The Joy and Wisdom of Grandparenting
Songs grandparents grew up with are needed now BY PAT HANSON, PH.D. I just took an OLLI (Osher Life Long Learning Institute) adult education class on music icons of the 60’s. This one focused on Dionne Warwick singing popular songs written by Burt Bacharach like What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love. With … Read more
Alienated Grandparent? I thought I was the only one. BY PAT HANSON I had the opportunity to interview Amanda, founder of Alienated Grandparents Anonymous (AGA-fl.org) just before she approved the final galleys of her forthcoming book: I Thought I Was the Only One: Grandparent Alienation … A Global Epidemic. Since its inception eight years ago … Read more
Giving Thanks Eases The Holiday Blues – It’s All About Gratitude BY PAT HANSON Ph.D. My memories of Thanksgiving include smells of roasting turkey, sounds of shouting men watching football on TV, and visions of women in the kitchen or setting the table with gold-rimmed plates and real silverware. My job at seven years old … Read more
Keep the faith BY PAT HANSON, PH.D. Does the restoration of friendly relations in your family seem impossible? Hold out hope; reunion can and does happen. It may start with an amends letter, a phone call to show you care, or even news of a relative’s death. As Wayne Dwyer said, “If you believe it, … Read more
Gramma’s spirit lives on – Moana By Pat Hanson, PH.d. Disney’s latest film has messages in it for all grandparents, including those estranged from their adult children who have “invisible grandkids” they don’t get to see. Eccentric Gramma Tala is central to the entire story. Two-year-old Moana sits captivated while others are horrified as Tala, … Read more
Are ghosts from your past haunting you? BY PAT HANSON, PH.D. Because it offers an excuse to put on a mask, dress up anyway I’d like, and play pretend, I prefer Halloween to Christmas. In Mexico and South America, Halloween is known as The ‘Day of the Dead’ Dia De Los Muertas, an occasion when … Read more
By Pat Hanson, Author of Invisible Grandparent What is your legacy? We all pass on tangible and intangible legacies. They go far beyond ‘inheritances,’ i.e. money, stocks, or property to be distributed to whomever one wishes. They are not just the baby sweaters or smocked dresses passed down by great grandmothers, but the caring energy … Read more
BY PAT HANSON, PH.D. An Invisible Grandparent is anyone unable to participate fully in the lives of their children’s children. For 9 years, I have been kept from seeing my granddaughter, now 13, by circumstances out of my control. There’s an empty spot on my counter every year for cards I’ll never get, or thank-you … Read more
