Through the many years that I’ve been listening to grandparents share their hopes and dreams, their regrets and fears, the word “legacy” is one that comes up over and over. It’s a word that carries much weight and many meanings. Most of us, of course, are concerned about our legacy in its most tangible manifestation:…
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…
By Jerry Witkovsky (adapted from his book, The Grandest Love: Inspiring the Grandparent Grandchild Connection) 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,…
As 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…
While 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…
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…
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Carson “In a brief space the generations of beings are changed, and, like runners,…
When I speak to groups of grandparents, they often ask me “what will my legacy be?” In 3 Generations on Grandparenting, grandparents share their heartfelt wishes, and grandchildren share what they have learned from grandchildren. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvwIaCM5tyQ] Grandparents leaving values, not just valuables. For me, I always say “don’t die until you’re dead!” Along those…
For the last 25 years, The Grandest Love has been the focus of my life and work: researching and lecturing about grandparenting issues, facilitating support groups, and developing community-based programs that allow intergenerational bonds to flourish. Along the way I’ve listened intently to hundreds of people’s stories – grandparents’ stories brimming with that special love,…
