This post originally ran on 10/21/16, but we are re-posting in honor of the recent passing of her grandpa. Sending our deepest condolences to Michelle and her family. When I was little, my paternal Grandfather Abe and I enjoyed many hours of playing Rummy at his kitchen table. First, my Grandfather would conduct the impressive…
DetailsOh the stories you’ll hear! This past Saturday they came to Deerfield IL from Madison, WI. My son, his wife and my grandchildren Merete and Aiden. My granddaughter Katie and her boyfriend Lance came up from Chicago. My lady friend, Felice, was there too The chatter over lunch and dinner was rich, lively and full…
DetailsI have a great group of guys with whom I get together every Friday morning. You may have seen us…well, not exactly us, but that group of retirees you see at the diner once a week. We talk, we laugh, we kvetch. Then, last week, one of the guys suggested, “Next Friday, let’s talk about…
DetailsSteve and Diane Brogan were recently retired and building their dream home in a beautiful wooded area in New England, centrally located between their two adult children and their three grandchildren, ages 12 to 16. They had visions of family holidays and shared activities and more. Until Diane discovered she was allergic to trees. “We…
DetailsMoms Demand Action Grandparent Unit Meeting At 90, I’m not one to stay still when something is on my mind. I want to help where I can and connect to others who also are concerned. I’m a proud grandpa of six grandchildren and one great grandchild. I’ve been very afraid and anxious about my grandchildren…
DetailsGone are the days of baking cookies or making crafts together. Although going out together for ice cream never goes out of style. My grandchildren are now 16 to 36. It’s not something to lament. As they get older their minds grow and their world of ideas expands exponentially. I love talking to them about…
DetailsThe thing about Family Meetings is that if you make them a habit when children are young, they continue to be a priority as children age. There may be a different feel at different times of life, but that is the beauty and essence of knowing and growing in sync with one another. When Ariella…
DetailsOver the course of 50+ years as a social-work professional and mentor, I’ve discovered that a simple pen or pencil can be one of the most successful tools to inspire self-discovery, lasting growth, and life-satisfaction. In “The Health Benefits of Journaling,” social-work professional Maud Purcell states: “The act of writing accesses your left brain, which…
DetailsGrandparents often ask me, “How will I be remembered?” They know that they can leave valuables, but things can be lost, discarded or no longer considered valuable. A legacy of values, however, can guide grandchildren in their daily life, school, friendship, family relationships. A value such as kindness becomes integrated into the being of the…
DetailsThis letter from Barbara Howard, to her grandma, was written when Barbara was 80. It’s part of the “The Grandchildren Speak” series, where we collected letters from grandchildren sharing what they learned from their grandparents. My Grandma Nettie was an old-fashioned Midwestern farm wife. She and Grandpa had nine children whom they raised on…
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