Grandparenting with PD

Pearls for Parkinson's: Tips for Daily Living with PD. 

To watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lkaM5Kj6RRg

Grandchildren don’t need perfection or endless energy - they need you. 

This week on Pearls for Parkinson’s, we talk about meaningful ways to stay connected with younger and adult grandchildren when Parkinson’s changes stamina or energy.

To support more programs like this: https://wiparkinson.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-pearls4pd

Wisconsin Parkinson Association 
website: https://wiparkinson.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wiparkinson
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiparkinson/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiparkinson/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Pearls for Parkinsons. Here is this week's Daily Living Tip. Hello, friends. Welcome back to Pearls for Parkinsons. I wanted to share with you a story about an encounter that I had recently with an individual with Parkinson's at one of our events. And we were talking a lot about our grandchildren. And she said to me, I love my grandchildren so much, but how do I enjoy my grandchildren when my energy is limited? And that was such a good question. So today we're going to talk about that. Enjoying grandchildren when your energy is limited. You know, being a grandparent is one of life's greatest joys. I have six of them myself. The laughter, the hugs, the stories, and the little hands reaching for yours. And for many family, that also includes adult grandchildren or young adults building careers, going to college, raising families of their own, or finding their place in the world. But if you live with Parkinson's, you may also notice something else. These joyful relationships can really take a lot of energy. You may love every minute with your grandchildren and still feel tired afterwards. You may want to do more than your body allows, and you may wonder if they noticed the changes in you. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Let's start here. Children and adults alike remember how you made them feel far more than how active you were. They remember warmth. They remember attention, encouragement, humor, and feeling loved. And that means connection doesn't have to be exhausting to be meaningful. With younger children, think about energy smart connection, like reading books together on the couch or building blocks at a table or coloring side by side. Bake simple recipes while you're seated or watch birds out the window. Tell them your family stories. Many of the best grandparent moments happen very slowly. With adult grandchildren, connection may look different, but it matters just as much. Invite them for coffee, share a meal, ask them about their goals, send a thoughtful text, watch their children for a short visit if you can do that. Look through old photos together or just simply listen to them. Sometimes adult grandchildren especially value that wisdom and encouragement and feeling known. Also, plan your visits around your best times of day. If mornings are stronger for you, suggest morning visits. If medication timing gives you a better window later in the day, plan around that. You don't need to force connection during your hardest hours. Also, keep the visits shorter if needed. A meaningful one-hour visit is often better than a draining four-hour visit that leaves you wiped out for two days. Quality matters over quantity. And let's talk about honesty. Grandchildren of all ages notice changes. They may see slower movement or tremor or softer voice or fatigue. A simple explanation can really help that. Adult grandchildren may appreciate being included more directly. They often want to help, but not know necessarily how to do that. Let them carry something, drive, or fix something around the house, or simply spend time with you. Helping can be part of that connection. And if you need a break during that visit, take it without guilt. Sometimes a quiet pause or a snack break or just shifting conversation instead of activity is all that's needed. Grandchildren aren't measuring your stamina. They're receiving your love. They like to hear your stories. They want to hear your wisdom and learn your traditions. So if Parkinson's has changed how you grandparent, it's not erased what matters most. Love is still coming through in a thousand small ways. Thanks for joining me today on Pearls for Parkinson's. If this episode could help encourage a grandparent or family member you know, please share it with them. And tune in next Monday for more Pearls for Parkinson's. The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you. To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.