Welcome to Grandma's dolphin pen. For 7 years, I've been coming to Island Dolphin Care to watch my only grandchild swim. During those years I have met other Grandma's. We all shared a common bond. Not only do we have special needs grandchildren, but also we have a child who struggles with the physical, mental, and emotional needs our grandchild brings to his/her "typical" life. Island Dolphin Care became this Grandma's own special place. I did not have to be "the Grand Matriarch" just a woman with an ache in my heart experiencing the joy the adventure was bringing to my child and grandchild.

In 2002, Janet from Essex, England, and I met at Island Dolphin Care and began an e-relationship. We shared good news and now we had someone who truly understood concerns we tried to hide from our child. We could talk about the frustrations created by the school system, the needs for equipment, day care, doctors and hospitals, therapy and then yet another therapy. Our e-relationship grew and our correspondence began to include our other children, our husbands, and even what color to paint the lounge. I just assumed the lounge was the type of room called the "family room" in an American home but it could be bathroom. I never ask because at this point I became involved in a "husband-wife" decision. Barry wanted red, Janet wanted magnolia. As always, I had an opinion. Are you curious whether I sided with Barry or Janet? Are you curious who actually won?

Deena has suggested we Dolphin Grandma's start our own club. What an excellent idea! Janet encourages me to be the person I am apart from mother and grandmother. Our little guys and gals are so precious but we need support too. Would you like someone to chat with? We can set up a Grandma's e-mail group and perhaps Island Dolphin Care has offered us a small corner in the monthly newsletter to share news from older more experienced women. E-mail me at lowibe@woh.rr.com and I'll tell you what color they painted the lounge.