She was a very old grandmother and some were not sure that it was healthy for a small child like me to be in her care so often. By God's grace, not only did we survive but we thrived together. Most of my cousins were nearing adulthood by the time I was born. During my life Grandmother was very limited physically and was wheelchair bound. I have come to realize this was a blessing in disguise for me. What she lacked in energy and ability she made up for in imagination and Scripture memorization; I contributed the energy and "muscle". She could tell a fine story but she was even better at bringing Biblical accounts to life and she depended on Scripture to manage her emotions and pain. This early bond showed me the value of connecting generations and connecting Scripture to daily life! In my own parenting, it is challenging to stay connected to my kids and not let their safety, cleanliness, and physical needs zap all of my energy and strength. It takes focused effort to engage them spiritually and emotionally. There are so many times when I want an assistant! There are many things out there designed to help kids perform, learn, or behave better. However, in my experience as a Speech Language Pathologist and parent these can be side effects of how well parents stay connected to kids and function as a team. Limited resources, limited time, and other responsibilities push against us! We started PLAtime to come alongside parents and assist. PLAtime regularly delivers the tools reminding parents to connect with their kids either to the door or to the inbox or both. The activities do develop social, communication, and cognitive skills but the main focus is regular relational connection.
