Stranger steps up as fill in Nana
Kerikeri’s Harry Fox is delighted to have gained a surrogate grandmother after a social media post seeking someone to join him at his school’s Grandparents Day.
Harry’s mother Nicola Payne posted on the Northland Grapevine Facebook group - hoping to find a fill-in grandma or grandpa.
She says she was surprised at the number of responses and the positive feedback, and chose Barbara Nock, who messaged her privately.
‘‘I thought one of my friend’s would offer - I didn’t think a complete stranger would offer to do that for someone,’’ Payne says.
Harry, 9, says he was worried that he wouldn’t have someone to take to Grandparents Day at Riverview School.
‘‘I was worried at first - nan lives in the UK and grandad has passed away.
‘‘When mum said the post had this many likes, I was really happy.
‘‘I thought I could get a grandma or grandpa and I wouldn’t have to go to school without a grandparent.’’
Barbara or ‘Nana Nock’ as she is more affectionately known, says she saw the Facebook post and thought ‘‘I’d love to do that.’’
‘‘I know how much it means to the kids.’’
Unfortunately Nock had to attend a family funeral out of town on Grandparents Day, but she had organised a friend to step in.
Upon meeting Harry, Nock says to him: ‘‘How would you like me to be a surrogate nana?’’
Nock says she will visit Harry at school another time and attend other events.
Harry says he’d love that.
Payne is visibly emotional: ‘‘It’s really lovely.’’
Nana Nock has 13 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.
For her 80th birthday, her grandchildren bought her a Skydive over the Bay of Islands - falling from 16,000 ft.
Riverview School Principal Ken McLeay says the Grandparents Day is the first the school has had in the seven years he has been there.
‘‘There are lots of children far and wide, who may not have grandparents and we don’t want to rule anyone out.
‘‘So we said grandparents or significant adult.’’
The school will hold a powhiri for the grandparents on May 15, before morning tea and then a visit to the children’s classrooms.