How It All Began
When my grandson was born, I was working as a substitute teacher. I had spent years in classrooms and lunchrooms all over the district, getting to know teachers, principals, and especially special ed programs. One school stood out—it had the best staff, a wonderful principal, and an incredible special ed team.
My daughter wanted to work in special education too, and when a full-time position opened at that school, she stepped right in. That’s when I made a big decision: instead of continuing to work, I would become the baby’s daycare. I wanted to be the one to care for him.
It was an adjustment—giving up my job, changing my daily routines—but it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.
Adjusting to Grandma Caregiving
Taking care of a child full time again was different this time around. Parents today have new tools—bottle warmers, formula makers, pouches of food, better diapers, easier baby clothes. Some things were simpler, but other things were harder.
The biggest adjustment? Realizing that as the grandma, there isn’t really a backup plan. If I need time off, it affects everyone—my daughter, her students, and my son-in-law’s job. It took time, patience, and flexibility, but we found a rhythm.
From “Playing Talk” to Crew
When my grandson was a toddler, he wanted constant interaction. He wasn’t a “sit and watch a show” kind of kid—he wanted my attention, my input, my voice.
One day we started using stuffed animals to make up little conversations. He called it playing talk. He loved it. We made up stories, gave the animals names and personalities, and built little worlds together.
During COVID, he even insisted all the stuffed animals needed masks. So we carefully taped tissue-paper masks on every one of them. It was our way of coping with a strange world.
Then one day, after earning a toy from the store, he brought home a pack of Fisher-Price Little People superheroes. He called them the crew. That name stuck.
From then on, crew was our special game.
The World of Crew
Our crew grew to include superheroes, babies named Goo Goo and Gaga, Disney characters, and more. Each one had a role and a personality. The stories were endless.
There were villains, too—like Sunny, a squishy sun toy whose eye popped out when squeezed. Sunny was usually good, but sometimes he turned bad, freezing or hiding the crew. My grandson would always explain why the bad guys acted out—because they never had friends, or didn’t have enough food, or felt left out. In the end, the crew always made peace and welcomed them in.
These weren’t just games. They were creative, imaginative stories. It felt like we were making art together.
The Bond We Built
Looking back, I realize that those moments were some of the most creative and joyful times of my life. The bond I formed with my grandson during those long afternoons of crew is unlike anything I could have imagined.
Just a few months ago, my grandson, who is school age now, was talking to his parents.
“Mom, dad…I have something to tell you that’s very important.”
“Okay. What is it?” They asked.
“When grandma and I started Crew, it was life changing. It was really important. It changed our lives.” He was right. It changed OUR lives.
“One Piece“. Art Imitating Life Imitating Art.
About a year ago, my two sons convinced my husband and me to start watching the anime show One Piece. With nearly 1,200 episodes, it felt like an impossible challenge — but to our surprise, it quickly became one of our favorite parts of the day. What would normally have been an easy “no” turned into a cherished family ritual.
I’ll be honest — One Piece isn’t an easy watch. The episodes stretch on with seemingly endless battle scenes. The women are drawn with exaggerated proportions and scant clothing, a stark contrast to the wide variety of male characters. The animation is quirky, and at times the volume feels turned up to extreme. And yet… this show is pure gold.
What makes it shine is the storytelling. It reminded me of the way my grandson and I invented stories with our “Crew” of toys — full of boyish charm, wild imagination, and heart. Watching One Piece opened my eyes to a kind of art I would never have appreciated otherwise. Now, I don’t hesitate to say it: One Piece is one of the greatest stories ever told.
My Calling as a Grandma
Over the years, I’ve watched my grandson grow, then his little sister after him, and now another grandson part time. I also have three more granddaughters that live in another state. That requires an extra level of navigation so I can spend time with them. I’ve had to sacrifice hobbies, free time, and even parts of my independence. But I wouldn’t trade it. I see this role as my calling—something the Lord has asked me to do in this season of life. And the blessings have been incredible.
Not every family has this option, and not every grandparent is able to do it. But for me, it worked. And it gave my grandchildren a gift I believe is better than daycare: a bond of love and security that will last their whole lives.
An Invitation to Other Grandmas
So that’s the story of Crew. What started with stuffed animals and Little People turned into one of the most magical, creative, and meaningful times of my life.
Do you have your own version of crew? A special game, story, or world you’ve built with your grandchildren? I would love to hear about it. Let’s share these stories and remind the world that grandmas matter—and that what we do is truly important.
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