Friday, March 27, 2009

Rental Grandmas

I saw a piece on the local news tonight about Grannies for Rent. Seriously. Single, older women "adopted" kids of single moms. The older women don't have any family around, and the single moms don't have any grandparents handy. So, they spoil the kids rotten, spend holidays with them, develop relationships with the single parent family/extended family and do life together. Unfortunately, the story came over the wires from Poland. But they are so on to something over there...and it's exactly what we're hoping to do eventually with Eve's Daughters.

We recently lost a sweet sweet neighbor who was one of E's rental grandmas. It was especially hard because that kind of adoration--the kind with no strings attached--is beautiful and rare. I remembered my own grandmother who, by her own admission, made a better grandma than a mom. She was the one who took me to the Disney movie openings and to Big Boy for a hamburger afterwards. She was the one who told my mother (my MOTHER!) to lighten up when it came to being fashionable in the 1970s :) and the one who'd remind me that grades weren't the be all and end all.

Thing is, kids need this kind of attention and love, yet so few of us are near biological family these days...and sometimes, biological families aren't interested in that kind of relationship. But what about, for example, the youngish widow who has a lot of time and love and talent and chocolate chip cookies to give?

Cathy and I have been chewing on the notion of working with local senior populations as well, for this very reason. Tell us your thoughts: Is this something that would be a blessing to your family?

3 comments:

Melinda said...

You and I have talked about how much I get excited about this!

Anonymous said...

I love this idea because it is good for all involved: the children, the moms and the "grandmas". It is definitely worth cultivating!

DaAnne Smith
Executive Director
Single Mothers Outreach
www.singlemothersoutreach.org

Anonymous said...

I think it's a great idea, wouldn't have come to my mind!
Personally I'm always on the lookout for twoparent families to hang out with since I have two boys that need male role model.
Last weekend I was at an adopted uncle and aunts' birthday party. It was awesome! Some more family showed up and and the guys played football with my kids, even my daughter participated.