The following are some selections from our readers. Hope you enjoy! If you have a brief story to share, please send to editor@grandmagazine.com.
Hello! Happy New Year!
BY DONNA MALLARD
This Christmas was more special for me this year because my son and daughter-in-law were here for it, coming up from Charlotte, NC! This was the first Christmas in years that both my grown children and their families were together, and I enjoyed every minute of it! My mom turned 94 in November and she also had the best time visiting with everyone.
“Being a grandmother has brought so much joy to my life…”
This is a picture of four generations of the women in my family- my mom, Doris, me, my daughter, Laura, and my granddaughter, Amelia. I also have Amelia’s little sister as one of the women, but as she’s only 4-years old, she was asleep for the night when we took this picture!
Being a grandmother has brought so much joy to my life in these past 12 years, and even though it looks like the 3 grandchildren I have will be the only ones I have, I thank God for them! Amelia is 12 and has a little sister & brother (4 year old twins), and they are the lights of my life!
Wishing you a joyful 2023!
Donna
Grandkids’ Wall of Art
BY JIM LEBUFFE
They are a great joy in our lives, our grandkids! They are smart, funny and we love to get copies of their artwork. In my house, I have put together a “Grandkids’ Wall of Art” which shows off a drawing or two from each of my five grandchildren, ages five through twelve.
I told my grandchildren that I was going to display some of their art on a wall in my house and asked them to select a drawing or two for the “Grandkids’ Wall of Art”. This they did, excitedly! It wasn’t long before I had framed their creations and made our own little art exhibit in the entrance hall of my home.
I have always liked children’s art and, of course, like my own grandkids’ art all the more! Take a look at their colorful and vibrant art and realize how easily you, too, could start a Grandkids’ Wall of Art in your own home.
My grandkids, my adult children and sons and daughters in law, myself, and friends who drop by my house have all said how much they like the art from my grandchildren that is on display.
It has been a hit!
Fines
BY CAROLYN RAPHAEL
When our son and daughter were about eight and eleven, my husband and I imposed fines for unacceptable dinner-table behavior. I don’t remember collecting any cash, but it did attract their attention momentarily, allowing us a few moments of peace as we tallied their scores.
Kicking was the most expensive at $.75. Several followed at $.50: hitting, loudness, gratuitous belching and flatulence. Facial provocation cost $.30 while verbal provocation cost $.35.
The most fun was explaining how we had arrived at the fines. Kicking was physically harmful, so that was first. Hitting was usually brief and less damaging but still substantial. Loudness was disruptive, and the other two were appetite-suppressing. Facial provocation was quiet but usually led to more overt actions. Verbal provocation interrupted allowable dinner-table talk and disturbed adult digestion.
My father would have sent the children away from the table, but we weren’t strong enough to deal with hungry children at bedtime. So we acted more disapproving than we felt and tried, usually unsuccessfully, to maintain decorum.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -Carolyn Raphael is the author of four books of poetry with a new collection coming out in January, 2023, Travelers on My Route, published by Kelsay Books. She is the mother of two well-behaved adult children and the grandmother of five charming grandchildren. She thought it would be amusing for the grandchildren to read about the behavior of their parents as children