The Joy and Wisdom of Grandparenting
What is spirit? BY LEE KLINGER LESSER One afternoon when Bodie, my grandson, was four years old, we were in the park near his house, and I got into a conversation with a woman who was there with her two children. She told me that her grandmother had died two years before, and they were … Read more
Birthdays are the perfect opportunity to show someone just how much they mean to you, and your grandson’s is one of the most important. Whether he’s still young or all grown up, the right present can express your love in a way he’s never seen before. Choosing something thoughtful goes a long away and this … Read more
The best gift of all: traveling with our grandson BY KAREN L. RANCOURT, PhD Ask Dr Gramma Karen My husband, Gary (“Peps”), and I (“Gramma Karen”) started taking our two grandsons on road trips, sans their parents, when they were three and seven years old. Their parents always readily and enthusiastically waved goodbye as we pulled … Read more
Saving the Best for Last Maternal Grandma, Myna We loved your high school graduation, dear, but tell me, how did it feel to be the last of 400 names? Did it make you feel downcast? You knew your family would stay to cheer. It’s all because your last name starts with Z. Some … Read more
When to talk to a teenager about a grandparent’s dementia BY GARY SOLOMONSON A story told to Gary Solomonson, dementia coach and storyteller, is included in his forthcoming book, Gathering Seeds for the Dementia Season. As a young teenager, I often played touch football with friends in my hometown park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Although … Read more
GRANDPARENT BRAG ZONE – Rocks and roly-polys BY SUSAN J. DECUIR It was a beautiful June Saturday morning in Carrollton, Texas, and to my delight, my son-in-law, Scot, brought our three-year-old grandson, Evan, with him when he came over to help my husband, Ron, (Pop to Evan) clean out our attic. His sky-blue-eyes sparkling, Evan … Read more
The Technology Gap BY CAROLYN COHEN We arrived at our son and daughter-in-law’s home in rural Connecticut late last night and are now asleep in our five-year-old grandson’s playroom. K has tiptoed down the two flights of stairs from his room and is crouched on the floor beside our pull-out bed. He sits, quiet as … Read more
My Adorable Grandson: Max BY KATHERINE ARNUP, PH.D. I see Max every Tuesday night for supper. “Can we go to Patty’s?” he always asks as soon as he hops into his car seat. Sometimes I tease him – “Patty’s?” I’ll ask, dead serious. “Why would we go there?” “Because I love Patty’s!” Max, my five-and-a-half-year-old … Read more
Reflections of a grandpa standing in for mom BY TOM WATKINS It is not like I totally forgot how difficult it was to spend nonstop hours, day in and day out being a parent to a supercharged toddler. Hey, I am a professional social worker, a former state mental health director and state superintendent of … Read more
This Grandmom’s Favorite Lullaby Sweet Dreams BY DEBORAH LEVIN “You sing yourself a lullaby?” my daughter asked, incredulously. “Yes,” I answered matter-of-factly, adding, “I memorized the words.” “Really? I don’t even know the words, and I’ve heard the song a million times.” “Want me to sing them to you?” I said. “Oh, wait, I can’t … Read more
My Grandma and Me BY DIANA PISHNER WALKER “Tell me about the good old days, Grandma,” said young Ace to his “not so old grandma”. “Good old days? Is that what they still call them? They weren’t all good my sweet grandson” said grandma. “Well tell me about when you were little? You know, young … Read more
A Promise To My Grandson BY ANN KOCHENBERGER Watching leaves of gold move across the blue Colorado sky, the hammock rocks back and forth. The sleeping baby stirs, then looks up and smiles as I begin singing softly. I sing the lullabies my Grandmother Baker sang to me as I remember how much I loved … Read more
Look Out World Here Comes My Grandson BY HELEN COLELLA Grandchildren are a blessing; from the minute they arrive into our world we can’t imagine life without them. Adorable, challenging, and sometimes naughty, it doesn’t matter; we love them, spoil them and delight in everything they do and say. We can’t get enough of their … Read more
Tuesdays With Jack Author: Pauline Daniel Reviewer: Jeanette Perkins aka Beeba Tuesdays With Jack is a love story between a Buba and her grandson. What started as a weekly Facebook post turned into a book filled with tender memories, witty quips from Jack and parallels between raising her only son and her time with Jack. … Read more
