The not so stereotypical grandmother

When I first embarked on the idea of a website for grandmothers I approached a couple of web designers with the idea.  The responses from both were annoyingly condescending. “(cautious) Great idea (pause) but how are you going to teach grandmothers to use the Internet?” 

Now, given that I had already told them I was a grandmother I was taken aback and not just a little miffed. Despite reassuring them many of my friends are grandmothers and use the Internet regularly for work or recreation the web designers were still of the opinion that I might struggle to get them on-line.

Hmm. On reflection I realised that to these young folk (did I really use those words?) their grandmothers are possibly grey haired, walk with a cane and are largely unaware of the miracle of the computer age.  Once I got over my wrath I reflected on the portrayal of grandparents. By and large the images on a Google search are grey with a walking stick.  Yet my 85 year old aunt books travel online, buys shares, and circulates humour to all on her email list.  My engineer dad (81) has been using the Internet since the early 1960’s back when you needed skills to understand the code. Bill Gates is old enough to be a grandfather and I suspect knows quite a bit about the Internet too (he happens to be the same age as me).
From a young child the best way to get me to do something was to tell me I shouldn't, couldn't or can't do it. Nothing much has changed either personally or professionally. Starting a business for the niche market of grandmothers (and grandfathers) was going to happen come hell or high water.

It made me look harder at the market I was hoping to get into.  There are a number of websites for grandparents (mainly American) but hundreds for parents.  The parents’ sites rarely offer information for grandparents and are largely focused on babies and pre-school.

Many grandparents play a significant role in the raising of their grandchildren, from regular babysitting, regular day care or even permanent care.  This market is very under-represented.

A crash course in setting up a business, trademark registration, graphic development, research, web design and mountains of reading and sleepless nights has lead to launching a website.  Where is it you ask?  Slight technical issues.  Well big issues really.  They will be resolved, eventually.

Grandmothers not only know what the Internet is, how to access it, what is available on it - they can also set up their own sites - and have technical 'crashes' just like younger folk!

It will happen - hopefully in my life time!  :D

Nana Lizzie
www.worldsbestgrandmother.com.au

Between a rock and a hard place

I read somewhere that baby boomers are the first generation to have to care (full time, part time or casual) for both grandchildren and their parents. It does seem true for many of my generation.
And for many there is probably still the need to work full time for financial or intellectual reasons - or both.

What are the consequences of this demand on an individual's time (and sanity)?

For me it's exhaustion,  tinged with melancholy, marinated in frustration - and coated in guilt (for not spending enough quality time and effort with anyone). Yet at the same time very pleased to have the joy of regularly bringing everyone together and my parents still being around to enjoy the love and laughter of family get togethers with their great-grandchildren.

My own grandmothers (and one grandmother-in-law) both held my first born 35 years ago and lived for some years afterwards.  There were no great-grandfathers still with us at the time.

It is possible to be helpful to both your parents, children and grandchildren and still find time for me. Magazines, papers, the internet and advertising are full of ideas about how to have a full and meaningful life. Keep slim, fit, and healthy.  Eat this, don't eat that.
Perhaps it's not about me, perhaps it's about family.  Is it about generations passing on what they know and hoping that their descendants don't make too of the same many mistakes? 
As I write Louie Armstrong is playing - "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world".

Nana Lizzie
www.worldsbestgrandmother.com.au