Dear Reader, When my oldest children were in elementary school, my husband was stationed in North Carolina. Rather than living on the military base, we lived near a rural town, surrounded by pine forests and tobacco fields. I loved that our children were growing up in a place where the pace of life was slow, where they could roam and play as I had as a child, and where the people were hard working and family-focused. It seemed idyllic. Until one day at the community pool, when I overheard a...
1 day ago • 2 min read
Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?~ J.M. Barrie 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 Wondering how to be a better grandparent? The answer might be closer than you think....
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, Reader! Ah, February! The month we make a concerted effort to let people know that we love them! Also: the month that retailers tempt us with a zillion heart-shaped things that our grandchildren DO NOT NEED! They don’t need another stuffed animal. They don’t need heart-covered PJ’s. They just need to know that you love them, and there are far better ways to tell them than giving them gifts for every occasion. The best way is to give them your time and attention, and I shared some ways...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.~ Dalai Lama 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 Dale Atkins, licensed psychologist and author of the children's book “The Turquoise Butterfly,” joined TODAY with a look at the importance...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, So many of you wrote me to say you appreciated reading Rebecca’s story last week. (If you missed her letter, you can read it here.) I’m glad it moved you as much as it did me. I had a busy extended weekend with a trip to visit family and celebrate birthdays, so I didn’t get to respond to all of you. I wanted to follow up here, because several of you asked the same thing: “Can you tell me exactly what Rebecca shared with her daughter-in-law?” The answer is no, I can’t. Partly...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I’m doing something a little different today and sharing a letter I got a couple of weeks ago. It’s an emotional testament to the power of being open to learning and growing. I’m so grateful to Rebecca, who not only shared her experience with me but also gave me permission to share it with you. Here is her story (lightly edited for clarity): “I’ve been a grandparent for almost 9 years. Our daughter became an instant step-parent when she married our precious son-in-law, who...
22 days ago • 2 min read
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~ Theodore Roosevelt 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 biggest challenge facing new grandparents isn't what they get wrong—it's what they don't realize has changed. Discover the...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, Reader! Happy New Year! I hope you all made it through the holiday season unscathed! I was lucky enough to spend much of the last three weeks with the people I love most. There were music and games, deep conversations, and lots of cooking, eating and doing dishes. It filled up my cup to the brim, which is a wonderful way to start a new year. Of course, the new year always brings talk of resolutions, goals, and intentions. Some people make a long list of regularly recurring resolutions....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it. ~ Harry S. Truman 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 first hours and days after learning you're going to be a...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it. ~Harold S. Hulbert 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 What is body autonomy and how does it protect your grandchildren? Read this post to find out why and how to support your...
2 months ago • 1 min read