Storytelling grandmothers convene at Hämeenlinna open market

Rocking-chair grannies also available on line

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By Irja Hyvärinen
     
      "I’ve always wanted to be a grandmother at a day-care centre", says Pirjo Joukainen of Nurmijärvi, as she sits down in her rocking chair.
      Irma Hevonoja of Hämeenlinna had similar thoughts as she took her rocking chair to the open market square of Hämeenlinna.
      Salli Suomi from Kouvola brought a stool with her in case she was confronted by a child that was too big for her lap.
      In addition to those three, nearly 300 other grandmothers had convened in Hämeenlinna to tell stories in their rocking chairs.
     
The Hippalot cultural event for children and young people focused on the family this year, and especially on the role of grandparents.
      Since not all children have a grandmother of their own, it was decided that the circle of grandmothers should be expanded.
      Dozens of Hämeenlinna schoolchildren spoke to their own grandmothers, or others who were close to them.
      Information spread over the Internet, and ultimately, the 100 rocking chairs that had been reserved for the event proved to be quite inadequate. The rest had to make do with garden lounge chairs, and had to pretend that they were rocking themselves.
      "Grandfathers are also welcome, but grandmothers seem to be more quick to get started", observed Kristiina Hurmerinta, the head of the festival. Hurmerinta’s original idea was that of passing down stories.
      Eija Kytömäki of Varkaus does not have grandchildren of her own. "But it is possible to do things with borrowed children - the kinds of things that I never had time to do with my own."
      "I tell them about what life was like back when this old lady was a little girl. When there was no television, and when nobody had even heard about the Internet", Kytömäki says.
     
Kytömäki’s sister Eeva Rautavuoma has experienced how difficult it is to maintain contact with grandchildren living abroad. Hurmerinta agrees. "A telephone bill to Paris adds up to 250 euros a month."
      Coming to their aid is a special free service: electronic grandparenting with free access.
      The Information Technology Centre of Hämeenlinna has launched the service, which is open to older people of both genders.
      The adult registers into the service with an electronic identification card issued by the police, giving personal information, such as favourite hobbies.
     
A child who wants adult interaction can pick, for instance, a grandfather who likes fishing, or a grandmother with an interest in mechanics.
      Valtteri Ahonen, age 14, has helped develop the service. "Someone aged 9-10 is capable of having an independent conversation, so why shouldn’t small children be able to take part along with the rest of the family?" Ahonen says.
      The first to register with the service was Anneli Taina, Governor of the Province of South Finland. However, she still needs an identification number, just like everyone else.
      So what kinds of topics is Governor Taina willing to discuss?
      "Administration and gardening."
     
Helsingin Sanomat - first published in print 4.8.2005

More on this subject:
 FACTFILE: Electronic grandparent service is safe

IRJA HYVÄRINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
irja.hyvarinen@hs.fi