Off to see the wizard.

Have you ever imagined yourself skipping down the yellow brick road? Felt the Lion’s furry arm and the Tin Man’s metal one linked with yours? Heard Toto yipping? Smelled the poppies of The Emerald City?

And then realized, suddenly, that Oz isn’t actually a place you can visit? Some places –products of rich, creative minds—are as real to us as our own back yards. Grab a pencil and match these classic imaginary American places with their creators.

Answers at the end.

1. Manderley
2. Metropolis
3. Gotham City
4. Yoknapatawpha County
5. Tara
6. Sleepy Hollow
7. Injun Joe’s Cave
8. Dogpatch
9. Lake Wobegon
10. Treasure Island
11. The March family home
12. The Emerald City
13. The Death Star

• Margaret Mitchell
• Bob Kane and Bill Finger
• Louisa May Alcott
• William Faulkner
• L. Frank Baum
• George Lucas
• Al Capp
• Mark Twain
• Robert Louis Stevenson
• Garrison Keillor
• Daphne du Maurier
• Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
• Washington Irving

ANSWERS

1. Daphne du Maurier  2. Jerry Siegl, Joe Shuster 3. Bob Kane, Bill Finger 4. William Faulkner 5. Margaret Mitchell 6. Washington Irving  7.  Mark Twain 8. Al Capp 9. Garrison Keillor 10. Robert Louis Stevenson 11. Louisa May Alcott 12. L. Frank Baum 13. George Lucas

*Adapted from AARP Bulletin’s Power of 50, April 2013

Gran Nan: Should I start a 529 account for my grandson? Can he have lots of 529 accounts?  Should I see if someone else is starting one for him—or should I just plunge in and start one even if I won’t be making an impressive contribution?

Carol: YES, YES, and IT MATTERS NOT! Can a child ever have too much money for education?

Let me tell you a little story. When our first child was born seven years ago, our financial planner told us it would cost more than $225,000 for four years of college—public, mind you—by the time he reached 18. Gulp. (Over $600,000 for a private college. Huge Gulp). NO contribution is too small.  Start that puppy.

Also, your 529 won’t preclude the parents opening up one of their own. (We did. Later.)  More money can only help. A helpful hint—My father-in-law made sure we received copies of the statement from his 529 so we know how much our kids have in their accounts, which is extremely helpful as we plan. It’s also a regular reminder of the amazing gift he gave us—and continues to give us as the lump sum earns interest.

 Read about the different kinds of 529s—they vary from state to state—and their tax benefits.

Gran Nan: I’ve seen the sleepers with wings that double as swaddlers, but what am I missing?  My first and only trip to Buy, Buy Baby made me hyperventilate.  The floor to ceiling stacks of baby stuff tied my stomach in knots.  What’s good?  What’s trash?  What is relevant?  I felt the way I had felt when I was first allowed in the adult section of the library.  “How will I know which ones to read?”  I had no filter, no judgment.  I saw vaporizers shaped like animals and all I could think of was how will I know if these are any good?  Does anyone actually use vaporizers anymore?  Once upon a time, I knew Fisher Price had the best toys and word of mouth taught me which was the best gear; I didn’t have to pay attention to everything I saw.  Before practically backing out of Buy Buy Baby, it was only courtesy that kept me from calling a colleague with two children under age three begging for help.

Carol: And I’m sure Liz thanks you for your restraint! Chances are, she was in the middle of a messy feeding.

The sheer amount of baby product on the market is completely overwhelming, isn’t it? It’s even worse when you’re many, many pounds heavier than normal, the hormones are running rampant  and you’re being pressured to register. (Yes, baby registries are all the rage, and actually useful IF you know what you want). Yes, here, Gran Nan can inject sanity into what might be semi-frantic parents pressured by the U.S. Industrial Baby Complex. The baby needs to be safe, warm, clean and well fed. Anything that doesn’t help with these four things, seriously consider the purchase.

