A GRAND Week at GRANDcamp

The dictionary might define “grand” as very good or enjoyable, excellent. But when I was invited to host our two granddaughters for an entire Monday through Friday, I discovered that grand is so much more than a definition; it’s a way of being present in the world.

Planning for Excellence

I knew from the moment I said yes that I was shooting for something special. This time wouldn’t be just a week of babysitting; this would be GRAND in every sense of the word. Armed with three willing camp counselors, their aunties Charlotte and Catherine, plus the GRANDfather – Gary and our secret weapon (the backyard pool), I began planning what would become a memorable week of the summer.

Our itinerary read like a summer camp brochure: a trampoline park for bouncing energy, a library summer reading magic show for wonder, a pirate ship adventure for imagination, professional manicures by Aunt Charlotte for pampering, movie nights for cozy togetherness, biking on the local trail for fresh air, a visit to the Amish market for cultural exploration, and feeding the turtles nearby for those quiet moments of connection with nature.

The Deep Questions of Summer

What I hadn’t anticipated were the profound conversations that would emerge between splash fights and snack times. Suddenly, I pondered questions like “What causes brain freeze?” alongside more philosophical inquiries such as “If Adam and Eve hadn’t sinned, would we still be in the same situation?” These aren’t your typical pool deck discussions, but with GRANDchildren, every moment becomes an opportunity for wonder and inquiry.

Discoveries in the Deep End

The week brought unexpected revelations for my granddaughters. One realized she could play in the pool for hours without a hint of boredom, yet couldn’t maintain the same enthusiasm on a bike ride. There’s something about water that suspends time and makes play feel endless and effortless. The bike ride proved challenging for our ten-year-old, and several times she called out “I will push through!” while navigating the trail.

I watched as my granddaughters navigated their own emotional geography—wanting to be at Dad’s house when they were at Mom’s, and vice versa. It struck me how this restlessness, this longing for the other place, is perhaps one of our most human traits. We’re always imagining ourselves somewhere else, sometimes even—as my ten-year-old granddaughter expressed it—imagining ourselves with wings and a tail, reaching for something just beyond our grasp.

The Transformation of Perspective

But perhaps the most profound observation came during those countless hours by the pool. I remembered when my own children were little—how pool time meant trying to multitask, stealing moments to fold laundry or prep dinner while keeping one eye on the water. Now, with grandchildren splashing and laughing, I only wanted to sit, watch, and marvel at them.

This shift felt monumental from the productivity-driven parenting mindset to the presence-focused joy of grandparenting. It’s the difference between managing childhood and celebrating it.

The True Meaning of GRAND

By Friday afternoon, as we packed up pool toys and said our goodbyes, complete with an awards ceremony, including awards certificates, thank yous, and a highlights reel courtesy of their video editing Aunt Catherine. I understood that grand isn’t just about the activities you plan or the places you visit. It’s about showing up fully, listening to others ponder their big questions, embracing the small moments, and recognizing that sometimes the most extraordinary experiences happen in your own backyard.

The informal definition of grand might be “very good or enjoyable; excellent,” but I learned that week that grand is really about being completely present for the people you love. It’s about creating space for wonder, laughter, and those perfect summer moments that exist nowhere but in memory and the splash of pool water on a hot afternoon.

Sometimes, the most GRAND adventures are the ones that happen right at home and make you so grateful that you’d sign up for another Monday-through-Friday in a heartbeat.