grandparents

Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.

Creating a Self-Care Ritual Inspired by My Grandmother’s Wisdom
“Take a breath before the world takes it from you,” my grandmother used to say, her voice soft like cotton soaked in calm. She wasn’t a therapist or a wellness coach. She never read about mindfulness. But she lived it — quietly, intuitively — in a way that now feels like sacred wisdom.
By Vishwaksenabout a year ago in Families
Wasted Time & Second Chances: A Journal Entry on Love, Loss, and the Life I'm Fighting For.
Wasted Time & Second Chances A Journal Entry on Love, Loss, and the Life I’m Fighting For July 1st, 2023 I don’t usually share my private journal entries. But this one? This one demands to be seen. Because it’s not just mine—it’s for anyone who’s ever looked at their life and thought: How the hell did I get here? And more importantly: Where do I go now?
By MALIK Saadabout a year ago in Families
The Dynamics of Family Relationships
Introduction Family is often considered the fundamental unit of society, serving as the primary source of emotional support, socialization, and identity formation. Yet, family relationships are far from monolithic. They are intricate, evolving structures influenced by culture, economics, psychology, and interpersonal dynamics. Understanding the nature of family relationships requires an analytical lens that dissects their various components—from parental roles and sibling dynamics to the effects of societal changes and technological advancements.
By Foysal Ahmed Meherosabout a year ago in Families
Uh Oh, Number Two (or Not!): A BCBA's Hugely Relatable Guide to the Potty-Training Puzzler
Let's dive into the glamorous world of potty training, shall we? A time filled with tiny triumphs, the occasional "code brown" situation you never saw coming, and enough laundry to make you question your life choices. If you've ever stared longingly at a fully trained toddler in the park, whispering, "What's your secret?!" you're in the right place.
By James C.about a year ago in Families
My Kid Thinks Broccoli is Public Enemy No. 1 (and Other Picky Eating Tales): A BCBA's Friendly Survival Guide
Okay, let's be real for a sec. Has anyone else ever felt like their kid's dinner plate is a tiny battlefield? One side: a hopeful, lovingly prepared meal. The other: a miniature dictator armed with a suspicious gaze and the power to declare anything green (or not beige) as utterly inedible. If you're nodding so hard your neck might need a chiropractor, welcome to the club! You are SO not alone.
By James C.about a year ago in Families
“The Garden Beyond the Clouds”
The Garden Beyond the Clouds: A Story of Healing and Homecoming The moment Lena opened her eyes, she knew she was no longer in the world she’d known. The pain in her chest—constant, crushing—had vanished. In its place was a stillness so profound it felt like standing inside a breath that had been held for centuries and finally released. The sky above her was neither day nor night, painted in hues of soft lavender and amber that shimmered like a dream remembered in fragments. She stood on a path of white stones winding through endless fields of light—not sunlight, but something gentler, something that warmed from the inside. And as the breeze touched her skin like a mother's hand, Lena understood: she had come home. She took a few uncertain steps, expecting weight, resistance—but her feet barely pressed the ground. Everything here was soft, not fragile, but forgiving. The air held a scent she couldn't name, but it reminded her of comfort—of bread baking in her grandmother’s kitchen, of the salt breeze from her childhood summers, of lilacs blooming in the yard the year her son was born. Each breath was memory made tender. She wasn’t alone. Figures appeared along the path—familiar, radiant, unmistakably whole. Her father, laughing the way he only had before the cancer. Her sister, with the sparkle in her eye she’d lost years before the accident. And then, near the bend in the path, a child she had only known in dreams: a baby boy with her nose and his father's eyes. Lena fell to her knees. He ran to her—ran—and when his arms wrapped around her, it was not the ghost of something lost. It was real. As solid and sure as the life she once carried. She held him for what felt like both a second and an eternity. Heaven, it seemed, obeyed no clocks. They walked together through the Garden, and Lena began to understand its quiet magic. Each