metro >> grandparents day
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Precious Memories
JN readers share treasured memories of their grandchildren.
rShers Too OM To Be
My Mont
Isabel Dzodin of Southfield
writes, "I just met Alexis'
Pre-K teacher for the first
time. The teacher asked if I
was the mother. Alexis said,
`No, that's my grandmother.
She's way too old to be my
mother!'"
Alexis Kaganas, 4, Dallas,
Texas
Brett Katzen, 7, Commerce
Township
Concerned About Grandpa
"After a 12-week excruciating wait,
Grandpa Al had hip replacement sur-
gery',' writes Linda Katzen of Commerce
Township. "Our three grandchildren,
Jared, Brett and Cami, were extra protec-
tive and attentive during this time. They
came to visit at the hospital the evening
after the surgery. Brett, who was 7, want-
ed an explanation of what every tube and
piece of equipment was for. He was finally
satisfied that Grandpa was doing well. As
we left the room, Brett quietly asked,`Do
the nurses sleep over here in case there's
an emergency?' This was not only cute
but also very special:'
Romie, Michaela, Alia and Matan Kapen,
Oakton, Va.
Three Grandsons –
Three Stories
Say What?
Rachel Kapen of West
Bloomfield is proud of grand-
children Romie, Michaela,
Alia and Matan Kapen. "Little
Matan was showing his dino-
saur to his other grandma,
Susan Brechtel, from New
Orleans:' she writes. "Grandma
asked him if he eats people
and before he had the chance
to answer, big brother Romie,
then 81/2 — a dinosaur expert
— said in a matter of fact way,
`He couldn't eat people. There
were no people: Matan just
looked bewildered."
Three-year-old Justin Glasser recently
came for a visit from Newport Coast, Calif.
Once he got back home, he told his par-
ents,"In the morning, I want to go back
to Mishi Gin. And I want to tell you some-
thing. I want to go to Home Depot. And I
want to tell you something else. I want to
go to the place where you can catch lots
of fish. Fish for mommies and daddies
and boys and babies. And I want to go to
Home Depot again. Sleep tight."
Nancy Glasser from Farmington Hills
writes that her grandson Jack is one cute
and funny 6-year-old. "One evening, I was
having my kids and grandchildren over
for dinner. I was warming up the dinner
in the oven when Jack walked in. He said,
`Grandma, it sure smells yummy in here,
but I'm sure its not anything I'll ever eat:
Max Gorman, 7, Novi
"He's cute, funny — and a picky eater!"
she writes of grandson, Max, 7. "One day
we went out for dinner and he was served
soup. He isn't a fan of soup, but decided
to try it. After taking one sip, he looked at
me and said, 'Well, it's good, but I think
I'm going to save my appetite for the
steak: What a nice way to say 'gross'!"
Jack Gorman, 6, Novi
Justin Glasser, 3, Newport Coast, Calif.
Memories on page 13
10
September 8 • 2011
Mondays With Murray
"When I became pregnant with
Hailey, I was confident that my dad
would offer to watch her:' said Serlin
of Huntington Woods. "I knew that he
would want to be as involved as pos-
sible:'
Goldenberg's "babysitting" gig
expanded when Halley, now 5, became
big sister to Jordan, now 2.
"When Jordan was born, without
hesitation, he offered to continue his
`special day' with both of them:' Serlin
said. "Both of my kids look forward to
Mondays, knowing that they are going
to be doing something fun with their
papa: an activity, project or just hang-
ing out:'
Goldenberg said, "When we're out,
we go anywhere from the zoo to dif-
ferent libraries or to walk around at
Somerset Mall." When they're not on
a "field trip:' the kids and their papa
are at the Serlin home. "I come to their
house so I'm not distracted by my own
things and the focus is on them.
"Sometimes we just watch a DVD or
a TV show together. I know about TV
characters I had never heard of before.
Ask me anything about (PBS Public
television's) Caillou."
And what does Goldenberg's
wife (Grammie) Linda, a Temple
Beth El "mom and tot" teacher and
Farmington Hills substitute teacher,
think about his special time with their
grandchildren.
"No problem',' he said. "She has
Tuesdays."
In fact, all of Hailey and Jordan's
grandparents — including Joel and
Cathy Serlin of West Bloomfield and
Linda and Bill Horn of Delroy, Ohio —
are "very involved and very hands on,
and all plan special days and activities
with the kids often: Serlin said.
"Cathy used to watch them on
Wednesdays. This school year, she is
planning on picking up Jordan from
nursery school at Temple Israel on
Fridays and watching him while Halley
is in school!'
The Horns plan trips from Ohio to
visit the kids at least once a month.
"Linda (Horn) just started a new
tradition with Hailey," Serlin said.
"Every year she is going to do some-
thing or take her somewhere special
around her birthday. And when Jordan
gets older, she will do the same with
him:'
Goldenberg calls the time he gets to
spend with his grandchildren price-
less.
"First I was a son, then a husband,
then a father;' he said. "But being a papa
is totally different. This part of my life
is fantastic. When I get to Halley and
Jordan's house and they run up to me,
nothing else matters:" 1 _1