How many children do you have?

We have 4 grown and married children.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages?

6 grands! We have one 4 yr old, two 3 yr old twins, two 2 yr olds, and one 1 yr old. That’s 6 kiddos ages 4 and under….

What do your grandchildren call you?

Nonnie

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother?

At the time, our daughter and son-in-law were living on the west coast, a long way away from us. I was concerned about getting out there for the birth.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren?

We have one we see every day, the other 5 we see fairly often.

What is the best thing about being a grandma?

Hearing a little voice say, “Nonnie” makes my heart melt every time. I love seeing these little babies become little people and getting to know their hearts.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma?

Keeping up with their energy when they are all visiting at the same time.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud.

We laugh at their impromptu “talent” shows — everyone taking turns showing what they can do, whether it’s telling a story, dancing, or building Lego towers. They are very entertaining!

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house?

Read books, play Legos on the living room floor, go to the beach.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house?

I like to have them show me their bedroom and show me their favorite toys. I like to have them show off their newest discoveries and tricks.

What/where has been your favorite family vacation?

We tried a week with all 16 of us last summer at a vacation home on a lake and it was fun, but the grands were pretty little and nobody slept very good. We decided to try it again when everybody was a little older. Right now, an afternoon at the lake is perfect!

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits?

We FaceTime, talk on the phone, send pictures back and forth. We have a GroupMe account for just our family that keeps everybody connected.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren?

My highest priority is for them to know unconditional love and to teach them to love God.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you?

Welcoming.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent?

Don’t let too many days go by without connecting. Busyness can steal precious opportunities.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma?

Smile, laugh and enjoy your grands. Don’t let rules come before relationships.

Is there anything else you would you like to add about being a grandmother?

Being a Nonnie is a high calling and the potential to be a positive influence is huge. My own mother died before seeing her grands, so I feel a distinct privilege and blessing in knowing my six.

Do you have a website or blog? What is the URL and what is it about?

Yes, it’s called “a small drop of ink”. Find me at www.dinahoverlien.com where I write about faith, family, life.

Do you have other published work you'd like to share (books, articles, etc)?

Not yet!

If you would like to be featured as a Grilled Grandma or know of a grandma whom you'd like to nominate to be grilled, please email me with the subject line GRILLED GRANDMA and include the grandma's name and email address. Thank you!