Many are the social, emotional, and developmental expectations and impacts of remote learning on children at different ages. JCC Chicago, JCFS Chicago and Grandparents Unleashed hosted a panel about helping grandparents (and parents) understand what their grandchildren are experiencing, to help them enter their grandchild’s world, understand what it’s like for them now and explore…
Kids are going stir crazy, and some are stuck home learning, parents are juggling roles, and grandparents want to help. In October, JCC Chicago, JCFS Chicago and the Grandparent-Grandchild Connection presented a panel discussion on creating a plan. Experts in family dynamics and COVID-19 shared their insights. Plus a sampling of parents and grandparents shared…
The dictionary definition of the word “demystify” means to make something clear and easy to understand. When it comes to family, de“mist”ifying may be the better way to say it. I’m talking about that mist that can come over family members when they get together. It might be the mist through which one sees…
Grandparents 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…
At 80ish I wrote a chapter for a book, 80 Things to Do When you Turn 80. The chapter was titled “Life is an Adventure. In it I talked about meeting my wife Margaret and our long life together, and on writing a book and rebuilding my life after she passed. The theme for that…
I didn’t come up with the idea for the three words. But I know a good idea when I see one. This one comes from consultant Chris Brogan, who has been coming up with his Three Words for over ten years now. The three words frame the “big story” for the year. They simply and…
By Jerry Witkovsky I watched the TV news–and witnessed the KKK, the Neo Nazi’s and the White Supremacists shouting their hate. It burns a hole in my heart and soul. What can I do about it at age 89? As I struggled with this, the following thought went through my mind: “When a Grandparent dies…
What does it mean to promote a culture of forgiveness? Not ignoring signs that we may have hurt a family member, and reaching out to them with concern and humility if we have. Not masking our own hurt feelings with aloof or angry behavior that is difficult for others to decipher and address. Striving to…
