neil

In writing hundreds of Grandparenting Articles, two books on Grandparenting, and researching innumerable articles, interviews, and Grandparent anecdotes, I have come up with the following observation. “LIFE IS COMPLICATED, AND FAMILY LIFE IS A MULTIPLE OF COMPLICATED, AND EXTENDED FAMILY LIFE IS EXPONENTIALLY COMPLICATED. “ Let’s look at that backward since grandparenting comes later in life. The average extended family in the United States consists of two parents, two children, and two sets of grandparents. The grandparents are typically retired […]

I am enjoying this season of my life. I am not afraid to laugh at myself and with my Grandkids. Life is a serious deal, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun along the way. My Grandchildren, their parents, and I play some wacky board games that are based on things like “Funny stuff your kids did in ______________.” Or “The strangest experience at their parents’ wedding” and stuff like that. It is a fun way for the […]

Grandparenting is a beautiful experience, but it can also be challenging. There are many things to consider, such as how to balance your own needs with the needs of your grandchildren, how to set boundaries, and how to deal with difficult situations.  1. What is the best way to balance my needs with those of my grandchildren? Finding a balance that works for you and your grandchildren is crucial. You may need to adjust your schedule or make some changes to […]

Caring Grandparents are often deeply concerned about the well-being of their grandchildren. While every grandparent may have different concerns, some common themes emerge. Here are some of the most common concerns that grandparents have for their grandchildren: In conclusion, grandparents have many concerns for their grandchildren, from safety and well-being to education and future opportunities. While every grandparent may have different concerns, they all share a deep Love and desire to protect and support their grandchildren. It is important for […]

Staying connected to grandchildren is important for grandparents to maintain a solid and loving relationship. Here are some ways for grandparents to stay connected to their grandchildren: Overall, the key to staying connected with grandchildren is to make an effort to communicate and spend time with them, whether in person or through technology. It’s important for grandparents to be present, supportive, and interested in their grandchildren’s lives. Thank You for being a Caring Grandparent.

In his excellent book, M. Scott Peck talked about these possible roads; “There are four: delaying of gratification, acceptance of responsibility, dedication to truth, and balancing.” The good news is that I don’t intend to go on about each of these different paths to what we want but rather to underscore that there are other paths. In the two books I have written on Grandparenting and my 30+ years of being a Caring Grandparent, the core premise of my books and […]

One of the weightiest decisions we make as Grandparents is where to walk with our Grandchildren. Sometimes we should hold their hand and walk with them, let them walk on their own, and sometimes we should carry them. These decisions are individual to many factors such as age, personality, geography, family dynamics, etc. There are no answers I can offer here to help you make the best decision for your Grandchild. Now that they are teens, I often ask them. I am […]

The first step to exercising this phenomenal Grandparent Power you possess is to pay attention. The second is to share that attention. I always let my Grandkids know that their parents and I are talking about them all the time. This lets them know that they matter to me, and that is a power that I can hand off to them. I have been referred to in the past to be a “Good Seer and Good Sayer”. I have heard […]

When our Construction/Restoration business was in full swing, we used to send Thanksgiving Day cards instead of Christmas cards. I have a stack of plain white cards that I send handwritten Notes on. As the old commercial used to say, “This is not Rocket Surgery.” In a crowded, fast, moving world, it only takes a little bit to enhance the impact of your efforts. Here is a tip guaranteed to exponentially increase the landing impact of whatever affirmation you want […]