Dear Reader, Somewhere I have a photo of my son from his 18th birthday. I can’t find it, but it is as clear in my mind as the day it was taken. He’s dressed as a pirate, walking across the lawn in his grandmother’s garden, with a string of younger siblings and cousins trailing behind him. I remember it so clearly because that moment in time captured so much of what I love about my son. Instead of a party with friends, he chose to celebrate this milestone birthday with his extended family. He...
1 day ago • 3 min read
My grandkids believe I’m the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it, too.~Gene Perret Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent The Essential Questions is written as a guide to interviewing your...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Last week a podcast host asked me a question I loved: “What are your favorite ways to foster family culture and identity as a grandparent?” I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it in those terms before, but I immediately thought of Donut Friday. Donut Friday is a highly anticipated part of our annual July family week. It’s nothing more and nothing less than what it sounds like: We get donuts on Friday. That's it. But by naming that simple tradition, it elevates it into a ritual...
8 days ago • 2 min read
We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. ~ George Bernard Shaw Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent Biting your tongue as a grandparent sounds simple: just don't say everything you’re thinking. But if...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, Reader! Thank you to all of you who responded to the email last week about grandparenting styles. Many of you felt that you fell into more than one category, and Jo Ann even pointed out that you may be different things to different grandchildren, especially if some grandchildren live close by and others far away. And thank you to those of you who suggested topics you want to learn more about. I’ve kept a list and hope to touch on all of them, either here or on the blog. I’ll start with...
15 days ago • 2 min read
A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do. ~Lois Wyse Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent Grandparents...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, If you search for “grandparent roles” or “grandparenting styles” on the internet, you are likely taken to an article that list five different styles of grandparenting: They are: 1. The “formal” grandparents who operate in the background of the lives of their children and grandchildren, but enjoy regular visits. 2. The “fun seeker” grandparents who tap into their inner childto play and entertain their grandchildren. 3. The “surrogate parent” grandparents who have taken on the...
22 days ago • 2 min read
You have priceless gifts to bestow upon the grandchildren who look up to you. ~Jerry Witkovsky Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent Research shows that maternal grandmothers are often closer to grandchildren, but the reason for the...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Be pleasant until ten o'clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself. ~ Elbert Hubbard Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent With grandparent alienation on the rise, it’s more important than ever that grandparents...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
It is only in the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent In today's blended families, the role of step-grandparents can...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read