For TLC, Tender Loving Communication, with our adult children, someone has to make the first move. If it seems it’s hard to find time to chat, whether by phone or in person (pick up one child from swimming at 3:30 with just enough time to pick up the other at karate, before heading home to…
DetailsThanks to increased longevity, many of us may actually have 40 or more years to participate in the lives of our grandchildren! And that’s not the good news. Living near each other (or having the means to undertake regular visits) is no longer essential to maintaining close family ties, thanks to burgeoning communications technologies and…
DetailsAs a family psychologist, I was struck by the fact there is often a key factor missing in society’s conversations about what makes individuals and families, and especially children, thrive: our deep need for intergenerational love and support—even in a determinedly self-reliant culture and digital age. Grandparents matter. Jerry Witkovsky gets this, and as a…
DetailsWith Easter and Passover on the horizon, families may be gathering from afar, making it a perfect time to hold a family meeting. There are many excellent resources, online and at your public library, for conducting Family Meetings; and all can be adapted to fit your needs and circumstances. Here are three tips to get you…
DetailsAll it takes is a little TLC (“Tender Loving Communication”) “To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first…
DetailsIntergenerational Magic: Put Down the Cell Phones and Share a Story Grandpa Jerry Witkovsky and author of book about grandparenting The Grandest Love: Inspiring the Grandparent-Grandchild Connection talks about the power sharing stories to bring the generations closer together. “When a grandparent dies, a library burns to the ground,” says Witkovsky. So share your stories…
DetailsUntil recently, Author and Grandparenting expert Jerry Witkovsky wouldn’t even entertain the question about what to say if a grandchild asked you to keep a secret. “I wouldn’t want to jeopardize the trust with my adult child.” But after questions at recent speaking events, from grandparents earnestly wanting to always be there for their grandkids,…
DetailsAs my own grandchildren got older, it became clear that maintaining strong connection was increasingly challenging as their schedules grew more demanding and their academics, extracurriculars, and friendships predominated. Something else was clear too: that the high school years are a critical period during which close bonds with caring family members are more important than…
DetailsVisit to the Rochester Jewish Book Festival by Jerry Witkovsky, author of The Grandest Love: Inspiring the Grandparent-Grandchild Connection,” on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014: “Jerry’s book is a ‘love letter’ to grandparents and grandchildren, and those who heard him speak in Rochester said his thoughtful and inspiring discussion was one of the highlights of this…
DetailsWhether you live five minutes or 500 miles away, your grandchildren are so lucky to have you in their lives and so lucky that you want to be such a strong presence in their lives. And, they want you to be present in their lives. Here are five tips on how to make this happen.*…
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