Let’s face it: life-cycle changes are humbling. Even happy changes, like becoming a grandparent, force us to face certain realties that we may not be ready for. After all these years at the helm, we’ve gotten very accustomed to our leadership role as The Parents. Oh, sure, we’ve been practicing the fine art of “letting…
DetailsAs older adults, we sometimes feel as if we’ve seen and done it all; there is little that surprises us anymore. An awareness of loss, of time growing shorter, may preoccupy us. But The Grandest Love takes us to an oasis in time and space, an oasis where promise – not loss – reigns. No…
DetailsTalk about “The New Face of Grandparenting.” Michelle McConnell turns 50 this year. She is a marathoner (actually running 50 miles this year for her 50 years) and global activist to bring awareness and prevent child slavery and trafficking (115M are victims in world today). She just wrapped up a 22 for 22 Challenge…22 push-ups every day…
DetailsBy Guest Blogger Deanna Shoss We were sitting at the dinner table at Fitz’s in St. Louis last week. While my husband, son and I chatted at one end of the table, I overheard my mom getting a momentary-oh-so-cherished-one-on-one with her grandson, my 15 year old nephew, an avid St. Louis Blues hockey fan. “So,…
DetailsThat adorable child who couldn’t get enough of “nana” and “poppop” now sits sullenly across the table. They are, at least, honoring the “no cell phones at the dinner table” rule, but you sit in silence. You, wishing for a connection. They seemingly, wishing it were over. Questions like “How’s school?” or “What are your…
DetailsAuthor Jerry Witkovsky, MSW, was recently asked for his insights to help grandparents establish solid bonds from the get go, as they prepare for grandchildren to move in with them. Says The Dollar Stretcher, “The change in routines can be stressful, so we reached out to Jerry Witkovsky, author of The Grandest Love: Inspiring the…
DetailsAsk someone what their favorite food is that Grandma makes (or makes available) and that can spark many a memory—the taste of the food itself, or where you were when you ate it. For Elisa, it’s Grandma’s Banana Cake and the poppy seed cookies cut into the shapes of the four suits on playing cards.…
DetailsI could talk for hours about my favorite topic…grandchildren! But I am not the only one… “The presence of a grandparent confirms that parents were, indeed, little once, too, and that people who are little can grow to be big, can become parents, and one day even have grandchildren of their own. So often we…
DetailsThanks to the enthusiasm and support of author Jerry Witkovsky, teachers at the religious school at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, IL, got a lesson on blogging. “We think this will help us communicate better with parents and grandparents,” says Dr. Roberta Goodman, Education Director at NSCI. “I am so excited to be using…
DetailsWhile I started my family on The Four Jars at 13 with $20 a month for a year, Kenny remembers the piggy bank that sat on Grandma’s dresser when he was growing up. When he would come to visit, Grandma would empty the coins onto the kitchen table, and Kenny would get to count out…
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