flower held a memory, blooming in colors her earthbound eyes had never seen. One burst like gold when she remembered her wedding day. Another shimmered blue as the memory of her mother’s lullabies filled the air like music. But some flowers, she noticed, trembled with grief—darker shades that pulsed with ache. She reached for one, hesitant, and the moment her fingers brushed it, she was back in a hospital room, holding her husband’s hand as he slipped away. She gasped, but it didn’t hurt. Not here. The memory unfolded gently, like a book well-read. She saw the pain, yes—but she also saw the love: the way he smiled at her even through the end, the squeeze of his hand as a last message, the peace that followed. In this Garden, grief was not erased. It was made bearable. Beautiful, even. A gentle voice spoke behind her. “The things that break you are not lost,” it said. “They are seeds.” Lena turned to see a woman dressed in silver robes, her face both familiar and unknown. Perhaps she was part of the Garden itself. The woman pointed to a great tree in the center of the field. Its branches reached to the heavens, its roots glowed beneath the soil. “This is where all your pain was planted,” she said. “And look what it became.” Lena walked toward it, tears sliding freely down her cheeks. Every branch held pieces of her life: the lonely nights, the quiet courage, the whispered prayers no one else had heard. And in those branches, the moments of joy gleamed like fruit. Her life hadn’t been perfect. It had been real. And now, it had been honored. As dusk fell—though dusk here was more like the soft turning of a page—Lena lay down in a bed of grass and starlight. Her son curled beside her, breathing quietly. The others gathered near. No one said goodnight. In this place, night was simply a time to rest before more light. And as Lena drifted into sleep—not of forgetfulness, but of deep belonging—she whispered a single truth to the Garden, to herself, to all those still journeying below: “I am not lost. I was always on my way home.”
By Abid khanabout a year ago in Families
Happy Mother's Day - 2025. Content Warning.
Today is Mother's Day and I am happy to say that the day has been going alright. It has it's up's and down's - as does any day - but I'm starting to feel more at peace with my life.
By Adora Hooperabout a year ago in Families
The Llama & Koala . Top Story - April 2024.
Story & Illustrations © ‘For our Kids Someday’ It has been raining cats and dogs, the skys’ been nothing but gray, our
By Jay Kantorabout a year ago in Families
HOLD ON
Author © Jay Kantor HOLD ON – Remember When – Twin Lucky-Lar and I couldn't get enough of our '56 Chevy Station Wagon. Memorable distinctive auto-personality-features back then! 'Wagons' the 50's precursor to the current crop of the Newbie’s SUVs that I can't tell the difference from one or the other without their 'Brand-Badge' boldly shown! And, way before German or Japanese cars ruled the planet.
By Jay Kantorabout a year ago in Families
THE DRUMSTICK
Author © Jay Kantor The Drumstick🍗 – A Family Tradition – MOM: "Just put some Ketchup on it and Eat-It !" Mom, such a character! She was a Huge-Hugger! She just wouldn’t let those she loved pass by without a little kiss or hug; so we just put-up-with-it! The spitting image of actress Betty White, always with the sparkling dimpled-smile. She served (2) terms as P.T.A. President. I don’t really know why, she never had much of a podium 'Schpiel' So-to-Speak. But, being very pretty and sociable probably made up for that?
By Jay Kantorabout a year ago in Families
ENCOUNTERS
Author © Jay Kantor ENCOUNTERS — Coulda Fooled Me — As a professional 'Schlepper' (Salesman) who Moves his Products as Mom's Schlep the Kids. As a Salesman, it was always essential to first 'observe' (evaluate) how best to approach a prospect—this, obviously, has carried into my personal 'encounters'.
By Jay Kantorabout a year ago in Families
CAREER CHOICES
Author © Jay Kantor CAREER CHOICES – What would you like to be...and WHY? – Those working in fields with their degree majors, or even minors, can be a rarity these days. Many are hired just because they have a General-Liberal Arts diploma, thus displaying a higher learning level. Of late, most large companies prefer to focus at in-house training for their programs. Regardless, there is an ever decreasing need for related career choices, having nothing to do with their 'pre-set-goals'.
By Jay Kantorabout a year ago in Families