we can have lots of fun together.
If I count my blessings, my six grandchildren are up there on the top of the list. I feel loved and appreciated by them and feel privileged to share their lives with them. Now is the time to set in place those memories for the future and to spend quality time with them now before they get so independent that perhaps they won’t have as much time with family.
If laughter is the best medicine, I am certainly well medicated whenever the grandies are around!
My journey with Parkinsons 
Hi Sue, I tried sending a message to you on parklandssue@parkiesandme.com
but it keeps getting sent back to me! I’m at a loss to know what I am doing wrong.
LikeLike
Hi. Apologies if email still showing. I cancelled it a while ago as it cost me extra and no-one was really using it. Could you comment on the post, just as you have done here please? Look forward to hearing from you.
LikeLike
Hi Sue,
I can’t recall exactly what I wrote now but it was to say I am enjoying your blog and feel we are following a similar path except I am 15 years on. I too have osteo in my knee which is painful weight baring and I wonder about an operation. The orthopod said I need one but I’m not sure given my complex stage of PD. I would love to be able to walk freely again but would it do that! A dilemma.
I also wrote that I notice you use an Aussie Kiwi forum. Did you know there is also an NZ one specifically for NZers and their support people. It is a facebook group called NZParkinsonFriends. Hope you will visit sometime. It isn’t big or very busy but it connects us nationally which I think is worthwhile. Hope you continue to improve with your mobility.
LikeLike
Hi. Thanks for the tip re NZParkinsonFriends. I will look them up. Glad you are enjoying my blog and hope it is helpful for you. I am about 8 week post op following my knee replacement, it is still quite sore and needing to do daily exercises that are pretty painful. But if I get a more usable knee out of it, then it will be worth it. I would consider doing the other one too in time if needed, because I don’t want my mobility compromised any sooner than it needs to be. Keep the feedback coming! I love hearing from people who follow my blog. 🙂
LikeLike
Have had a look at NZParkinsonfriends and put in a request to join. Thanks again for the heads up.
LikeLike