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October 24, 2023

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN IS ON A SPECTRUM

I count my blessings each day that I get to interact with my Grandchildren freely. This just didn’t happen on its own. I am very intentional about extended family dynamics and do all I can to create a family culture of inclusion. This article does not intend to address the various “How we got here scenarios”; many Sociologists are working on that, but I think we must bring this issue front and center. In one of my Grandparenting books, I […]
October 12, 2023

CREATING A LASTING BOND WITH YOUR GRANDCHILD (A marathon, not a sprint)

Communication is one thing, but Bonding is a next-level activity. We sometimes think that being a Grandparent is like falling off a log. While there is some natural flow to familial connection, if we hope to grow with our Grandkids, we have to be proactive, focused, and intentional about how we can make our connections with them lasting and meaningful for us and them. The all-important foundation is being as present as possible in the beginning years. The more support […]
October 10, 2023

DON’T EVER FORGET THE PARENTS

Sometimes, in our zeal to connect with our Grandkids and be their “Buddies,” we knowingly or mistakenly circumvent what their parents are trying to do. I have one advice for any Grandparent who encounters a situation that can be misconstrued: DON’T. I attended the IFI (International Fabricare Institute) many years ago while building my Dry Cleaning Store. The instructor told the following tale. In Italy, if you come across the sign of an old Dry Cleaning establishment, you may see […]
September 25, 2023

HOW DO THE OLE CLECHE’S HOLD UP?

Just as the “Good Old Days” may be old but not necessarily Good, I think we would do well to examine some of our sayings. Please don’t get me wrong; this has nothing to do with being Politically Correct. This has to do with the seeds we plant in our Grandchildren. This has a lot to do with expectations. This has everything to do with being a true great-grandparent. Years ago, when I was in Toastmasters, I presented Lullabies. One […]
September 11, 2023

BEING A GOOD GRANDPARENT TODAY

To say that being a grandparent today is a bit complicated is like saying Calculus is 1+1=2.While some of the fundamentals remain the same, things have evolved tremendously. The basics like, “I want to be the best Grandparent I can be” or “I want to share my life with these little cherubs and guide them to a meaningful and successful life.” The trick is doing the things in familial relationships that help you achieve that goal. In my first Grandparents’ […]
August 8, 2023

BECOMING A NEW GRANDPARENT

Whether for the first time or the umpteenth time, it is still a miraculous experience. There are, however, various considerations each time you are blessed. Many Grandparents are unaware at the time, but it is also a consideration as to which side of the Maternal/Paternal spectrum you occupy. This entire article is about observation. I want to be clear, especially at this peak emotional time for the whole family, that intention does not always equal the best outcomes. Please take […]
August 8, 2023

GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT!

Woooooh! That is a strong statement. I first visited this GREAT idea when I read Jim Collins’s best-selling business book “GOOD TO GREAT” It is the title of his first chapter and the first sentence in his book, which has sold 4 million copies to date. This qualifies as a meaningful idea. I know you are a Good Grandparent if you have read this deeply into my writing. If you have followed this blog for any time, you know that […]
August 2, 2023

GOOD GRANDPARENTING

If you are reading this article, you already qualify as a Good Grandparent. Being a Good Grandparent requires, among other characteristics, being intentional. I have said many times before in these articles it is most valuable when you meet your Grandchildren where they are. It is the old adage, speak with them, not at them. They may not remember what you say, but they will remember how you make them feel. When in doubt, lead with love. But being a […]
July 27, 2023

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING TO AND WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS

If you are anything like me, you savor your reading and what you learned from this valuable activity. I am very fortunate that most of my Grandkids are avid readers. How much of that comes from the many beautiful hours of us reading to and with them when they were small? I know they carry a book everywhere they go; some may be because they only see their Grandpa with a book by his side. They emulate much more of […]