Q. My siblings and I are planning a mini-family reunion this Independence Day. Two of my siblings have not seen our aging parents since the onset of the COVID pandemic, as they live outāof-state and couldnāt safely travel. Now that weāre all fully vaccinated, we cannot wait to see each other in-person. Weāre hoping to surprise our parents too. However, our parents are getting older and seem to get tired more quickly these days. As much as they love to see us and their nine grandchildren, I know the noise and energy can be draining. Do you have any suggestions on how we can make this an epic reunion?
A. I am so happy to hear about your grand surprise. Iām sure there will be tears shed after being apart for so long. I have a feeling that no matter the size or sound of the crowd, your parents will muster the energy to enjoy time with family.
That said, I do have a few tips to ensure this āepic reunionā goes as smoothly as possible.
As much as you want to surprise your parents, consider their personalities and health conditions. An epic surprise might cause more harm than good. If there are any concerns about surprising them, consider telling them about the reunion in advance. You could tell them a day or a few hours beforehand to ease into the excitement. No matter when you tell them, it will still be a surprise.
Pick a location that offers your parents some comfort. July can be hot, so you may not want to choose an outdoor park. Choose a location that has an air-conditioned indoor space. Better yet, a home environment that provides your parents with a guest room where they can retreat for a nap or some quiet time. You also want a location that has indoor toilets nearby.
Consider their usual routine. Time the reunion for when your parents feel their best. Are they morning people? Do they prefer to lounge around in the morning and are ready for events later in the day? Pick a time to for the reunion based on your parentsā daily habits.
Limit the time frame of your reunion or allow your parents to leave when theyāre ready to go. They may surprise you and stay for the entire duration. However, if they need to go because itās too loud or crowded, try to understand. Arrange separate times for individual family units to visit one-on-one with your parents, perhaps the following day or so.
Finally, plan games that are easy for your parents to join in too. Shorter games that donāt involve a lot of movement work best for older adults. Team games are great too, as well as trivia competitions. You could even pair a grandchild with each of your parents, so that they can still participate, but the grandchild does most of the activity.
Most importantly, have fun! Iām sure your parents will experience a renewed sense of energy just being able to be around their entire family. If this pandemic has taught us anything, family matters more than we realized, and family may be the best medicine of all.
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