Rapidly changing technology. Family members separated by distance. Political division. Biracial and bilingual families. Globalization. Non-traditional families. Pandemics… These are the norms now, but for most of us grandparents, these are all dramatic changes from the way life was when we were children. We are being kept on our toes if we want to roll… Continue reading New Age Grandma-ing in the 21st Century

Perspective. Everything is in a state of flux right now and people are worried about school closings, the stock market free-fall, event cancellations, social distancing, travel bans…and yes, toilet paper. As I write this I am sitting by my mother’s bedside. We placed her in hospice care two days ago, and now my most important… Continue reading Perspective

Has your adult or teen daughter or son ever made a decision or expressed an opinion that you don’t understand, agree with, or worse, that you feel distressed about?  If so, how did you respond?  Were you able to detach and allow your child to be who they are and think how they choose, even if… Continue reading Are Our Adult Children’s Beliefs and Actions a Reflection On Us?

What gives certain people the special ability to defy the odds, overcome devastating adversity, shatter glass ceilings, or act heroically? We know that a few chosen individuals are both blessed with, and through incredible dedication and hard work, hone their skills and gifts to become acclaimed figures. Beyond the Stephen Hawkings, Serena Williamses, and Mother… Continue reading Expect the Unimaginable

My life can be described in one sentence: It didn’t go as planned, and that’s ok. At some point in our younger lives, we created decisive mental maps for the future. They probably included assorted variations on our desires for a career or job within a particular industry, our projected income and planned professional advancement,… Continue reading Radical Acceptance

Lights flash as I walk through a metal detector; heavy steel doors slam behind me with clashing blows. Locks clatter as security guards grant me permission to pass through sterile hallways; echoes reverberate with every footstep. The air is heavy with austerity. As I enter Multi-Purpose Room 23, the mood lifts slightly. Inmates are frisked… Continue reading Why I Go To Jail Every Thursday

There is perceived virtue in working on ourselves, on striving to become better…the best. It shows up in all areas of our lives: climbing the corporate ladder, making more money, studying harder, pushing ourselves physically and emotionally, building our reputations and our character. Often this tendency toward trying to better ourselves stems from the past.… Continue reading “Working On” Ourselves

Once upon a time, I was someone’s hero. In fact, I was a hero to two people. I comforted them when they were sick or hurt; I led them on adventures to the zoo, Legoland, and Mt. Rushmore; I camped in a backyard tent with them and the dog, and we built blanket forts in… Continue reading I Gave Up Trying to Impress My Adult Children

John Maeda said, “Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”  For anyone who has experienced downsizing to a smaller home in the hope of replacing real estate with freedom and adventure, you know that the act of simplifying is not synonymous with simplicity.  Culling years or decades worth of belongings is both… Continue reading The Emotion I Didn’t Expect When Downsizing

A new year is so full of promise, isn’t it?  A blank slate, a new calendar with pages ready to be filled with exciting projects, events, successes… That first page symbolizes a mental cross-over into fresh, hopeful territory.  What would you like your 2019 to look like?  Travel, improved relationships, a new job, better health,… Continue reading Your Planner as a Legacy