Grandchildren

I have an appointment every Monday afternoon and Tuesday, all day. It’s with a VIP and it’s a job of sorts. It doesn’t pay much, but it makes me feel rich beyond words. It’s also exhausting. I am one of the new corps of volunteer grandparents but I’m volunteering very close to home: in my own family. Read More

Complaining about how things “were better in the good old days,” seems like a rite of passage for many grandparents. After all, through the lives of our grandchildren, we see firsthand just how much the world is changing around us. Read More

In my experience, grandmas naturally love to help other people. Even if we consider ourselves to be “modern grandmas,” with our own passions, we still find time to take care of our families and share our wisdom with the world. Many of us, for one reason or another, have even found ourselves raising our grandchildren full-time. Read More

It’s every grandparent’s worst nightmare. After years of caring for your loved ones, you find yourself separated from your grandchildren by a family conflict. At this difficult time, your mind is probably filled with worries. Read More

Few roles are as important – or misunderstood – as the role of grandmother. It’s almost as if, once your first grandchild arrives, you are supposed to turn into a baby-sitting, apple-pie-making, scarf-knitting machine. At least, that’s how it feels for many women. Read More

Life after 60 can be tough. Over the last few years, I’ve heard from women who are dealing with chronic illnesses. I’ve talked with ladies who have lost their husband to old-age or injury. I’ve heard stories of financial trouble and loneliness. Read More

It’s my belief that teaching the art of oral storytelling is an investment in the futures of our children and grandchildren. It gives them a basic training in sequencing events, and organizing thoughts and experiences into chunks; an invaluable skill to have at any age. And it teaches them how to listen and be heard; a basic ability so many adults have never mastered…

In today’s complex world, the phenomenon of grandparents raising grandchildren has become increasingly common. Some grandparents find themselves taking on the role full time, after the tragic loss of one of their adult children. Others agree to look after their grandkids temporarily, while their own adult children are out of the country or going through a difficult situation. Read More

I came across a quote today that made me think about the special relationship that grandkids have with their grandparents. The quote was “There’s no place like home, except grandmas.” With my own grandkids, I’ve noticed that there is a special sparkle that appears in their eyes when we talk about going back to my apartment. Read More

I don’t know about you, but, I love being a grandmother. When I was raising my own children, it seemed like life was a flurry of activity. I was working full-time, always zipping back and forth from the office, trying to squeeze in as much time with my kids as possible. At the same time, while I was raising my kids, every question was a “first” and every problem had to be solved without context. I loved every second of it, but, the time also flew by in a blur. Read More