Happy Childhood Inspires Ideas for Grandparents

Daytime talk shows make dysfunctional families seem like the norm, but Teri Harrison has a different story.

“I had the perfect upbringing,” said Harrison, 33, a self-employed businesswoman. “There was a lot of love, there was a lot of support, there was a lot of fun.”

Harrison and her husband, Martin, looked forward to duplicating that upbringing with a family of their own. But after several years of unsuccessfully trying to become parents, Harrison decided to channel her disappointment into a literary celebration of her idyllic childhood.

The result is “The Grandparents’ Little Idea Book,” which offers grandparents thoughts on how to spend quality time with their grandchildren, and ways to keep them entertained for an afternoon or weekend.

The self-published tome stresses that the little things count most, such as putting a swing in the backyard, or trading jokes or riddles by mail. (Kids love to get mail, and learn writing skills in the process, Harrison says.)

Other suggestions would make Martha Stewart proud: planting a small tree together; crafting a wooden “Baby” box in which to keep childhood mementos, or making a sign or flag for the front of the house to greet visiting grandchildren.

“The point is not to spend lots of money on a kid, or buy them the latest toy,” Harrison said. “The idea is to spend meaningful time together, talk, and create some memories.”

Harrison’s concept for the book, which goes on sale this month at bookstores locally and nationwide, dates back several years. Friends had told her it was a good idea, but she didn’t immediately pursue it. Then Harrison’s mother had her first grandchild, and the memories came flooding back.

In January, Harrison started pounding away on her laptop.

Research was easy.

Harrison and her mother, Virginia Goehring, co-own a gift business geared toward grandparents, and informal polls were conducted among friends and customers.

Many of the ideas in the 145-page book were “borrowed” from Grandma Nell, Harrison’s 81-year-old maternal grandmother, who has 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. And she took her job seriously.

Grandma’s basement in Edwardsville, Ill., was kept cluttered with everything from old clothes to an old typewriter. A candy dish always held special treats. Holidays were marked with handmade ornaments, and the hallway “game closet” seemingly had no end. Summers were spent hawking lemonade.

Harrison cherishes a set of dolls Grandma Nell fashioned from plastic milk bottles more than 25 years ago. The dolls came with detachable felt clothing.

“I remember when I first got them, we thought they were funny, we even laughed at them,” Harrison said, carefully taking them out of the tattered cardboard box where they reside. “Now, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”

Grandma Nell is as proud as can be of her granddaughter’s literary effort. The book was a hit with her quilting circle, she said.

“I just think it’s wonderful,” she said from her home in Edwardsville. “I told her she’s going to be a celebrity someday.”

The first-time author is looking forward to book signings Aug. 31 at Barnes & Noble at the Irvine Spectrum and B. Dalton at the Laguna Hills Mall, and Sept. 8--National Grandparents Day--at Borders Books in Mission Viejo.

But the youthful redhead expects that people will be surprised to see her in person and find out that while she hasn’t given up hope, she has no children of her own.

“Everyone assumes I’m a grandmother, so they’re kind of shocked to see me,” Harrison said. “And then there are the people who think, ‘What does she know, she doesn’t have any kids or grandchildren.’

“But to that I say, ‘I know what I’m missing,’ ” she added quietly.