By Jerry Witkovsky and Deanna Shoss* Trigger warning. We are going to talk about gun violence and mass shootings and how helpless we feel as grandparents to protect our grandchildren and keep them safe. There are mass shootings, one-on-one argument shootings, and accidental shootings by poorly stored guns at home, among others. According to the…
When I was a boy, the Nazis rose to power in Germany. How did everyone go along with it, I wondered? What about the children—the Hitler Youth, in their boy scout-like uniforms? What made them susceptible to believing in hate? By 1937 65% of youth belonged to the organization. And that was before it became…
A Guide to Connecting with Your Teenage Grandchildren Enough of the grunted, one-word answers! From sharing music and stories about milestone events to reconciling with the generation in between (aka your grandchild’s parents), Where Two World’s Meet is a caring, tactical guide for grandparents on the secret to entering their tween and older grandchild’s world, and…
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…
Grandparents just want to be helpful during these challenging times. But what happens when grandparents live in another city? Or when concerns about COVID prevent meeting in person? How can technology help? This 2nd panel in the Lifelines for a Lifetime series, presented by JCC Chicago, JCFS Chicago and the Grandparent Grandchild Connection program,…
Kids are home learning online, parents are juggling roles, and grandparents want to help. Join us for a panel discussion on creating a plan, with experts in family dynamics and COVID-19, plus a sampling of parents and grandparents who will share real-life challenges. Learn how to navigate conversations about what parents really need, and how…
My friend Miriam was recently watching her 10-year-old grandson, when he came to her with a troubled look on his face. “This is getting really mean,” he said. “I think my friend is really upset.” It had started innocently enough, with a group text. Someone had posted a cartoon picture of a…
At age 90 and 7 months, I was entering my car the usual way. Right leg first, leaving all the weight on my left leg for just a fraction of a minute until I’m in. Suddenly my knee gave out and I found myself flat on the parking lot pavement. Somehow, in a state of…
You might say why would I purposely have a conversation about Judge Brett Kavanaugh with my grandchild? Perhaps the conversation is not so much about him specifically, but around what kinds of discussions grandparents and grandchildren can have around the news and current events. Our grandchildren hear so much and learn so much outside of…
