Search Results for: blog encouraging kids to get those stories from grandparents

Do You Have a Living Will?

Many people don’t like to think about — or talk about — death. But it may be wise to think about the shape you’d like the end of your life to take now… before someone else has to make the decision for you. In the summer of 2001, my paternal grandmother passed away. It was somewhat unexpected — she had been living with Parkinson’s disease, but was largely stable. It was my paternal grandfather who had been very sick that same summer, and he was the one we were worried about. When Gramma died, we started making plans for her … Continue reading →

Grandparent-Single Parent Relations, Part One—Boundaries

The dance between parents, grandparents and children can be complicated anyway, but add in the single parent situation and things can get messy. We might be estranged from out children’s “other” grandparents, there may be step-grandparents thrown into the mix, or we may have had to rely on grandparents to help us through a tough transitional time. All of this can make setting healthy boundaries with grandparents as a single parent, a huge challenge. Many of us do need help from grandparents as single parents—they may help with childcare, living arrangements, or even help out financially. This can be a … Continue reading →

Kids Need a Sense of History

As far as my kids are concerned, the 1980’s are the dark ages—anything that happened before their memories kicked in might as well be a fairy tale. But, as my kids approach voting age, the age of consent, and dip their toes into the land of adulthood, I realize how imperative it is that they get a grasp on what has gone before. I understand that passion for the “now” is one of the blessings of the young—but I also think that a sense of history is an important part of developing a perspective. I happened to walk in on … Continue reading →

Preparing Kids for Aging Grandparents

Aging is a fact of life, but, that doesn’t make it any less challenging. Sure, it is one of those main, major realities that we have to learn to face and deal with–but while we are wrestling with our own aging issues, as parents, we also have to help our children learn how to cope with aging. Watching as grandparents get older, and perhaps get ill and die can be one of the most traumatic pieces of childhood. Children who are able to have close, affectionate relationships with grandparents have enriched lives. But, the closer they are, the more painful … Continue reading →

Summer Activity—Writing a Family Biography

I wrote yesterday about how to go about collecting stories from grandparents—or how to encourage our kids to get their grandparents to talk to them about history and such. Last night, while talking with my oldest daughter, we were remembering a writing project we did one summer as a family where we worked on writing down some of those stories and writing up a family biography. I thought it might be a good project to share here for other parents who are looking for a good family project as the “boring days” of summer set it… Kids love to hear … Continue reading →

Encouraging Kids to Get Those Stories From Grandparents

In today’s modern living, kids are often separated from grandparents. While this can mean a lack of family bonds and connectivity, it can also mean that grandchildren don’t get the benefit of hearing all that history and lore that comes from those who’ve lived through previous eras. Not to mention, many modern grandparents are busy and active, or assume that the younger generation isn’t interested in hearing their old stories. They may really need to be asked… Some of the stories and history that my own kids have extracted from grandparents have come when they were doing school projects. Working … Continue reading →

Encouraging Long Distance Connections

In these modern days of the mobile family, it’s less and less likely that children will grow up in towns and neighborhoods surrounded by extended family. Many children only get to see their own grandparents once or twice a year. This can make for awkward and weak family connections and kids may miss out on some of the benefits of being part of a larger family and community. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to encourage long distance connections and relationships and foster a feeling of closeness—even if the miles say differently. The internet makes it much easier … Continue reading →