If you’re looking to make truly worthwhile purchases that will be much appreciated, consider:

1.   A good stroller that is (and here’s the key) EASY to pack up and transport in a car/bus/cab. We invested an obscene amount of money in our stroller(s) and it was worth every cent. Think: Can you pack up the stroller with one hand? Is it lightweight?

2.   A monitor. Pretty essential for today’s homes, especially if the house is large or multi-storied. Many love the video monitors so they can actually see Pumpkin as he sleeps, though Mommy often can’t help going to check in person.

3.   A Bag. Baby bags go by many names – bundlers, stroller warmers. They’re essentially blankets cleverly stitched together to keep baby warm when outdoors whether Pumpkin is in the car seat or stroller. Your grandson is a winter baby so this would be a good purchase.

4.   Rags. I bought a bunch of cotton diapers and used them for spills and other dirty incidents. They’re soft enough for baby’s skin and I never felt like I was destroying a good towel or actual clothing to mop up messes.

5.   The parents likely have lots of little clothes that Precious Baby will grow out of in approximately five minutes. Gran Nan can fill the void with snuggly duds in sizes 6 months and up. Grans are also great for buying those beautiful he’ll-only-wear-it-once-but-who-cares outfits that look great in photos.

6.   Gift certificate to Diapers.com. I can’t recommend this enough. We spent enough on this site—which delivers diapers right to the door!—to have purchased a piece of the company. I think many parents feel the same.

Liz: They are AMAZING! Next day delivery of anything you need and really competitive prices. We buy diapers, formula, baby food, bottles, shoes, clothes, EVERYTHING! Plus, really easy reordering and doing returns!

Also, Mustela skincare line. It’s not cheap, but very nice for newborn, sensitive skin. And a Baby Einstein (or similar brand) Activity Mat. It’s easy to store and doesn’t take a lot of room, great place to keep baby safe and entertained on the floor. (Available at the big baby stores, like Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us, as well as smaller baby/maternity stores.

Carol: Yep, those are good ones!

Follow “First Time Gran” as we await the birth of Precious Baby. We’re sure Gran Nan will have more questions!

 Nancy: When an email came through from my son on Friday with the word grandson in the subject line, I threw my coat on the floor trying to get my glasses out of the pocket as I kept panting, “I think he’s here! I think he’s here!”  He wasn’t, but now I know approximately how unglued I will become when I get the real word.  Meanwhile, though, I have enough questions to fill the kind of scroll in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

What do I need to know that’s changed in the last 30 years so the new parents will eventually trust me with this baby, this boy, this gift?  All I know is “back to sleep,” no crib bumpers, no blankets, no toys in the crib and don’t buy used cribs or car seats.  What lack of knowledge will make me look like an inept grandmother and how do I avoid that?

 Carol: Gran Nan, I must say – you know quite a bit! Plus, the soon-to-be parents are likely so overwhelmed with the complete body blow they are about to receive they may not be so focused on all the Dos and Don’ts of Modern Parenthood. However, a few pointers to keep in mind:

*Doctors recommend, overwhelmingly, breastfeeding—not necessarily “the thing” when Generation X was born! A whole industry has sprung up around breastfeeding; lactation consultants and other medical professionals are available should your daughter-in-law need assistance (and/or break down in complete frustration). Should she need help, you could offer to buy her nursing pads, soothing cream, a hand pump, a maternity bra, or a simple jog bra, perhaps, to show that you’re thinking this often-difficult process through.

*To help prevent SIDS, same-room sleeping is encouraged, though not same-bed sleeping (though Lord knows this is often the easiest option).

*Tummy time is a big yes these days (though some babies, such as my own, hated it). It fosters development and decreases the likelihood of flat heads.

*Pacifiers are on the OK list -  but no bottles in bed.

*Foods not recommended for year one: eggs, cow’s milk, honey, peanuts.

I’d also recommend using language such as “I understand that now doctors are recommending …. Is that what you’ve learned?” in order to give the parents an opportunity to express their desires, but also the reminder that there’s one sharp granny on the lookout for Precious Baby.

Follow First Time Gran as we await the birth of The Precious One. We’re sure Gran Nan will have more questions.